SPORTS WRAP

Bailey Davis didn’t mind standing in the wind-driven rain Friday morning. She was at media day at the Owatonna Gun Club in Hope for the Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener. “Seeing all of these people and news reporters… I think it’s really cool. We’re going out there and they’re going to be watching us shoot. I’m also going to be teaching one of the news reporters how to shoot,” said Davis.

That meant some on-camera time for the Owatonna High School senior and one of the captains for the clay target team. “I am taking a journalism class right now. So, I think I’m pretty good with the interviewing part. Maybe with the shooting part, I’m going to be a little bit nervous. But that’s normal, so I think I’m going to be alright,” she said.

“I do hunt pheasants a little bit. My main thing is deer hunting and a little bit of duck hunting. But that’s mainly more my brother and my dad’s thing,” she said.

She has a bit of a rivalry with her younger brother, Jackson, who is also a member of the trap shooting team.

On the air

Senior captain Will Wottreng said it was important for the team to show support with the opener coming to town for the first time and spoke of that in a radio interview.

“She asked questions about the team and questions about this event. We talked about the fall practice league that’s going on right now and also talked about our spring season,” said Wottreng.

He didn’t mind the TV cameras rolling during the shooting demonstration.

“It didn’t distract me too badly. I just go out there and focus on shooting the birds. It wasn’t too big of a distraction. It’s a really cool event and it’s fun to be here,” he said.

“I hunt waterfowl. A lot of ducks… A little bit of pheasants. I’ll go walk around some public land for pheasants. I just enjoy being out in the wildlife and spending time with friends and family, especially with my dad and brothers. I also just like talking game,” said Wottreng.

Pre-dawn wakeup call

The pre-dawn start to the day didn’t faze Ella Henriksen.

“I think it’s so cool seeing all the news reporters here and seeing everyone come together. I’ll probably be out shooting for a demonstration. I might get interviewed and help others,” she said.

She volunteered because it sounded like a fun thing to do.

Now a sophomore, she joined clay target in the eighth grade at the encouragement of her dad who is a coach.

“I’ve really grown to like it. It’s one of my favorite sports. I really like the social aspect. Just going out to shoot is fun,” she said.

Bringing event to town

Glenda Smith, the Director of Conventions and Tourism with the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, said, “I’m just happy it’s here. We’ve put a lot of time into planning everything and we have had an amazing group to work with.”

Hosting an event like this gives Owatonna a statewide audience, she said.

“We live here and know that we love it, and we know what we love about it. But being able to put it together into a weekend where we can invite others to experience it too is the important part.”

Lightning strikes twice

While lightning was not part of the wild weather last Thursday at Lincoln Elementary School, the OHS boys’ soccer squad must have felt the same shock they experienced a year ago in a similar situation. Last week Lakeville North scored with two minutes to go in regulation and beat the Huskies 2-1 in double overtime of the Section 1AAA semifinals, ending the Huskies’ season at 10-6-2.

A year ago, at Rochester Mayo, the Spartans scored late in regulation to force extra time and edged the Huskies in the section finals. The OHS girls fell at Rochester Century last week 1-0 in the quarterfinals to end their season at 8-7-2.

Senior Night win

Owatonna volleyball rallied from a sluggish start on Senior Night to beat Faribault 3-1 last Thursday. After the Falcons took the opening set 25-15, OHS prevailed 25-20, 25-16, 25-15. Seniors include Izzy Radel, Ashlynn Schwering, Mehsa Krause, Becca Nielson, and Samantha Bogen. Section play begins Wednesday, Oct. 25.

OHS school spirit

School spirit is sky-high at Owatonna High School. Just ask cheer captain Olivia Flores.

“I usually am the one being tossed up into the air. I really love it. Just free-falling through the air is one of my favorite things to do,” she said.

And then she turns it over to her teammates.

“It’s a lot of trust. Through years of cheering with them, you gain that trust,” said Flores. The senior says opening night at Federated Field at Owatonna Stadium was a blast.

“It was so surreal. I was having the time of my life. We get to go onto the field and get to tumble before the football players come out. I was just jumping with joy. I love our new stadium so much,” she said.

Fellow senior captain Mariah Cuellar, who was part of the homecoming court, gets fired up for game days.

“I like watching the sport that I’m cheering for because I cheer for football and basketball. I also love cheering in front of the student section. They’re really good about it,” said Cuellar.

To be ready for game night takes plenty of behind-the-scenes work says junior varsity captain Cameryn Edel.

“For every practice, we usually have running before it starts, and we do weight room about twice a week with some conditioning on the side as well,” said Edel.

“For pep fest and homecoming, we all work together and make one bigger team. But individually we do our own stunts and cheers that go along with it,” she said.

The junior is a sports fan. “I like watching the players score and seeing their reactions to it.”

Freshman Naysa Jacobson is getting experience as a captain with the junior varsity team.

She got an early start to cheer.

“I did the competitive cheer team, I believe since kindergarten,” she said.

Opening night left her with great memories.

“The fans were incredible and the tunnel that the players ran out of was pretty cool too,” she said.

I’m going to Disney

Cuellar was part of the competition cheer team that went to nationals in Florida last winter.

“It was a really fun experience to be a part of being with the team,” she said. “We got to do a lot of things together. We got to go to Disney after we competed at nationals.”

She is involved in DECA, Link Crew, Thriving Minds and Young Life. She will likely pursue business or management at college and hopes to cheer.

Flores is dedicated to Young Life.

“I love the community that is built there. I just love that every Monday after school or a long day, you can go to the club and have a good time. We talk about God, and it really helps get all your stresses out throughout the day. I just love seeing my friends there too,” she said.

She plans to attend a four-year college after a gap year.

Edel is active in SHOC, Concert Choir, Link Crew, and Big Brothers-Big Sisters.

“I just like to make a good, positive impact on our community and get involved,” said Edel. Concert Choir sang the National Anthem at the homecoming game and performed during the grand opening of the high school.

Jacobson invites others to join cheer.

“Cheer is really fun. All the people in cheer are incredible people to be around and it’s just a fun sport,” she said.

New coach

Jenna Compton is the new fall varsity cheer coach but has been coaching for 13 years. The OHS alum is excited to be part of this year’s excitement.

“The big move, the first game and the hype of the first game was all so fun. The new tunnel, the fun traditions that we get to do, and how we are keeping some old traditions as well is great. During our senior pics, the girls got to go up on the goal posts, which they always used to do at the old school,” said Compton.

“Our numbers are great this year. We have a very large varsity squad. In the past few years, it’s been 12-13 athletes. This year we have 18,” she said.

Compton said the cheerleaders worked with the student council for homecoming decorating for the first time.

The rest of the varsity roster includes Mia Armstrong, Hailey Butler, Addison Edel, Sofia Escobedo, Kiana Forsberg, Brooke Hagel, Sophia Hanson, Victoria Koziolek, Hannah Lempiainen, Gabrielle Maeyaert, Samantha Nechanicky, Lauren Prestegard, Kaitlyn Jore-Rami, Georgia Schrom, Kaylee Smith and Ellie Vortherms.

A tradition that continues is the seniors doing push-ups after the football team scores. The girls set a record during the first quarter of homecoming with that 42-point start.