SPORTS WRAP

In two seasons as Owatonna High School boys’ hockey coach, Dave Fromm created strong relationships. His sudden death in late August hit the community hard. Huskies’ Activities Director Marc Achterkirch said it was a difficult situation.

“I think the hockey community came together really, really well and rallied around our boys and the Fromm family. Our thoughts and prayers still go out to them. Dave will not be out of our minds,” said Achterkirch.

“He leaves behind a lot, and we’re just kind of picking up where we started with him. We have a new coach. He’s amazing. We’re just going to keep playing like he would want us to. Live his legacy on and keep playing hockey,” said senior captain Mark Spurgeon during an interview with the Owatonna Live Coaches Show.

The Blue Line Club and youth hockey put up a dedication display in the main lobby of Four Seasons Centre to honor him. The No. 77 jersey represents the one he wore during his playing days. Fromm’s family was on hand for a ceremony during Monday’s home opener.

“I believe that he pushed every player to be the best individual that they could possibly be. He was trying to bring together a team of great individuals that could push beyond and be one great thing,” said senior captain Brody Goodnature.

Dennis Will coached the Indians to a pair of Big Nine Conference titles and the took the Huskies to their only state tournament appearance. He is still on the teaching staff at OHS.

“Denny had stepped up to me and said, ‘I’d really like to take this opportunity.’ I’m very thankful because Denny has worked his tail off getting ready for this season,” said Achterkirch. Assistant coaches Justin Fletcher, Paul Martinson, James Wagoner, and Devin Laiho return.

Fromm’s impact reached more than just his own team.

“He was a great person. He was so energetic, so enthusiastic about hockey, and was somebody that I could go to and talk to about hockey nonstop. As anybody else could as well. Even though it was a short impact on our community and our hockey program, it’s a lasting impact,” said OHS girls’ head coach Tony Cloud.

Cloud said a goal is to continue Fromm’s passion and “drive the youth levels the way that he was able to, and continue on what he was doing, by being positive and having high energy.”

Huskies swim past Packers

Owatonna’s depth led to a boys’ swimming win over Austin to open the season on Dec. 7. Coach Peter Rhodes indicated this was the first win over Austin during his time at the helm.

OHS won just four events, including three in a row early in the meet. Matthew Larson and David Rhodes went first and second in the 200 freestyle, Logan Flynn got a touch-out to take the 200 IM, and Carter Quam and Isaiah Smith were the top two in the 50 freestyle event.

The Huskies also won the 200 freestyle relay with Larson, Rhodes, Quam, and Smith. Henry Hilgendorf was second in diving. Smith touched out for second place in the 100 breaststroke. The final score was 97.5-80.5 for the Huskies.

Flynn was named the Owatonna Live “Swimmer of the Meet” with a pair of third-place performances in addition to his win in the 200 IM. Owatonna hosts Faribault at Owatonna Middle School on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. (Brad Betterman contributed to this report.)

Football awards

The Owatonna High School football team closed the books on their 2023 section championship season with their annual awards banquet last weekend. Junior Nolan Ginskey earned Most Valuable Player after a school record 1,194 yards receiving on offense and four interceptions on defense. Junior Jack Meneguzzo was named Lineman of the Year after his second year starting at center.

Player of the Year honors were presented to senior long snapper Mitch Seykora (special teams), senior quarterback Jacob Ginskey (offense) and junior linebacker Blake Davison (defense). Ginskey finished second in career passing yards (4,201) after finishing the second-best individual season passing season ever as a Husky with 2,547 yards. Davison led the team in defensive points. Head coach Jeff Williams indicated Seykora’s anonymity at snapper proved his value.

The Champions of the Year were backup quarterback Noah Truelson and defensive back Ethan Armstrong. Captains for 2024 will be Davison, Ginskey, and Meneguzzo.

Big Nine Conference scholar athletes are Armstrong, Ginskey, Rielly Kleeberger, Grant Lower, Joey Pirkl, Bailey Ruch, Seykora, Brennan Sletten, Jack Strom, Nathan Theis, and Will Wottreng. Ginskey also earned all-state academic honors. The team had an overall GPA of 3.45, tied for best in the state among Class 5A schools.

OHS grad on the bench

Long before she was coaching her own daughters on the Lakeville South basketball team, OHS grad Angie Iverson-Ohnstad knew she wanted to stay involved in the sport.

“Even when I was younger, I knew that I always wanted to have basketball as a part of my life. I knew I wouldn’t be able to play forever. I coached at Lakeville North for eight years and then I took a few years off and had both my girls. An opportunity arose here to take over a team that was struggling a little bit,” said Iverson-Ohnstad.

The Cougars were within a game of qualifying for state last season, falling to Lakeville North in the section final. She likes the competitiveness.

“I enjoy the coaching. I enjoy being on the court, the basketball things, being part of the team, teaching the girls how awesome it is when you get to be a part of the team,” she said.

Iverson-Ohnstad was a four-year letter-winner and two-year captain for the University of Minnesota. She was a two-time All-Big Ten and three-time academic all-conference athlete. She became Lakeville South’s head coach for the 2011-12 season.

Her daughters, Finley and Piper, are on the same team for the first time.

“It’s exciting for us parents to be able to see, but sometimes there’s ups and downs with that. But it’s really exciting. It’s fun,” she said.

Finley is currently a senior, while Piper is a freshman.

Finley has committed to play at Kansas State.

“The biggest thing that really sold her and us as parents is the whole team is like a big family. You can really tell that they care about each other. The girls are close-knit. The families are great. It’s not that far of a drive, and it was a good fit for her style of play. We’re excited,” said Iverson-Ohnstad.

Finley set school records for points in a game with 45 while hitting nine three-pointers in a recent contest against Wayzata.

Iverson-Ohnstad hopes to get Owatonna on the schedule sometime soon and see the new gym.

“I hear some pretty amazing things about how awesome the school is,” she said.

South eliminated Owatonna in the section playoffs last season in Lakeville. The last regular season meeting at OHS was in December 2019.

OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule

Thursday, Dec. 14
OHS boys’ swim & dive vs. Faribault, 6:30 p.m.
OHS girls’ hockey vs. Red Wing, 7 p.m.
OMS orchestra concert, 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 15
OHS wrestling vs. John Marshall, 5:30 p.m.
OHS boys’ basketball vs. Austin, 7:30 p.m.