SPORTS WRAP
After a 15-win season, the Owatonna boys hockey team opens the Section 1AA playoffs at home Thursday, Feb. 22, against Lakeville North.
The Huskies (17-5-3) are the fourth seed. The Panthers (6-17-2) are seeded fifth. North beat OHS 3-0 in the section quarterfinals last year at Ames Arena.
Coach Dennis Will told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show the team got a shot in the arm with a thrilling overtime win against Northfield.
“It really gives us confidence. Because Northfield has a really good team, and they were undefeated in the conference prior to us. It gives us the belief we can beat Lakeville North since they did that,” said Will.
Just as Owatonna’s seniors enjoyed their first win in a few years against Northfield, Will also found satisfaction in the win considering his ties to Raider hockey – coaching some of those players while his son was in the system.
Will is pleased with the Huskies’ depth on the blue line.
“It’s nice to have five or six defensemen that return from last year, and a lot of them are seniors. It’s just a really strong crew back there. We also have a goaltender who’s a senior who’s playing well now too. We like our chances going into the playoffs.”
He adds there’s great chemistry on offense with six players at nine goals or more. Senior Owen Beyer is among the Big Nine Conference leaders with 31 goals and 25 assists for 56 points. Seniors Joseph Webster (17 goals, 24 assists) and Brody Goodnature (15 goals, 26 assists) have 41 points apiece.
Senior defenseman Jack Strom says leadership is a strong factor in the team’s success.
“I think a lot of it is our senior class. Our leaders really stepped up. Our captains really brought us together, especially after all the events that have happened on our team,” said Strom.
“The excitement is there. You get to this time of year, and you’re a little tired. You’ve had 25 games, and it’s February,” said Will. “The state tournament is almost here. It’s an incredible tournament. These kids have a legit chance.”
Owatonna’s only state tournament appearance came in 1998.
Jetting away
Beyer signed a tender to play junior hockey with the Janesville Jets of the North American Hockey League (NAHL.) That’s the same league the former Owatonna Express played in.
Beyer was an All-Conference player as a sophomore with 13 goals and 14 assists. He missed his entire junior season after suffering a back injury during football. He returned to the gridiron this past fall and earned All-District honors, while also catching the first touchdown pass ever thrown at Federated Field.
The Jets’ season continues into April, but coach Will indicated Beyer intends to play baseball for the Huskies this spring.
Even before that, Beyer is focused on the playoffs and building on the win over the Raiders. “Everything we’ve been doing this year, it comes to show it’s paid off in that last overtime win over Northfield. All the skating we’ve been doing, it all just paid off. So, it was great to see that,” said Beyer.
Cheer at Nationals
A year after missing finals by less than a point, the NRHEG competition cheer team placed eighth at nationals in Florida earlier this month. The team celebrated at a welcome home event at the high school with the pep band and speeches from members of the team to the student body.
“I could not be more proud of the performances we put out. They were the best three routines we’ve had all season. This was such an incredible feeling, and we all worked so hard for this moment,” said senior Brenna Sommer.
After winning three straight state championships, the squad finished third this season while competing against the likes of mammoth schools such as Minnetonka and White Bear Lake and qualified for Nationals for the second straight season.
“This season was a little bit different. Up until this past weekend, we hadn’t really performed anywhere near as well as we knew we could. We really hadn’t hit our routine all year, which is when you can perform your whole routine without dropping a stunt,” said coach Joni Churchill.
“In a cheer routine, you get 2.5 minutes to prove yourself and get it right. There’s really no room for error or bad days. There’s not second half to make up for the points you didn’t get in the first,” she said.
Churchill and coaches Brooke Berg, Jennie Bunn, Angela Gehrke, and Linda Stadheim considered removing a stunt at times if it wasn’t working, but the team told them, “We’re leaving it in there. We’re going to hit it.”
“The first day we competed, we put out one of our best performances and were so confident that we would advance. And sure enough, we did. Then we went back and did it again. As soon as the announcer said he had to spell out the name, we all knew we were moving on to finals,” said senior Isabel Stadheim.
“The next day, they went into the finals – the last time ever performing this routine together as a team – and they hit one last time, earning themselves a jaw-dropping eighth place in the nation,” Churchill stated.
“We have worked for years and years to compete at the level that we do. We put in just as much time and effort as every other sport. You cannot know how much blood, sweat, tears, and love have gone into this routine,” said senior Payton Bunn.
The team brought home a large trophy.
“So big that we had to have a parent drive it home because we couldn’t bring it on the plane,” said Churchill.
Team members include seniors Bunn, Sommer, Stadheim, Julia Churchill, and Malonna Wilson; junior Sierra Misgen; sophomore Madison Bogue; freshmen Ariel Anhalt, Autumn Baseman, Olivia Berg, Addy Buenger, and Orianna Degen; and eighth-grader Kenley Gehrke.
Gusty pipeline
Jacob Ginskey is the second member of the OHS Class of 2024 to commit to play football at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. He joins Torrin Smith, whose decision was part of the recent National Signing Day celebration. Ginskey set several passing records this past season and ended second on the all-time yardage list in Owatonna history behind Abe Havelka (OHS ’17).
After the team’s run to the state tournament, Huskies’ head coach Jeff Williams stated, “Jacob persevered through a lot of adversity early in his career and overcame it to have one of the finest seasons and careers ever put up by an Owatonna quarterback. He matured into a phenomenal leader on and off the field. His ability to keep plays alive with his mobility was the best we have seen here.”
Carson DeKam (OHS ’20) is eligible for a fifth year with the Gusties due to COVID-19 and is the reigning MIAC Defensive Player of the Year. Huskies’ 2023 grads Drew Kretlow and Dezmond Nichols were both freshmen for the Gusties last fall.
Floor hockey
The student section went into a frenzy each time the puck came into their corner of Federated Court as the Huskies hosted an adaptive floor hockey game on Feb. 12. Cheerleaders fired up the big hometown crowd. The pep band played the National Anthem. The opposing team nearly fell off their chairs when a Minnesota Wild-like goal horn sounded after Owatonna junior Jesse Fonner scored.
South Washington – a co-op of East Ridge, Park, and Woodbury high schools – won the game, but smiles were still abundant on OHS athlete and fan faces after their special appearance at the new gym. Their home games are normally held at the middle school.
The Thunderbolts coach indicated to school officials afterward that he would love to have his team back to soak up the amazing atmosphere. OHS coach C.W. Wolfe says he’s heard that before while setting up the team’s schedule.
It was senior night as well, honoring the Huskies’ Cecelia Huerta, Isabel Ihrke, Alexis Talley, and Kylie Hirsh. Owatonna Live broadcast partner Jake Norrid and I “got knuckles” from Fonner after the game, leaving smiles on our faces.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule
Thursday, Feb. 22
OHS boys’ hockey playoffs vs. Lakeville North, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 23
OHS girls’ basketball vs. Northfield, 7:30 p.m.