SPORTS WRAP
The seats were filled, just as they are when these 17 Owatonna High School student-athletes compete. This time the group gathered in the small group forum to celebrate National Signing Day. These Huskies will be Dragons, Cobbers, Bulldogs, Catamounts, and so much more.
Owatonna High School Activities Director Marc Achterkirch congratulated the students and their families on the years of hard work and dedication, in addition to the many miles, early practices, and sacrifices made to realize this dream. He credited coaches at the high school and younger levels, and Nancy Benson from the activities office for her efforts to pull together the event.
Many of the signees told me they don’t want to stop playing the sport they love. Finding the institution with the right major was often more important. Several have siblings or parents that competed in college. One looks forward to playing against his brother this fall.
Kaelyn (C.J.) Frear-Boerner [Exercise Science] developed a passion she can’t give up. “After this past soccer season, I fell in love more with the sport.” She expects to take on a big role right away for the University of Minnesota-Morris, “I’ll go into it starting. So, I definitely think it will be a lot of hard work. I think I’m willing to step up and take that position.”
Trevor Hiatt [Exercise Science] will run cross-country and track for the University of South Dakota and likes the small-town feel, “I’ll be able to focus more on schooling and sports as a whole. [The school] provides great facilities for athletes to train and recover,” rivaling those of bigger Division One schools. Hiatt is ready for the challenge, “I’ve been pretty determined this past year to get to the goals that I set for cross-country.”
“It’s such a relief. I’m so excited to have this all over with,” proclaimed Drew Henson [Professional Sales] on his chance to kick at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. “Two years ago, I was just a soccer player… My brother, Sam, started playing kicker. I got to do that too and now it’s brought me to a place that I couldn’t even imagine going to before.” The Bulldogs host the Golden Bears in November.
Ezra Oien [Biology or Exercise Science] enjoyed the ceremony and having the opportunity “to see the support Owatonna brings and how we rally around each other.” She will play hockey at the University of Vermont, “My favorite thing is how similar it is to Minnesota. But then also getting the experience to meet so many new girls. Seventy percent of the team is from overseas.” She’s impressed with the program. “I would say how driven they are. In the past couple of years, they turned a lot of things around and they are now nationally ranked.”
Justin Gleason committed to Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, “I love the campus, the school. They have a great business program and great facilities. Their track program too, I love their coaches. They’ve had some awesome jumpers in the past. Many All-Americans.” He has some insight into what’s ahead for him, “My parents both competed in college. So, as a kid, I always kind of thought that if I can get to that level, I want to be like them.”
Owen Korbel [Accounting] was attracted by a top-notch track coach at Minnesota State University-Moorhead, “Their high jump coach is a two-time Olympian high jumper, and high jump is what I do. I was really intrigued by that, and I really like the town itself. I’m probably going to expand into more jumping, and maybe throw javelin or compete in the pole vault.”
Taylor Busho [Exercise Science] said, “I just want to continue trap shooting for the rest of my life. And I found Upper Iowa has this amazing trap program. I looked into it a lot more and it really felt like home. The team, I’ve met most of them. They’re super nice.”
Carter Johnson [Criminal Justice] said, “It feels pretty good. I’ve been waiting for it my whole life. I’ve been competing in track my whole life. Finally, the hard work paid off. [South Dakota State University] is close to home, has a good track program and it just felt like a family.” He said he feels ready for the competition level.
Lauren Bangs [Psychology] said, “I just love the Concordia-Moorhead campus and the coaches were extremely nice. After volleyball season I just wasn’t ready to give it up.” She sent them a video and attended a prospect camp.
“It’s everything that a kid would want to do,” said Teagun Ahrens [Sports Management] about playing baseball at Rochester Community and Technical College. “Little me right now is smiling and happier than ever. You think it’s impossible. Whenever you get the chance, you got to take it.” He knows it will take commitment, “You just got to keep grinding. Because playing sports at any level, you have to put the time in.” He likes the chance to develop at the junior college level before moving up.
Peter Swehla [Biology or Chemistry] was attracted to Crown College right away, “They all treated me like family from day one. The coaches, the teammates, and even the people that don’t even play football. On top of that, as a receiver, they pass the ball more than anyone in all of Division One, Two and Three. As a receiver, I want the ball.”
Kiara Gentz [Exercise Science] made the decision recently, “It was never anything I foresaw, even a year ago. I never imagined myself here. Hard work paid off. I’m just excited to have this opportunity. I was able to see some of the girls in the grade above me go on and compete at the college level which inspired me. And then just I really broke through that wall this year.” She says she’ll enjoy the scenery of running cross country and track at Wisconsin-La Crosse, “I love the surroundings, the bluffs and all the fall colors.”
Making the decision takes some pressure off. Anni Moran [Chemistry] says, “I’m super excited and relieved that I have it out of the way and I can just enjoy my senior season,” She will play lacrosse at Quincy University in Illinois. “I really like the team and the community feel of the college. It was super welcoming. I could just see myself going there.”
Ava Stanchina [Exercise Science] says, “North Dakota State University reached out to me after a couple of showcases and they wanted to have me on campus to see how it was. And I fell in love with the coaching staff and the environment there right away. It just kind of felt like home, and it wasn’t too far away from home.”
Cael Robb [Sports Management] will make the seven-hour drive to the University of Nebraska-Kearney. “I started talking with the coaches and fell in love with their mindset and their attitude right away. And I took a visit down there and everything about it was awesome.”
Lauren Waypa [Elementary Education] says it all fell into place. “I never really thought about it until I grew to love the sport of track. I thought it was a really cool opportunity to compete at Northwestern and to keep going after high school. I think it will be a really fun way to get to know people.”
Collin Vick [Psychology] developed a rapport with the basketball staff at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. “I had been offered a roster spot earlier in the school year and had taken a visit as well. I really liked it. I just continued to talk with the coaches and built a good relationship, and I kind of felt that it was time to make a decision. I knew that it was the school I wanted to go to.”
Blooming Prairie’s Anna Pauly [Exercise Science] committed to basketball at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. “I really like the coaches and the campus. It’s going to be faster play. People are going to be better. This last summer I played AAU. It’s a lot more aggressive. That made it a lot more comfortable for me.”
Medford’s Josie Witter [Elementary Education or Nursing] decided to play softball at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, “I went up there and visited the college and I got to meet with the coach. He was telling me a bunch about the program.” On signing day, she said, “I was a little nervous because I know it is a big step for my future, but I was very excited.”
OWATONNA LIVE SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 9
Medford boys’ basketball vs. Bethlehem Academy at 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10
OHS girls’ basketball vs. Winona at 7:30 p.m.
Medford boys’ basketball vs Kenyon-Wanamingo at 7:15 p.m.