SPORTS WRAP
Annabelle Petsinger got thrown into wrestling her brother around the time she started walking. “He would shove my face in the floor,” she told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show. Nonetheless, she fell in love with the sport.
Growing up, she figured her career would end in high school. Then things changed. Girls’ and women’s wrestling took off and college became an option. It was really a no-brainer for the NRHEG senior, who won a state title last winter.
“When I was little, they didn’t actually have women’s wrestling in college… High school might have been the last years I could wrestle. And then it started becoming more of a thing… It’s just good that it started, and I can be able to continue to wrestle,” she said.
She found encouragement at camps she attended, where she heard, “You can wrestle in college. You will wrestle in college if you want to.” According to her, that really drove it home. Petsinger recently committed to Iowa Central Community College and had signing day at the high school surrounded by teammates, family, and her current and future coach.
“The thing you can say about Annabelle is her determination. She’ll work on the process. She doesn’t look at the standing on top of the podium as the outcome, but I need to do ‘x’ amount of reps at this exercise. She just pushes through and perseveres with all of the stuff that she needs to do in the process,” said Panthers Head Coach Shawn Larson.
College wrestling is freestyle, which Larson believes fits her well.
“Annabelle has always been excellent on her feet, at the hand fighting, and positioning. And her experience in freestyle has been good in the long run,” he said.
“It’s a lot more active on your feet, a lot more movement…It’s a lot of fun,” said Petsinger on freestyle wrestling.
Petsinger caught the eye of Iowa Central coach Zak Hensley during a camp at the school.
“Her mindset, you can tell she’s got wrestling in her blood. It’s who she is, and the type of person she is. We know what we’re getting every day. She’s going to come in and work her tail off every day,” said Hensley.
He says the Tritons have a staff dedicated to the women’s program and says there are plenty of teams in Iowa, which is attracting some of the top talent from across the country.
Growing sport
Larson has witnessed growth in the sport at the high school level.
“It’s almost doubled over the last two years. Being on the advisory committee, I see the numbers spike that way. College is the same thing. You’re seeing a lot of the Big Ten programs pick up women’s programs,” he said.
Petsinger is the only NRHEG female grappler so far, but Larson added, “After her title, we’ve had a few people that are interested.”
She found plenty to like at the Fort Dodge, Iowa school.
“They’ve got a lot of nice facilities for athletics and wrestling, got a big room, three mats if I remember correctly. A nice team lifting room. It’s got brand-new racks. Well, at least it looks brand new to me,” said Petsinger.
Petsinger, who is ranked nationally, is focusing on the process as she begins her senior season.
“I want to go out there and have better overall technique and control during the matches because that’s where the improvement should come from,” she said.
She will pursue a pre-veterinarian track in college.
“I like science and I grew up on a farm. You spend enough time doing the home remedies for animals with injuries and you think, ‘Hey, maybe I should learn the proper way to do this’” she said.
Panther pride
NRHEG senior Evelyn Nydegger committed to play soccer at Moorhead State University after back-to-back All-Conference seasons with Waseca, whom the Panthers co-op with for multiple sports. She scored 22 goals this fall as the club won its second straight Big South Conference title.
Panther senior Isabel Stadheim also committed to cheer at the University of Minnesota. She is part of an NRHEG competitive cheer team that recently earned a bid to nationals. A signing ceremony was scheduled at a separate time for Nydegger and Stadheim.
Champions reunite
Former OHS wrestling teammates Peyton Robb (OHS ’18) and Landen Johnson (OHS ’22) met on a college mat this month. The two combined for five state titles and shared time on the Huskies’ roster for two seasons.
Robb, a senior at the University of Nebraska, recovered from a devastating bacterial infection in his leg that struck at the NCAA tournament. His career record entering this season was 78-27. Johnson is a redshirt freshman at North Dakota State University after going 13-3 last winter. Robb, ranked No. 3 in the nation, beat Johnson by tech fall 18-3 at 157 pounds.
All-Star
Owatonna senior Mitch Seykora was named to the high school all-star football game on Dec. 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium. He is a starting linebacker, plays frequently at fullback, and handles long snapping duties.
“You’ve got to be laser-focused because if you mess up on that, it’s not very good,” he said about long snapping.
He earned an all-district honorable mention last fall on defense.
“You just got to stick your nose in there, take a hit even if you don’t want to. You just got to do it. You don’t always make the tackle but do your job and things will come to you,” he said about playing defense for the Huskies.
Seykora hopes to play baseball in college. He was an all-Big Nine and all-section selection as a junior, while earning team MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors. He hit .453 last spring with three home runs and 17 RBIs. He also struck out 34 batters in 33 innings pitched.
Soccer goes on
The prep soccer season may be over, but the game is still on the minds of many OHS players. During an interview on Owatonna Live, several girls spoke of their off-season plans. Kennedy Schammel plays with a club team in the Twin Cities that flies to events as a recruiting tool for colleges.
“We have the pressure of around 100 scouts every time in our game, which is nerve-wracking. But I feel like you just got to know you’re on the team for a reason and play with that confidence piece. I’m hoping to go play at the collegiate level,” said Schammel.
Junior Kelli Waypa plays in Faribault.
“That’s at Shattuck, and it’s just every Sunday. Just to get touches on the ball. I’m also going to do speed and strength at the high school,” she said.
Sophomore Attley Klemmensen plays in Blaine.
“It’s really fun traveling. You have to get so close to the girls so fast. By the end of the season, you’re all best friends. And it’s so much fun,” she said.
Soccer awards
Owatonna girls’ soccer Head Coach Nate Gendron announced award winners Isabella Muir (defensive MVP), Schammel (MVP attack), Molly Achterkirch (Most Versatile), Morgan Martinez (Unsung Hero), Sophia Schlauderaff and Klemmensen (Best Newcomers), and Samantha Hartman (Coach’s Award).
Big Nine all-conference selections were Schammel, Muir, Averi Vetsch and Alia Kubicek. Honorable Mentions included Abby Shornock and Waypa. OHS went 8-7-2 overall, finishing third in the Big Nine Conference.
Double hat trick
The Steele County Blades put on a good show for a big crowd Friday night at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna. The junior hockey team hosted students from Lincoln Elementary in addition to honoring veterans.
Aiden Waters (Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania) notched a hat trick in the 10-2 victory over Isanti. Brody Ward (Annandale) had a hat trick plus three assists. Quinten Friborg (Bagley) scored his first junior goal. On Saturday, the Blades lost to the Minnesota Moose 5-4 in overtime. Steele County plays their next home game on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 3 pm.
Turkey trot
For those looking for a little exercise before feasting on Thanksgiving, the annual Turkey Trot to benefit Infants Remembered in Silence is in Faribault. The lineup includes a 5K and 10K run, a 5K walk, a tot trot and gobble wobble for the younger crowd. Proceeds assist families who have lost a child. A portion of the course through a park has memorials displayed. Go to irisremembers.com for info.