On your mark. Get set. Come home!

The 2025 season is a new era for Blooming Prairie track and field with first-year head coach Kylie Forystek and debut assistant coach Madelin Bruessel joining the squad. It’s also an exciting homecoming for many in town.

Forystek was part of Blooming Prairie’s Class of 2017 and returned home at the beginning of the school year to teach sixth grade and coach after spending the past few years in Farmington.

“Probably the coolest part of my life is going to school here and then coming back and getting to work here now. To have this support of everyone as a student-athelte, but now as an employee as well is really cool… I think the reason I love to coach is because of the coaches I had here at Blooming Prairie. They had a big impact on me, so it’s exciting to be able to do multiple things to help and connect with kids,” said Forystek.

Joining Forystek as an assistant coach is Bruessel, an Owatonna High School Class of 2021 graduate.

Bruessel came to Blooming Prairie this winter following her graduation from Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she ran for both the cross-country and track and field teams.

When not at the track, she also works in town as the Positive Community Norms Coordinator for the United Way of Steele County.

“I like our smaller community, plus I have some family here. I was really happy when Ali [Mach] asked me if I wanted to coach because I graduated early and missed our indoor and outdoor track seasons this year, so I was really sad about that. I was so excited when she asked me if I wanted to coach track because then I’d still get to be around it,” said Bruessel.

The excitement around town about the new duo in charge has seen the team’s numbers grow compared to last year.

Forystek spent this fall working as a C-squad volleyball coach and won over the admiration of many of her athletes.

Take one look at her team’s roster, and it’s noticeably full of volleyball athletes. It even includes some family member as well.

“It’s really special. Me, Jack Bruns and Emmerson Nelson are all cousins. For me, getting to be coached by my uncle gave us a new connection that I think is really cool… I’ve also loved seeing our volleyball kids come out. We went from 35-40 kids last year to almost 60 this year. That’s one of the special things about Blooming Prairie is the ability to have these connections with the kids and knowing them as both human beings and athletes,” said Forystek.

Forystek and Bruessel are both equally as excited to begin their varsity-level coaching careers together.

“It’s really exciting always to have passionate people to work with. You know, we’re passionate about the sport and about working with kids, so I know it’s going to be great,” said Forystek.

“I’m excited to work and learn with Kylie. We’re both in our first years so it’s going to be a great experience learning and growing together,” said Bruessel.

Blooming Prairie’s next meet is at Triton High School on Friday, April 11 at 4:30 p.m.