SPORTS WRAP
Owatonna High School boys’ swim and dive got a taste of the state meet pool last Saturday during the Maroon and Gold Invitational at the University of Minnesota. As a bonus, the 200-free relay team of David Rhodes, Carter Quam, Isaiah Smith, and Matthew Larson stood at the podium with a second-place finish in the Bronze Division race.
Larson told the Owatonna Live Coaches Show that getting that relay to state is a big goal.
“I think a lot if it’s just being able to hype each other up before the race and getting everybody ready to go. Especially in a short relay, like the 200-free relay where everyone’s just swimming a 50 all out,” said Larson.
“We’d be really happy getting a relay to state because it gets four of us there. They realistically have a chance in at least, I’d say, two relays. And then Matthew has goals to get there on his own,” said Owatonna head coach Peter Rhodes.
Larson captured second place Saturday in the 200 free and was fourth in the 100 fly. He has his eyes on the 100-fly school record, calling it his best event. He turned in a unique performance early this season, swimming the 200 free with the butterfly stroke, and won.
“Very unusual. Not something you see very often,” said Rhodes. The 200 fly is a college event.
Henry Hilgendorf led Huskies’ divers with a fifth-place showing last weekend at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center. Connor McBroom was seventh, and Trevor Duck finished 12th. A fifth-year veteran diver now, Hilgendorf has missed state by one spot each of the last two seasons.
“This year is going to be different. Third time’s the charm,” said Hilgendorf.
According to Rhodes, a strong 3-0 start to the dual meet season can be attributed to the veterans. “Our senior group is quite large and talented. We have 10 seniors and a lot of talent there, so that has helped out. A lot of our younger guys are growing and getting stronger and getting faster,” he said.
Upper body strength is key for swimmers. Quam has taken full advantage of the impressive weight room at OHS.
“That is so nice. It is top-of-the-line. We’re very, very blessed to have that. I just like working out a lot. So, it’s just kind of a fun thing for me to do in the offseason. It keeps me in shape,” said Quam.
He finished third in the 50 free as the Huskies ended up fifth in the team standings.
Weight room
“Astonished and surprised and excited… Over the top,” is how physical education teacher and strength coach Jerry Eggermont describes the weight room. “It’s been absolutely amazing how it’s equipped and what Hammer Strength and Lifefitness has done for us and the community and how they pulled together. We couldn’t have pulled this off. This level of a strength room or fitness room without their support and generosity,” he said.
“The quality equipment is state-of-the-art. We’re the first strength room in the country, at any level, high school, collegiate, or professional with this level of equipment,” said Eggermont.
“The partnership with having Cybex in our backyard” was instrumental he added. Eggermont met with product designers at Hammer Strength during the process, “to get a snapshot of what I was thinking, wanting, and hoping for in this room. So, they basically said, ‘We have a new line of equipment that’s coming out.’” The ideas were still in the draft stage when conversations began.
There are two rooms. The fitness side is open to the student body in general, for “kids that still want to do some lifting but also do some cardio.” The strength side is a bit more intense. “If they’re programmed and they’re coming in here, it’s just at a higher level. You just can’t come in here and do your own thing. It needs to be structured,” he said.
Ezra returns
Time off from college hockey over holiday break for OHS grad Ezra Oien included skating with her former teammates.
“It’s been really good to be back and just be with all the girls. I miss them a lot. It’s good to see them,” she said.
Oien is a freshman at the University of Vermont. “I love it out there. The girls are amazing. Everyone supports each other, which is awesome. I’m getting a decent amount of playing time. It’s really fun. I got my first goal and assist too,” she said.
“I was up high in kind of a defenseman’s position and the puck came loose at the point. I just took a shot. It went off the far post and went in. So, it was a pretty special moment. I was really excited,” she said.
The Catamounts picked up a win in their first game back from break as Oien netted another goal, this time from a more familiar spot right at the front of the net.
She’s adjusting to the Division One level.
“I always love a challenge. So, that’s been super good. It’s definitely faster play, more competitive and more physical. So that was a little bit different adjusting too. But I love it all. It’s all been great. Now I feel way more settled, way more confident, and I’m trying some new things,” she said.
She’s pursuing biology.
“I tend to be so busy I don’t even think about being gone from home,” Oien said. “I don’t really have time to miss it. It’s been pretty much the same balancing sports and academics.”
She got A’s first semester and enjoys the flexibility of picking her own classes. She was academic all-state selection for the Huskies while finishing third in all-time career points.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play
Thursday, Jan. 11
OHS wrestling at Northfield, 7 p.m.
OHS boys’ swimming vs. Winona, 6:30 p.m.
OHS girls’ hockey vs. Mankato East, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 12
Medford girls’ basketball vs. Blooming Prairie, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 13
OHS girls’ hockey vs. Northfield, 7:30 p.m.
