SPORTS WRAP
Owatonna High School girls’ hockey might need a reboot next winter. With seven seniors the Huskies are graduating a combined 35 seasons of varsity experience and nearly 575 career points. The squad picked up some signature wins, repeated as conference champs, and reached the section semifinals before bowing out to Lakeville North.
Senior Abby Vetsch told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show, “Winning the Big Nine was huge for us. There were definitely a lot of accomplishments we can be proud of. Obviously, the season didn’t end how we wanted it to, but there’s a lot to look back on and be like, ‘Wow, that was impressive.’”
“We had a lot of fun this season,” said senior Sarah Snitker. “We had a tight group of seniors who worked together and made some lasting memories.” Getting over the season-ending loss takes some time. “It’s still sitting with me a little bit. I don’t know if it will ever go away.”
Vetsch was proud of the club’s mentality while trailing most of the game. “We came together as a team and ultimately never gave up, and hence the score was 2-1. I think our motivation and grit in coming back in that game was huge for us.”
Setting high goals
Senior Ezra Oien said that her goal-achieving mindset was a continuation of the team’s attitude. “The whole year we had a competitive mindset. We were always wanting more. That’s something that really changed this year that hasn’t always been that way in the past. We set some high goals in the beginning of the year: winning Big Nine and going to state. They’re big, lofty goals, but every single girl worked toward them every day.”
Oien spoke of the importance of setting goals high. “It always gives us something to work and compete for every day, and reminds us why we’re here. Some long nights spent practicing and lifting, along with long bus rides home. All that stuff can get pretty draining but remembering the team that we have and the goals that we set for each other, playing for each other to achieve those high accomplishments is super rewarding in the end.”
As they each go their own way after high school, the relationships remain. Vetsch said, “Being so close with a group of girls is so rare. Luckily for me, I’ve been able to do that through soccer and hockey. But hockey you spend so much time together with the girls. You know so much about each one of them.”
Snitker will also miss “the positivity of being with them every single day. It will be hard to make memories like that again.” Six of the seniors have essentially played together their whole lives. Mady Simon, Macy Stanton, and C.J. Frear-Boerner join the captains in the graduating class along with Ava Stanchina – who came to the team this season and blended right in for soccer and hockey. “She fit in perfectly with us,” Snitker added.
Coach Cloud reaction
Coach Tony Cloud said the seniors are “a special group for me. Because it’s a group that I’ve been a part of since I came into the program as an assistant coach the first year with most of those girls as eighth graders. The group had to deal with a lot. They grew as a unit as we grew the program along.”
He says the future is bright. “We have a very good group of kids who have been playing JV, and our young freshmen and sophomores are going to be stepping into new roles next year. They’re looking forward to that challenge.”
Next stop Vermont
To the returning players, Oien offers, “Keep competing and never settle for less. Go out there and make the next shift the best shift. Be resilient and deal with adversity. Keep going. Keep grinding it out.”
Oien will now transition to preparing for college hockey with the University of Vermont. “I will start doing workouts this spring that they’ll assign me. But, otherwise, I don’t actually go there until Aug. 23. The biggest thing will be coming in as an underdog. I’ve been on varsity sports ever since my eighth- and ninth-grade years. I’ve obviously had to work for these achievements and accomplishments that I’ve had. Going into this next level I’m going to be working harder against higher competition. Everyone around me is going to be equivalent to my level if not better.”
Big Dog’s Last Crew
The commemorative T-shirts proclaimed, “Big Dog’s Last Crew,” to recognize John Schultz's final season on the coaching staff with NRHEG girls’ basketball. He coaches the junior varsity and assists the varsity team. He stepped down from the head varsity position nearly ten years ago. Schultz spoke with Johnnie Phillips of the Steele County Times in last week's edition.
His daughter, Sidney, is a senior now. “It shows how much he cares that he retired after my sister left and then came back for us.” He also coached her in elementary school, after handling the varsity duties. “He had a lot of long days,” she told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show.
She reflected on the state championship runs of the Panthers in 2013 and 2014 and the fun of being behind the scenes. “We definitely got to see more than most kids did just because we were managers, and we would go hang around with them.”
Senior Erin Jacobson remembers her time as an elementary student tagging along. “Ever since we were little. Sid and I filmed the whole Carlie Wagner era for the team and so that was always fun. We were managers when we were in fifth and sixth grade. So, we’ve always been around.”
Coach Onika Peterson appreciates what Schultz has done for the program. “John is phenomenal. He brings in a ton of experience. When he came back, I was very excited and happy to have him on staff. He also just brings a ton of fun and energy. The kids just really have a lot of fun with him at practice.”
He was honored at a recent home game. “He’s taught for many years. He was the head football coach. He was head girls’ basketball coach a couple different times,” said Peterson. “To honor and acknowledge how much he’s meant to the school, the program, the kids and myself is so fun after all he’s done for all of us.”
Peterson indicated Schultz will still drive the bus to away games. She may use that to her advantage. “Every now and then we might be shouting a couple of x’s and o’s questions on the bus ride over.”
Kniefel part of a championship team
Medford High School grad Emma Kniefel is a junior and starter on the Gustavus Adolphus women’s basketball team that just secured its second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament. The Gusties won the MIAC playoff title Sunday in a 79-57 game over the Concordia College-Moorhead. They also won the regular season title – their first-ever outright championship.
Talking after they won their first postseason tournament title last winter, Kneifel said she likes the squad’s culture. “We’re known for playing ‘team’ basketball. It’s not just one of us. It’s just playing together and playing as one.”
She loves playing in the MIAC. “The competition is great. Every single game you never know going in. Any team can pull it out. You have to be ready.” She’s scoring ten points per game and shooting 78% on free throws.
Kniefel’s Medford record for points in a season (545) was just broken by Tigers’ senior Austin Erickson. Kniefel still holds the mark for points in a career. Erickson recently surpassed 1,000 career points and announced his plan to play basketball and run track at Martin Luther College.
Still dialing in from downtown
We got used to Brayden Williams hitting three-pointers from a long way away while helping lead Owatonna to back-to-back appearances in the state basketball tournament. There’s no reason he shouldn’t continue to light it up in college.
“The three has definitely my favorite shot to take… especially deep ones,” he told the Beavers’ play-by-play crew, via Twitter @BSUBeaversMBB. “So, the college line being deeper wasn’t a big difference.”
Williams said, “It’s been a great season so far. I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been a great first year. I wanted to come here and do what I could to help make the team better. I worked really hard and earned my spot and my role. It was kind of unexpected to start every game.”
He’s averaging seven points per game with a season-high of 19. Williams is shooting 38% on three-pointers with 45 made upon completion of the Beavers’ quarterfinal victory in the Northern Sun Conference playoffs. Bemidji State has won 20 games for just the third time in school history.
Owatonna Live schedule
Friday, March 3:
OHS boys’ basketball vs. Red Wing, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 4:
Hometown Sampler, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 7:
OHS boys’ basketball, section playoffs, 7 p.m.