SPORTS WRAP
Boys’ volleyball has been approved to become an MSHSL-sanctioned sport for the 2024-25 season. League officials are still trying to figure out which season the sport will fall under during the academic year. Submitted photo
The latest fastest-growing sport in Minnesota is boys’ volleyball. An association began in 2018 with 20 teams. This spring, over 70 teams – including at least two Big Nine schools – offer the activity. The Minnesota State High School League approved its addition as a sanctioned sport for the 2024-25 school year.
Owatonna’s Jason Kaytor is an assistant girls’ volleyball coach to head coach Rachel Malo, and has served many years in the program. Regarding momentum for the boys, he said, “Yeah, I think there’s been a little talk. A couple of us coaches have already talked about ‘what if’s.’ I also know that talking to guys in the past and saying, ‘Hey, would you have ever thought about playing volleyball?’ A lot of guys would have done that. I look back to my high school career and if that would have been an option, I would have definitely played.”
He indicated it would have been a tough choice for him had it fallen during the golf season. The current club schedule holds boys’ volleyball during the spring, which most of the 30 states that offer the sport do. The MSHSL set up a task force to determine when it will be offered.
Minnesota’s state tournament was held in mid-June, which Rochester Mayo played in. Other Southern Minnesota communities with boys’ volleyball include a second Rochester team, Austin, Kasson-Mantorville and Southland/Grand Meadow. Most teams are metro-based, including the south suburban schools that Owatonna is usually grouped with for section placements.
Owatonna on the cutting edge
The Owatonna district has not been shy about adding sports. The dance program is still very new and making big strides in competing both in the conference and against metro schools. The clay target team also advanced to the MSHSL competition for the third time in just six years. Lacrosse has been around for a while, but barely half of the Big Nine Conference offers it. The fishing team is a strong club sport here that is just a few years old. Bowling has a long, strong tradition in Owatonna, but has been a gutter ball with the high school league.
It took five attempts for the high school league to pass the proposal for boys’ volleyball. Research by the Minnesota boys’ volleyball association indicates that over 90% of the nearly 2,000 players do not play any other sanctioned spring sport.
Countdown to girls’ volleyball
Kaytor is excited to get into the gym of the new Owatonna High School for the girls’ season. “Oh, man, I can’t wait for that.” He also told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show that all age levels will be together where the freshman teams have practiced elsewhere up until now. Additionally, the current gym offers challenges. “The ceiling has always been really low. No air conditioning. Practices in the summer are just sweltering,” said Kaytor.
Summer camps will be at the middle school but he was told by Activities Director Marc Achterkirch that they will be in the new gym the first day of practice.
“I know, I’m excited. I know Rachel is excited,” said Kaytor.
He is also hoping to look inside before then. “Maybe just to get set up, see the gym and find our equipment. My biggest fear is I’m going to walk into that first day of practice and go, ‘Where’s the gym? I have no idea.’”
Owatonna Live play-by-play schedule
Friday, July 7
Legion Post 77 baseball vs. Rochester Lourdes, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 9
VFW 10 & Nine baseball vs. Century, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Tuesday, July 11
VFW Nine vs. Mankato East, 7 p.m.