SPORTS WRAP

I still get excited for the start of each prep sports season. In attending the recent football scrimmage at Prior Lake High School, I felt as though I had found a blue and silver jackpot at the end of a rainbow as I drove over the crest of the hill that leads to the field.

Later that day, I walked across the perfectly manicured grass field at the Lincoln Soccer Complex to check with coach Bob Waypa on his roster. It was a satisfying feeling. As the new sports year cranks up, here are a few events I’m looking forward to watching.

Home football

Home opening weekend in Steele County offers a chance to catch a couple of games. Owatonna hosts the defending Class AAAAA state champion Chanhassen on Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. While the Huskies graduated many components, they also returned a wealth of players from the section championship team.

The Storm are without their dynamic running back and starting quarterback. Chanhassen coach Cullen Nelson won the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award last fall. Before last season’s game with Owatonna, Cullen – a Northfield graduate – said he admired the Owatonna program and hoped to emulate their success with Chanhassen.

United Way of Steele County is hosting a “Kickoff for a Cause” tailgate party before the game from 5-6:30 p.m. with food, games and music at Federated Field.

Medford kicks off their home schedule at the same time as they entertain Lester Prairie, who was a section runner-up last year after reaching the state tournament in 2022.

Blooming Prairie football plays an early game on Saturday, Sept. 7 with an 11 a.m. kickoff against Fillmore Central at McFarlin Field. The game’s theme is “Two Teams: One Mission” to fight cancer. The BP Cancer Group will host a series of fundraising activities. Their mammoth annual auction is Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7 under the big tent at Blooming Prairie Cue Company.

Thursday night football

Several local teams play their week seven football games on Thursday, Oct. 10. Blooming Prairie hosts Winona Cotter. Medford entertains WEM. NRHEG brings JWP to town. That gives those teams an extra day to prepare for the traditional Wednesday week-eight game entering MEA weekend.

Owatonna still has a Friday game in week seven, going to Rochester John Marshall before hosting Apple Valley to close the regular season on Oct. 16.

Medford spikers

Medford volleyball plays a challenging schedule each year thanks to the strength of the Gopher Conference. This season they ramped it up even more by accepting an invitation to the Marshall Tournament Sept. 6-7. Three of the four defending state champs highlight the loaded field.

The Tigers are five years removed from consecutive appearances at the state tournament including a runner-up finish in 2018. Senior outside hitter Addison Vandereide remembers being a young fan.

“I definitely remember looking up to them a lot and just thinking, ‘that could be me in the next few years,’” said Vandereide.

She can feel the support from the community, telling Todd Walkingstick on Owatonna Live’s Beyond the Game, “I love when there’s lots of energy. It makes the game a whole lot more intense and more fun to play in.”

Vandereide saw her first varsity action as a freshman. She appreciates how previous seniors treated her and looks forward to teaching the younger players this season. She said sports runs in her family.

“My brother, A.J., was always involved in sports. So, he led me down that same path.”

Soccer at OHS

Junior soccer captain Gavin Burmeister is looking forward to the boys’ debut performance at the high school on Sept. 26.

“It’ll be fun. It’ll be a new environment over there instead of playing over here and playing on turf for once at home. Playing on turf, the ball moves a lot faster than you think than on grass,” said Burmeister.

He loves the field at Lincoln.

“I just like the grass. The grass is very nice. They cut it short. It’s just perfect for us to play on,” he said.

The girls host Northfield two nights later.

“Turf is a lot faster. So, it takes a little bit of adjusting. Grass is a little bit slower but it’s nice to play on both,” said senior captain Sophia Schlauderaff.  The girls played one game at the high school last season.

Many road games, and potentially playoff games, will be on artificial turf. Coaches and players acknowledge it’s important to get practice and playing time on both.

Players coaching

At least two of the Huskies’ girls soccer players worked the sidelines as coaches for youth teams over the summer. Senior captain Abby Shornock played on the Owatonna Soccer Association U-18 team.

“I also coached a U-14 girls’ team and a U-14 boys’ team. It really helps understand the game and see it from a different perspective. Seeing what the girls should be doing or even knowing how to teach the girls to do something new really helps with your game,” said Shornock.

Kelli Waypa, a senior captain, coached a U-9 girls’ squad.

“I think it was just another fun thing to get involved with. I love soccer and kids, so I thought it would be a fun thing to try. It’s definitely different because they’re so young. But it’s learning to show the players the game and how it all works starting from a young age,” said Waypa.

Shornock shared a youth memory with the OwatonnaLive.com Coaches Show.

“I don’t remember what age I was. But I had broken my arm and so I had this huge bubble wrap cast on. We hadn’t won a game at all that whole entire season. But then we played our last game, and we won it 5-0,” she said.

Cross-country

Owatonna cross country hosts three meets at Brooktree Golf Course. The Ev Berg Invitational is on Oct. 3. The Big Nine Conference meet comes on Oct. 15. Sections are on Oct. 24.

The OHS girls qualified for state last year for the first time in 21 years. Carsyn Brady and Anna Cox were seniors on the state team.

“Losing a runner like Carsyn [NDSU] is always tough. But the girls we have returning, even though they’re still young, have the experience, talent, and drive to put us back in the mix to challenge for the top spots in both the conference and the section,” said Owatonna head coach Dan Leer.

Jack Sorenson is back for the boys after a dramatic finish last year to qualify for state. He fell coming down the final stretch but picked himself back up and crossed the finish line before collapsing again.

“He is looking to win the section meet and become an all-state runner this year,” said Owatonna head coach Luke Holt on Sorenson’s 2024 goals.

Sorenson ran the 1,600 and 3,200 at the state track meet in June.

Holt is confident that Dawson Levy could advance too.

“He is looking to build off of an extremely strong track season and qualify for state as an individual.”

Going digital

It’s not just a fad. Electronic ticketing continues to spread. Medford and Blooming Prairie are moving to online ticketing. Medford was still taking cash for their volleyball opener in late August, but QR codes were posted in several spots encouraging fans to pay admission that way. At least for the moment, they were still offering paper programs. Quite a few schools are shifting to QR codes for those.

Blooming Prairie, likewise, “will still take cash at events but prefer you to purchase tickets digitally,” according to an email from Activities Director Ali Mach. “You will have the option to buy tickets ahead of time or at the door using your credit card. Please note that some schools we visit may only offer a cashless option.”

Owatonna is cashless at sporting events with tickets available through Hometown Ticketing. Find a link at owatonnaactivities.com. Tickets can be purchased a week or two in advance. Activities Tickets can be purchased through the app or at the activities office at the high school, but you are encouraged to get those electronically as well.

OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule

Thursday, Sept. 5
OHS girls soccer vs. Austin, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 6
OHS football vs. Chanhassen, 7 p.m.
Medford football vs. Lester Prairie, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7
Blooming Prairie football, vs. Fillmore Central, 11 a.m.
OHS boys soccer vs. St. Paul Central, 2 p.m.