STEELE SPORTS
Steele County has become something of a track and field hotbed in recent years, and the more that I’ve come to study the results, I think it’s fair to say there may be a shift in the area’s sports culture.
Owatonna and Blooming Prairie football have long been two of the area’s most prominent programs when it comes to state titles, but more recently, the two towns have seen most of its state champions stand on the podium at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
This year both schools currently roster a state favorite to win in their respective events with two-time state champ Annaka Forsberg hunting down a three-peat and the Huskies’ 4x200 team looking to earn the schools’ first relay title in quite some time.
However, there is sure to be a plethora of other local names looking to make their mark and enter the state spotlight as well.
Seth Johnson (Owatonna), Will Tuttle (NRHEG) and Evelynn Nydegger (NRHEG) are some of the state’s best hurdlers and no strangers to the big meet.
All three should be vying for top-six finishes in their senior seasons.
Medford also has a trio of superstars in Jackie Cole, Isabel Miller and Jesse Ortiz, all of whom have competed at state and are consistently leading their teams to major point totals.
What’s possibly been the most intriguing factor to look at amongst all four schools is how the field programs have continued to flourish.
Blooming Prairie senior Gabe Hein was known for his bounce on the basketball court, but in 2024 he’s already become the school’s record high jumper multiple times, most recently setting the bar at six feet, six inches.
Joining him in the record books is Owen Krueger, who just broke the Awesome Blossoms’ shot put record by throwing 50.5 feet at Medford last week.
Krueger figures to be a top competitor to qualify for the shot put and discus, giving him multiple attempts at his first state title.
Cole and Miller will be Medford’s representatives in the field and only seem to be getting better as they reach the end of the season.
It will be interesting to see how sections and state competition shake out, but as Steele County teams continue to shine, expect to see the bleachers packed for good reason at meets this spring.