SPORTS WRAP
From the opening tap of the first game on Federated Court to a school-record performance at the state swimming meet at the University of Minnesota, the 2023-24 winter sports season was memorable for the Owatonna Huskies.
Pregame hype videos are now the norm, and OHS hit the ground running with Eric Hancock as the wizard behind the curtain. Videos splashed across the scoreboards for basketball, wrestling, adaptive floor hockey, and the boys’ basketball moms who fired up everyone for Senior Night.
Boys’ hoops will graduate most of their starting line-up from a big senior class. Coach Josh Williams told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show it’s been an enjoyable trip through the season.
“It’s just a tremendously fun group of guys. Every day at practice they’re energized. They’re excited. They compete like crazy. So, it’s just been a really fun group to coach,” said Williams.
The girls’ basketball squad made a great commitment to defense this season, according to coach Pat Webb.
“That started last summer with teaching them to have the mindset that most of the game is spent on defense. You’re only going to have the ball in your hands for 5-10% of the game,” said Webb.
They quickly adjusted to their new home.
“You can do a lot of different things now in this gym versus the old space. It gives us a little more flexibility,” he said.
The Huskies will bring back most of their roster next winter.
“The Dog Pound” student section underneath the basket brings the fans even closer to the action. Calmly keeping an eye on their antics is principal Kory Kath. The student section had a grand time cheering on the adaptive floor hockey squad during their lone appearance at OHS.
Big 9 champs
Gymnastics won another Big Nine Conference title. While their stellar section performance left them just short of state, seven individuals made the trip to Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Emma Johnson closed her career with a podium finish on the floor exercise. Halle Theis made it in the all-around competition. Johanna Spielman, Jozie Johnson, Averie Roush, Delia Neumann, and Kendra Miller competed as well.
Losing two seniors leaves a wealth of talent coming back next season. The team gets a new home and will headquarter out of the old high school, making room for more fans to attend meets.
The wrestlers hosted several meets under the spotlight – or space capsule, as Owatonna Live announcer Jason Iacovino refers to the apparatus hanging in the rafters. A tremendous crowd filled the gym for rivalry night against Albert Lea. The second annual Scot Davis Duals brought some coaching alumni into the building.
Five Huskies made it to the Xcel Energy Center for state. Aliah Fisher captured fifth place for the second straight year. Grant Lower, Blake Fitcher, Trey Hiatt, and Kaden Lindquist also competed at state.
Owatonna dance hosted an invitational for the first time. The old gym did not have enough room to allow for a home meet. The Huskies were Big Nine Conference runners-up and took first in jazz.
On ice
Boys’ hockey had a historic win in sections, marking their first-ever victory over Lakeville North High School. Peyton Beyer’s double-overtime goal set off a frenzy. The last time Owatonna beat the Panthers – 23 years ago – Lakeville had just one school. Beyer also had the game-winning goal in the closing seconds of overtime to stun Northfield, the first win for that group of seniors over Northfield in years.
Girls’ hockey had their own exciting home win, rallying from behind against Mankato East at Four Seasons with a three-goal third period, capped by an Izzy Radel marker. OHS beat the Cougars on the road in sections before falling in overtime to state qualifier Northfield.
Boys’ swimming sent a relay team to state, ending a 15-year drought.
The 200-free relay team of David Rhodes, Isaiah Smith, Carter Quam, and Matthew Larson broke the school record three times, including at state prelims.
The same group also bettered the school mark in the 400.
“They had been targets all year. We knew we were going to have a chance at them when we got down toward the end of the season and started to taper for Big Nine and sections. When we broke the 200 free record, we knew that we definitely had a chance at the 400 free. It was a lot of fun,” said Larson. He also set a school record in the 100-yard butterfly.
Swing away
Golf is a year-round sport in Owatonna with the opening of Inside Swing last November.
“The community support has been absolutely amazing and humbling. We’re excited to be here, and it has just been a fun experience. We put in some time here ourselves with some great employees we have. It’s just a fun place to be,” said Inside Swing co-owner Jesse Sletten on Owatonna Live’s “Business Talk”.
The idea hatched two years ago.
“We had been golfing in my garage for quite some time. It got to the point where were unable to get a tee time on Monday night, even when we went out of town. So, I decided to build one in my garage with the help of these guys,” said Sletten.
“We went through a couple of different designs and got some input from some big names in the business. We were able to put something together that has just been absolutely astounding as far as resolution, as far as the picture you get, the functionality of the sims, the size… Basically one night in 2022, we just said let’s do it. So, we put the plan together,” said Sletten.
Inside Swing is in the Bridge Street Center and shares space with Basilleo’s Pizza, which officially opened at the beginning of March. There are three bays up front in addition to a private suite that offers space for about 15 people. They have several coaches available including a long-driving professional. There are leagues and a full bar.
Golfers choose from over 700 courses including fictional options.
“There are some courses that are built that take iconic holes from around the world and plugged all into one 18-hole round. We have a course called ‘Top of the World’ which just has some huge elevation changes. If you want to hit a shot off a mountain onto a fairway, you can do that,” said Sletten.
“If you’re in Southern Minnesota and you like participating in tournaments, there’s going to be a lot of good golfers coming out of Owatonna this summer. If you’re not at Inside Swing getting better, you should be. The tournaments are going to be fun this year,” he believes.
Brooktree
Some will call this winter a joke. And well before it can be considered an April Fool’s joke, Brooktree Golf Course announced over the weekend they would open for the season on March 12.
Drake Simonson of Owatonna Parks and Recreation told Karen Hale on Owatonna Live’s “Straight Talk”, “Kurt Stangler’s been telling us if the weather stays like it is, he could see us having a nice early year to get out there and get started.”
The clubhouse will take on a new look.
“Our pro shop side this year is getting fully remodeled. We’ve got the new recessed lighting in. Our golf course rec supervisor, Stangler, is going to move over into the pro shop side. As well as a nice glass door entryway to the pro shop to keep separated of the restaurant side,” said Simonson.
The renovation includes an expansion for Lacey’s Kitchen & Cocktails.
“They’re going to get a walk-in cooler, which is then going to look like a nice wall in the entryway where I believe they plan to have some plaques hanging up depicting some history of Brooktree,” said Simonson.
“Lacey’s is returning. They’re going to be primarily focusing just on Brooktree this year and making that a full year-round restaurant destination stop for Owatonna. They’re coming in and putting their energy and time here in Owatonna with our facility,” he said.
New golf carts with GPS are coming. Simonson said hiring has begun for the season at Brooktree, River Springs Water Park and for summer camps. Visit the park and rec website for more information.
