SPORTS WRAP
There’s plenty to accomplish this season for the Owatonna High School gymnastics team. They desire to get back to the top of the Big Nine Conference after a runner-up finish last winter. The Huskies host sections and hope to return to state. Senior Kaitlyn Cobban looks forward to a big crowd at OHS, “I’m excited for that. I think the energy in the gym will be really good to have for us.”
Coach Evan Moe told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show the girls begin with a strong off-season program led by former Huskies’ coach Tom Smith, “It’s his way of paying it forward for us. I appreciate him doing that. I think that’s definitely why we can at least start the season on a positive note.”
OHS narrowly missed extending their string of conference titles last winter, “Missed our seventh in a row by .025,” says Moe. “The absolute slimmest of margins. And definitely want to take that crown back this year.” Mankato West won the Big Nine title, but the Huskies bounced back to claim their second straight Section 1AA championship and sixth in the last seven seasons.
STATE EXPERIENCE
The Huskies have many athletes back from the squad that finished sixth at the state meet. Cobban says it’s vital to stay calm in big meets, “I think we get a lot more excited about state, but a lot of people get really nervous. We just need to take a step back and see it from everything. Obviously, it’s a big deal, but it’s just another meet, and you’ll be good.”
Senior Jayna Martin enjoys the state venue of Roy Wilkins Auditorium, “It’s a really cool surrounding, a lot bigger than you would think. There’s a bunch of people there, a bunch of fans. It’s just a great atmosphere.”
She says the attitude the team has during the regular season sets the stage for the end of the season meets, “Staying positive in ourselves and make sure we’re encouraging each other and getting each other hyped up.”
Moe believes the confidence the girls have accrued over time should give them reason to believe success is possible, “They have the intimidation factor because they are so good year after year.” He is also looking forward to performing at home for the section meet, “I hope to see that gym packed. I was there in the stands for the last one and it was wall-to-wall blue.”
FAVORITE EVENTS
Martin considers the bars her favorite event, “I have improved a lot since the beginning of my high school career. That makes me proud of myself.” She also enjoys the beam, saying it’s unique to have that as a favorite. She likes the dancing and calls it fun.
Cobban went to state on the beam last season and finds her focus in the event, “When I get up on the beam, it’s peaceful. I don’t hear anything…And it’s just like a calming time…I feel like I’m in a bubble. Everything goes quiet. I like the competitive aspect of the beam.”
She’s been using the same routine for her entire six-year prep career, “I like it a lot. It gets the job done.” Cobban also enjoys floor exercise, “I love the energy everyone gets on floor. When you’re tumbling and doing the dance. It’s all hype and everything and a really fun experience.”
Junior Emma Johnson went to state last season in all-around. Sophomores Jozie Johnson and Averie Rousch competed at state in vault and floor, respectively. Cobban says, “The competitiveness at state is just insane, [such] high levels [of competitors].”
There’s plenty of opportunity to see the Huskies at the Gymnastics Center on the fairgrounds this season with home meets on January 6 with Winona, January 20 versus the Rochester schools, January 27 against the Mankato schools, and February 3 with Northfield. The section meet is on February 15 at the high school.
CREGER WINS AWARD
Tyrel Creger (2022 OHS grad) was recently named Player of the Week for Bay College in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. He’s the first-ever to receive the honor for the Norse who are in their debut season in the league. Creger averaged 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists per game for the reporting period. He was an All-Conference player on the Huskies’ state tournament team last season.
OHS GRAD NETS FIRST GOAL
Sydney Hunst (2021 OHS grad) netted her first collegiate goal with the College of St. Benedict in a victory over Bethel University in early December. The sophomore also has an assist for the Bennies who take a four-game winning streak into their next game on Friday, January 13 at Gustavus in St. Peter.
Hunst played in nine games her freshman year. She was a five-year letter-winner and a 100-point scorer during her Huskies’ hockey career. She also played soccer and ran track for four years and was Owatonna’s AAA representative.
Her younger sister Lilly is a junior with the Lakeville South hockey team which came to Owatonna on Tuesday, January 3. Her coach with the Bennies is Lindsay Macy, an OHS grad in her first year at St. Bens.
FROM RUSSIA FOR HOCKEY
Andrei Moskvitin is a long way from home but is feeling fine about playing junior hockey in Owatonna with the Steele County Blades. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman says the weather is similar and his hometown of Tomsk, Russia is slightly bigger. It’s his first year in the U.S. but he’s adjusting well, “I live alone already, like third year. I lived in Russia but in another town without my family. So, it wasn’t that hard. I’m not homesick.” He also spent some time training in Finland before coming to America.
After the Blades got off to a slow start, Moskvitin and his teammates found their groove, “It started kind of rough. We lost a lot of games. And I didn’t get points until like [eighth] game. But then we started to win. We were on a five or six [game] win streak and I got points [in nearly] every game.” He went through a rush of points in eight out of 12 games and earned a pair of Player of the Week honors from the USPHL.
“I think we just got chemistry between each other. It was kind of difficult [early] because we are from all around the world, but now it’s all right.” Moskvitin speaks English well and is one of the unofficial interpreters in the locker room.
He received hockey gear as a present from his parents when he was about eight, but didn’t immediately warm up to the sport, “I didn’t want to do it, but I didn’t have any choice.” At the time he was a swimmer. “I liked hockey right away.” He also enjoys fishing with his dad and granddad.
“I hope to move up in junior leagues, tier two, or tier one. And then we will see,” Moskvitin states. “Guys are all friendly and I like it in Owatonna.”
OWATONNA LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY SCHEDULE
Thursday, January 5
OHS girls’ hockey vs Rochester Mayo, 7 pm
Medford wrestling vs Maple River/USC, 7 pm
Friday, January 6
OHS girls’ basketball vs Rochester Mayo, 7:30 pm
Medford boys’ basketball vs Norwood/Young America, 7:15 pm
Tuesday, January 10
OHS girls’ hockey vs Blake, 7 pm
OHS girls’ basketball vs Faribault, 7:30 pm
Medford boys’ basketball vs NRHEG, 7:15 pm