SPORTS WRAP
No matter how successful Owatonna is at rushing the ball Friday night against Mankato West in their homecoming game, it will pale in comparison to the ground covered by the Huskies’ boys’ cross-country team in delivering the football to Federated Field.
Running the game ball from the opposing school to OHS is performed in two-mile stints along back roads.
“I love that it’s a long-lasting tradition and I think it’s a really cool one,” said junior Dawson Levy. “You get to run with that one guy, one-on-one for that two-mile stretch.”
Senior Jack Sorenson mentioned how it’s about more than just getting the job done.
“I’ve gotten to know some of my best friends on this team. My first year ever doing it, me and Leyton Williams were partners. I don’t think I’d be as close with him if it wasn’t for cross country and especially that run. I love doing it, getting all the snaps in the group chat about the guys running the ball while I’m still at school waiting for my turn,” said Sorenson.
Coach Luke Holt said two vans leapfrog their way along the route to switch between runners. It will take about 31 handoffs to cover the distance.
“All our middle schoolers join for the last two miles. And then they get to run around the track and hand the football off. It’s something they look forward to and it’s a great team bonding thing for us. It’s a great way to represent Owatonna cross-country,” said Holt.
Sorenson plans to run in college after coming to cross-country as an eighth grader. Football was initially canceled and he was looking for a way to stay in shape for wrestling. He’s grown to love “the grind of it.”
“It’s never easy. With that and wrestling it’s the mental toughness you gain from it,” said Sorenson.
Levy ran track and was convinced by a friend to keep running through summer and join cross-country. He was a top-10 finisher at the Griak Invitational in mid-September.
“I just love competing against other guys because I think it’s kind of fun to see how far we can push ourselves against other people. And the results we can get from months of training,” said Levy.
Runs in the family
A 17-year run of Wunderlich’s on the OHS girls cross-country team ends this fall with Theresa, a senior captain, and the youngest of five sisters. Savannah, Bria, Payton and Betsy were all captains as well. The youngest and oldest are 12 years apart.
“It was mostly a love of running,” said Theresa Wunderlich. “We all went to each other’s meets when we were little because we had to. Then you just kind of wanted to do it yourself, then you fell in love with it and then you just kept going.”
“It’s been a pleasure,” said coach Dan Leer. “They’re each their own unique individual but all amazing people. Great supportive family. Wonderfully empathetic kids. It’s no ‘Wunder’ that each of them was selected captain in their own years,” said Leer with a laugh.
Wunderlich was Owatonna’s ExCEL Award winner as a junior for her involvement in multiple music programs, student council and a variety of clubs.
“This year I’m trying out for a few new things. Just trying to see everything I can. I like to stay busy. Not too much time to sit at home and do nothing. Then you get to meet new people through the clubs you’re in.”
Running season
Senior captain Isabella Schultz also has a family commitment to the sport.
“I’ve always enjoyed running since I was younger. My mom has done half marathons and instilled in me a love for running. I’d watch her races. When I got to the age where I could start running, I wanted to,” said Schultz.
She talked strategy on the Owatonna Live Coaches Show.
“Races can typically seem very chaotic at the start, especially since there’s so many people running. You want to get out there as fast as you can, so you don’t get boxed in. Then you definitely want to find your pace and settle into it, but don’t forget that you’re still racing. You’ve got to keep pushing. Got to keep going. It’s supposed to feel uncomfortable.”
Schultz has another family connection to a big week at the high school.
“I’m really excited to get to be a part of the homecoming court. It kind of means something special to me because my great-grandma was homecoming queen,” she said.
Annelies deBruin, a senior captain, sees the depth of this team which went to state last year.
“We have a lot of young girls who are doing really well. I think that bodes well for the future of our team, that we’re going to have a lot of strong runners in the next few years. It’s very much a team sport. Everyone supports each other. It’s not just about who’s the best at running. You really do make friends. In general, I think cross-country runners tend to be more friendly with other teams as well. I feel like I’ve met a lot of people from other cities,” said deBruin.
Hall reunion
It had been a while since Kyle Melcher had seen Casey Dehn. The 2009 OHS grads entered the Athletic Hall of Fame together last month after growing up as friends.
“You go to college and you kind of fizzle out and you get into your sports and your other friend groups. Next thing you know 10 years has gone by. So, it was really cool to have him come back,” said Melcher, who is a teacher and coach in town.
He recalls their “park and rec basketball teams being massive” and “playing backyard football with Dehn’s older brothers and sisters, playing with my brother as well. It was always fun.”
Regarding Dehn’s credentials for the hall, “I’ve heard multiple people say this, but he is the nicest, best athlete that you will ever meet,” said Melcher.
Drop the puck
It’s home opening weekend for the Steele County Blades junior hockey club with the Dells Ducks Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5 at the Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna at 7 p.m. The Blades picked up a 6-3 win at the Minnesota Squatch last Saturday behind a hat trick from Jakub Tomecek and 42 saves by James Hunt.
Fourteen skaters return from last season.
“A good mix of that veteran leadership and young opportunity. We’re much faster than we were a year ago. We still need to make sure we can find that elite scoring,” said coach Nick Adamek.
There’s more to the junior experience than just hockey.
“Being part of the community. I think that’s a very important part. The community has been great to us, and we want to make sure we are doing as much as we can to be a part of it. Support those who support us,” said Adamek.
Football at the bank
Don’t blame the kids if they had visions of being professional football players, or maybe state champions. The Owatonna eighth graders played at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.
“All our kids got to play and had a good experience. They were excited to be on the field and are hoping to be back there to win a ring in three years,” said coach Josh Woodrich.
Owatonna lost 32-8 with the touchdown coming from Patrick Nichols and a two-point conversion by Jackson Boyum.
The opportunity came up on short notice when varsity assistant Nate Skala found out from a friend that White Bear Lake – who rented the facility for all their age levels to play – needed an opponent. Woodrich announced it to the team the next day, to hoots and hollers of excitement from the players.
“They were pumped,” he said.
Woodrich is no stranger to the stadium.
“The couple years with Jason Williamson when we won the back-to-back state titles I got to go down on the field and do film. But this will be the first time I actually [got] to coach on the field,” he said.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule
Thursday, Oct. 3
OHS boys soccer vs. Rochester Mayo, 7 p.m.
OHS volleyball vs. Albert Lea, 7:15 p.m.
Medford volleyball vs. WEM, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 4
OHS football vs. Mankato West, 6 p.m. pregame (simulcast on The FAN/Owatonna 1170AM/106.3FM)
Medford football vs. St. Clair/Loyola, 7 p.m.
Blooming Prairie football at Hayfield, 7 p.m.
