SPORTS WRAP
Pigeon. Three-point play. Warrior pose. Basketball and yoga have blended beautifully in Owatonna over the last two seasons. Wilson Elementary teacher Jess Hawkins was leading staff in yoga when Josh Williams, OHS physical education teacher and boys’ basketball coach, reached out. The discipline had sporadically been used by the team in the past.
Hawkins approached with caution. “Yoga with 15, 16 and 17-year-old boys is going to be a little different than my clientele at the VIBES… I did a lot of research. I read articles and I learned about the poses that would be most beneficial to basketball players.”
“You can take a look at almost any sport at any level and see the importance of flexibility and how it reduces injury, and maintains the physical and mental health of athletes,” said Williams.
Player reaction
Senior Collin Vick had an open mind. “At first, I didn’t know what I thought about it. I was kind of on the fence because I had never really done it before. I didn’t know how much it would help. But after doing it for two years, it really did help. After those practices, I felt way better and stretched out… I was ready to go and way looser. My legs just felt a lot better and it would continue throughout the week.”
Hawkins said there was a short learning curve. “They felt silly, especially when you’re closing your eyes and breathing. But I said to the boys, “What is the one thing you see every single player do when they’re at the line for a free throw? They take a deep breath. And that’s what yoga teaches you. It calms your mind. It calms your body. It helps you focus. And it gets you in that mental state.’”
Vick said breathing exercises and focus on relaxation were helpful, and it was a good bonding time for the team.
Hawkins has taught fifth grade for 19 years in Owatonna but only had to break out her “teacher voice” a couple of times. She says the captains were great at controlling any high jinks. Ty Creger, a 2022 grad and former student of hers in the classroom, was influential in reintroducing it to the team.
Yoga benefits
“The reason yoga is beneficial isn’t only for flexibility, it’s to prevent injury. Having those stretches enables players to stretch spots that they frequently use, but they don’t often stretch,” said Hawkins. She discovered its value while seeking a way to recover from a hip injury suffered in a 2015 auto accident. Hawkins says she was the first one through the doors at Sollid Studios – now VIBES – and tried out all the classes. “It’s yoga that helped me get my mobility back.”
She attended classes for a couple of years, and was asked, “Jessica, when are you going to get your yoga teacher’s certification?” That led to an intense training program, followed by the pandemic and virtual yoga.
Hawkins enjoys the inclusion she feels with the team and getting invited to the year-end banquet. “I’m proud of the fact that I’m part of the team and the training staff… It was fun to watch and go to the games and see the boys. It’s reconnecting with former students that I had, being able to see them as young adults as opposed to 11-year-old boys.”
“Jess has been great with our guys and program and appreciate what she has done for us,” said Williams.
Hockey too
Hawkins says others can benefit as well. “I could really see soccer because of all of the leg work that the athletes do and hip flexor work. Hockey and baseball too. I can’t see why it wouldn’t be beneficial to all sports.”
VIBES co-owner Stephanie Hanson introduced yoga to Huskies’ girls’ hockey this past season. She let the team decide what to do each week. “They had a say. It went over really well.” Sessions included balance and focus.
Huskies! Huskies!
Jenna Compton (OHS Class of 2005) is the new head coach for fall cheer at Owatonna. “Cheerleading has always been a passion of mine. So, it’s fun to connect with athletes with something that I’m doing that they enjoy, and pushing them to become better athletes and better people. Also being able to connect with them, not only on the coaching side, but being there to help with things they have going on in their personal lives too. Being able to be a good role model.”
She’s coached the fall junior varsity team since 2016 and has been on the winter staff since 2010, spending the last five seasons as a varsity assistant. She leads the competition squad that went to nationals in Florida this year.
Compton is excited to be part of the transition to the new high school. “This last season there were a lot of lasts, and it was nostalgic for me since I cheered for the Huskies when I was in high school. One of the big ones was decorating the school for homecoming for the last time.”
“Jenna has extensive experience in cheer and her relationships with our student-athletes along with her passion and dedication, will continue the outstanding cheer tradition that has been established,” said Activities Director Marc Achterkirch.
Compton, a preschool teacher at St. Mary’s, cheered at Winona State when they were winning national basketball championships. “It’s just really fun to be involved in your school and to spread the school spirit. It’s fun to have a part of school to look forward to that’s not just academics.”
Lacrosse defends home field
The Huskies’ girls’ lacrosse has stormed out to a strong start in their effort to return to the top of the Big Nine Conference. Last Thursday, Northfield opened the scoring but OHS roared ahead as Annika Moran scored five of her seven goals before halftime in a 15-3 win. Goalie Nora Marshall earned Player of the Game honors with several critical saves including one on a breakaway and several point-blank chances.
In the previous game, Mankato scored first, but Player of the Game Maddy McGinn erased that lead 45 seconds later with the first of her seven goals in a 16-2 Huskies’ win.
The Owatonna boys tangled with top-ten Farmington to open up last week’s schedule. The Huskies stayed close, tying the game at 3-3 and pulling within 5-4 and 8-6, but ultimately fell 10-6. Jack Strom notched a hat trick. (Reports from Owatonna Live’s Brad Betterman.)
West still strong
Mankato West graduated a dozen players from their state runner-up baseball team. They still looked the part of a state contender as they raced away from OHS 14-0 last week at Fuller Field. The Huskies put runners on base in four of their six innings, but only reached third once. OHS has a rematch on May 18 in Mankato.
Spring sports see spike
Despite Mother Nature’s misgivings, spring sports athlete numbers are on the rise. Achterkirch told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show, “Owatonna has great participation numbers. Our numbers are better than they were before Covid years and have sustained.”
He cited a few examples. “Our boys’ and girls’ track numbers are through the roof. We’re in the 90s in both and pushing 100 athletes. Our lacrosse boys’ numbers are super. We’re scheduling some B-squad games in there, even though there’s no official B-squad. Baseball numbers are fantastic. Tate Cummins is trying to figure out how we get all these kids on the field. Our softball numbers are really good too.” In trap shooting, Owatonna’s 108 student-athletes make it the biggest team in the state.
Depth can be a challenge
Having great numbers can create a challenge. “A lot of the competition that we play doesn’t have those same participation numbers. It gets hard for us to find enough games,” said Achterkirch. Achterkirch says some schools might support a varsity and junior varsity, while OHS has varsity, junior varsity and ninth-grade teams. “That’s one of our challenges. We go out there and do our best to find competition and games for these kids to play.” That might mean different schools and days than the varsity.
“It’s super to see all the kids that are involved in our activities, which to me is so beneficial. Your entire high school experience is to be involved.”
Owatonna Live play-by-play schedule
Thursday, May 4
OHS baseball vs. Mankato East, 5 p.m.
OHS boys’ lacrosse vs. Rochester Mayo, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 8
OHS softball vs. Red Wing, 4:45 p.m.
OHS girls’ lacrosse vs. Rochester JM, 7:15 p.m.