SPORTS WRAP

“I love being outdoors and it’s hard to get better than being out on a lake in the summer here in Minnesota,” said Owen Moore, an angler on Owatonna High School’s fishing team.

The club sport debuted here in 2018 and it was natural for Devan Jirele to join.

“I grew up fishing. My dad grew up fishing. We had a boat and he wanted to be a boat captain,” said Jirele.

Jirele told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show, “I love traveling all summer. You’re traveling to new lakes and some beautiful areas. Just being out on the water every weekend.”

Like Jirele, Moore is an incoming senior at OHS, and the two are longtime friends. Moore joined his freshman year. “Devan said, ‘I need a partner for high school.’ Then I stepped up to the plate,” said Moore.

About five competitions are held throughout the state with around 200 boats of two-person teams searching for the biggest bass they can land. Moore calls Lake Minnetonka the Huskies’ home lake as it’s one they are quite familiar with. The season takes place over the summer, hitting Mille Lacs and Gull Lake among others. Finishers in the top 10% qualify for the Tournament of Champions.

Understanding each lake is the key to success said coach Zeke Schroeder. “Every lake varies from what your strategy is. Early in the summer, we’re usually focusing on shallower water because those bass are just getting done spawning. They quite haven’t moved out to the deep holes yet.” The approach changes as the weather warms.

Larry Kriesel was instrumental in getting the team started and remains an assistant. Schroeder took over as head coach this season. A junior program began this year encompassing grades four through seven. “We’ve got the youngsters going, which is kind of our development program for the high school league. That’s grades eight through twelve,” said Schroeder. There are 48 anglers on the squad, which includes some from neighboring communities.

He says practice sessions “give kids the opportunity to get on the water.”

“Nowadays, it seems like as the generations go on, fewer kids are outside getting in the outdoors,” said Schroeder.

According to him, some team members are fishing from a boat for the first time.

Jirele also said some competitions are judged on an app.

“We take pictures of everything. It’s catch, weigh and release. And then everything is back in the water. Nothing’s in live wells. Nothing is being brought up on a stage. The DNR likes that,” said Jirele.

Moore adds, “It’s always two anglers that are fishing together and he could catch all seven of our fish in the day or I could catch all seven. It really goes both ways. But it’s really just the collective team effort.”

He would love to see the sport grow.

“Come out and join the team next year especially, because it’s a great experience to be out on the water and feel that competitive side of fishing.”

Chatty 5K

Mark your calendar for the debut of the Chatty 5K honoring longtime OHS cross-country coach Dave Chatelaine who recently retired after 35 years. The event is on Saturday, Aug. 19, falling during the Steele County Free Fair week. The event begins at the old Owatonna High School track. Proceeds benefit Huskies’ cross-country.

Chatelaine joined the Owatonna Live Coaches Show recently. We spoke about his introduction to running through his friends, to participating in the 1982 Boston Marathon “Duel in the Sun,” and the joys of working with high school athletes.

Owatonna Live play-by-play schedule

Friday, July 14
Aces baseball vs. Waseca,7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 16
Aces baseball vs. Rochester, 1 p.m. (doubleheader)