SPORTS WRAP
Don’t let the cold force you to spend the entire winter indoors. Dan Ruiter, Information Officer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says Rice Lake State Park offers many activities during its snow-covered stage. “We’re really lucky to have a resource like this. We’ve got fantastic birding opportunities out here. We’ve got some fine examples of prairie and of course the hardwoods as well.”
He told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show that he believes it’s one of the more underappreciated state parks, adding there’s great wildlife viewing even during the winter. The park stays open year-round, “There’s a stark beauty when it comes to wintertime. You have different views with different seasons.” You can cross-country ski and snowshoe at the park. Be sure to get your Great Minnesota Ski Pass.
GOVERNOR’S PHEASANT OPENER
Ruiter reminds us that Owatonna will host the Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener next year, “We’ve very excited about that.” He says the application process involved the DNR, Explore Minnesota and the Governor’s office, “This is a really great way for Owatonna to showcase all that is going on, not only natural resource wise, but in the community as well.” Ruiter’s hopeful that Rice Lake State Park will be part of the event.
The current pheasant season is open until sunset on Jan. 1, 2023. There are some special deer hunting seasons coming up around the region. An unfilled deer tag can be used for the Chronic Wasting Disease hunts. The small game season continues through the end of February for squirrels and rabbits. Check the DNR website for more details.
ENJOY THE WINTER
Ruiter encourages hard-water anglers to know the guidelines on ice thickness and check with local resorts and bait shops, “We say at the DNR, no ice is 100% safe.”
Regarding snowmobiling, he credits local trail clubs, “Because they’re the ones that really make this happen. There are about 22,000 miles of granted-aid trails around the state of Minnesota, 21,000 of those miles maintained by volunteers.
The Division of Fish and Wildlife offers online seminars every Wednesday throughout the year. Previous sessions offering a wide variety of topics can also be viewed. Fishing, hunting, training your dog, how to fat-tire bike, the list goes on.
Use of parks spiked during the pandemic, and that surge continues, “Visitation to our state parks remains very strong. All of our state parks across the system are reporting that we haven’t really lost [people].” Ruiter says, “We want folks to enjoy their outdoor spaces. It belongs to all of us.”
NEW LOOK TO BASKETBALL
Owatonna boys’ basketball graduated four starters from their two-time defending section championship team. Some experience returns with the current group of seniors, including point guard Collin Vick, “I learned a lot especially from Brayden [Williams] and Ty [Creger] with how they ran the offense, how they led practice…I feel like just take what they did and recreate some of that this year and add some new things as well.” He looks for the offense to be fast-paced.
Blake Burmeister is the returning starter, “With everybody leaving that did leave last year, it provides a lot of opportunity for everybody to fill in different roles and accomplish things that maybe they haven’t accomplished before. I feel like gaining chemistry and learning where everybody feels their role is on the team is the biggest part at the beginning of the year and throughout the season.”
Ayden Walter jumps into a more prominent role. He told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show that rebounding must become a team effort, “We are not big in size, especially when you don’t have a big Evan Dushek down there. [Jason] Klecker can get a lot of the rebounds, but we can’t just rely on him to get most of them. So, that’s something we need to work on. Boxing out, getting rebounds. But then most importantly, with our small size and quickness, we can also get some teams with the transition.”
OHS had a game Dec. 22 postponed. They play at a holiday tournament in Hibbing.
BLOOMING PRAIRIE HOOPS YOUTH NIGHT
A great crowd turned out for the Blooming Prairie girls’ basketball home opener on Youth Night. They were treated to a 58-35 victory over Medford. Coach John Bruns said the team hadn’t played in nearly two weeks due to weather postponements, “We weren’t sure exactly how we would come out. The girls shook off the rust right away, scoring the first 14 points of the game.”
Shawntee Snyder led the Blossoms with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Macy Lembke added 13.
OVERTIME GAME-WINNER TIMES 2
Many hockey players go through their careers without a game-winning, overtime goal. Huskies junior Joe Webster now has two of them, “It’s crazy. Last year I scored the game-winner against Mayo. It’s the craziest feeling you’ll ever feel.”
He scored a similar goal against Albert Lea recently, “We got into the zone. One of the guys fumbled it. I grabbed it and then their defenseman put their stick down on the far boards and I barely got the puck under his stick. Then I drove the far post and snuck it in under his pad.”
Owatonna entered the holiday break with a 4-1 loss at Gentry Academy. A game with Century on December 22 was postponed by the weather. The Huskies play in the Duluth Heritage Tournament after Christmas.
SOME THINGS ARE FREE
Senior citizens in the Owatonna School District can get an activities pass for free to attend regular-season sporting and fine arts events. It’s a program that went into effect several years ago and has been a big hit according to Activities Director Marc Achterkirch, “It was a great program that our school board set up and our superintendent [Jeff] Elstad, to allow our seniors, 62 and over, and if you’re an Owatonna resident, you can get a lifetime activities pass to all of our events…regular season events only.”
“Our senior passes are extremely popular. With everything opening up again and full seasons, we’ve had a rush on senior passes, which is great. Folks can just call the activities office [507-444-8988], talk to me or Nancy [Benson]…This is a lifetime [pass]. Keep it. Laminate it.”
“It’s a fantastic deal. It’s a great way to honor our residents that have been in Owatonna for a long time and supported our athletics and activities for a long time. We love to see them at our events.”
Even in this day of online ticketing, the physical activities pass remains valid. Achterkirch reminds spectators that the Activities Pass is good for regular-season events only. Section playoffs are administered by the state and require an admission charge.
OWATONNA LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY SCHEDULE
Tuesday, January 3
OHS girls’ hockey vs Lakeville South, 7 pm
OHS boys’ basketball against Winona, 7:30 pm