SPORTS WRAP
This is the 1981 state championship football team from Medford. Players were recently inducted into the Medford Athletic Hall of Fame.
When Mankato West plays Elk River for a state football championship, snow and ice on the field won’t be a concern. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Prep Bowl. Forty-one years ago, it was a different story. In 1981, the Medford Tigers captured the state Class C championship. That team was just inducted into the Medford Athletic Hall of Fame.
“Frozen field, snow, difficult, but very fun game,” captain Mike Von Ruden remembered about the game played with temps in the teens. “The cold Ice Bowl we played in.”
The next year championship games moved inside the brand-new downtown Minneapolis Metrodome.
But on that November night Medford topped Clarkfield 33-28 in Marshall for the title. “It was cold,” captain Brian Wolfe added. “They took a snowplow and plowed the field. They don’t do that anymore.”
A recurring theme at the Hall of Fame banquet was the impact coach John Gross had on the players, and the community support. Gross was an inaugural member of the Medford Hall of Fame in 2017 and passed away in 2019. Even before the title year, Gross spoke to some of the players about how good they could be. “John set the table for us. He saw something there,” a former player said.
Scott Paukert said, “I don’t know if it’s because it was the very first one. I mean for a state championship. It wasn’t something we ever really thought about. But I can just remember the whole community, the town, the banner across Main Street. The fire trucks. It was amazing…Championships are special, but when it’s that first one, it made it even more so.”
“Every sports team, whether it’s cheerleading, volleyball, tennis, you create a relationship with your buddies,” stated Wolfe. “We were fortunate enough that we had a lot of wins, that’s why we’re standing here. But that’s why we play high school sports. That’s why everybody does that…We’re very thankful.”
The team had a great defense that only allowed 12 points for the entire regular season, all coming in one game against Blooming Prairie. The Tigers had eight shutouts in the regular season and added two more in the playoffs. “Right up John Gross’ alley. Because his theory was if they don’t score, we won’t lose. Genius,” said Wolfe.
A former player said, “Being part of a team like this for me, helped me to be a positive person. I think about it every day; dedication and teamwork and hard work.” He added when Gross said, “I love you guys,” he meant it. He called it priceless, “There’s nothing better than love and team and support in our community. Medford was behind [us] and it was unreal.”
And to anyone that thinks of Medford as the home to the outlet mall, he corrects them, “It’s the home of the 1981 state football champs!” Medford has played at state four times since then, including a Prep Bowl runner-up showing in 2003.
You can watch the induction ceremony on OwatonnaLive.com. In addition to the 1981 football team, Gross’ wife Pat Heger, Becky Noble, Zach Keller, and Jan Svenby were enshrined. Medford will announce its Class of 2023 Hall of Fame next spring with an October banquet to follow.
2022 Prep Bowl
Speaking of Mankato West, the Scarlets rallied late to edge Rogers 14-10 in the semifinals to reach the Class 5A championship game and earn a chance at a repeat title. The Scarlets are riding a 31-game winning streak and haven’t lost since the section championship game of 2019. Their game against Elk River is set for Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m.
Stick It to Cancer
The Owatonna High School girls’ hockey team opened its home schedule hosting a fundraiser for OHS grad and local hockey supporter Mark Woodrich, who continues his battle against Multiple Myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Woodrich played hockey, was a board member for junior hockey in town, and owns The Music Space of Owatonna.
Huskies’ coach Tony Cloud wanted to hold this fundraiser early while their team is the only game in town. “We’ve had a good crowd here tonight. We’ll have the boys’ high school team here watching us after they get done with their practice. Hopefully we can get a lot of people for this good cause. And the girls get a chance to recognize either family members, close relatives, whoever they’d like to tonight [in honor or in memory of].”
Players used colored laces in their skates or colored tape on their sticks to represent different forms of cancer. Senior CJ Frear-Boerner said, “I think it’s super important, giving back to those who aren’t as fortunate, those who suffer from things like cancer, to be able to help out.”
The night raised $2,100 for Woodrich and his family. The Huskies lost 5-2 to Mankato East that night. But this Owatonna team should be a fun one to watch this season.
First goal
Collin Pederson (OHS Class of 2020) scored his first collegiate goal in his second college game for University of Wisconsin-Superior, notching a short-handed tally during a 6-1 win at St. Mary’s in Winona on Nov. 12. Pederson indicated he is glad to be back on the ice. “I’m just coming off recovery from wrist surgery, so it’s been a slow start, but it’s been great so far. It’s going to be a good spot for me,” he said.
The puck from that goal, he said, is on his desk at school. His other ‘first goal’ pucks from high school and juniors “are back in Owatonna on a shelf up in my room with all my other important items.”
Pederson had a goal and an assist this past weekend in a win over River Falls. The Yellowjackets make a trip to this region to play at Gustavus in St. Peter on Friday, Jan. 13 and at Hamline in St. Paul the next day.
Williams starts for Bemidji
Brayden Williams (OHS Class of 2022) is off to a bang in his college basketball career. Or more accurately a swish. He went 3-for-3 from three-point range in Bemidji State University’s season-opening win. He had 12 points and five assists.
Last winter he spoke with me about how excited he was to get a chance to play college ball, “I wanted to play in the Northern Sun [Conference]. So that just feels great. It’s a goal that I was dreaming of. Feels amazing.” Bemidji fits the bill in multiple ways, “Campus. I’m a big lake guy. Being right on the lake is really good.”
Williams was a key cog along with the group of seniors that made back-to-back state tournament appearances. “Good group of guys for sure… We’ve been together for the longest time. I couldn’t ask for a better team. I couldn’t ask for a better season, honestly…My buddies since fourth [or] fifth grade when we started playing.”
During his prep career, there didn’t seem to be a shot that didn’t look good to Williams. And he drained plenty from way downtown. “A lot of shots in the gym, that’s about all I can say…If you want to be able to shoot at a high clip, you got to be able to put in the work, even after practice.” Williams knows he will have to spend time in the weight room, calling the NSIC “a strong, physical league.”
The closest the Beavers get to Owatonna is a game at Winona State on Jan. 7. Minnesota State University-Mankato is part of their conference. But their lone meeting this season is in Bemidji.
Creger starting at Bay
Ty Creger (OHS Class of 2022), also a key to the section championship last season, is starting for Bay College in Michigan. Creger is averaging 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists through a 4-0 start for the Norse. Bay College plays Dakota County Technical College in Inver Grove Heights on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Academic honor
Emma Dahnert (OHS Class of 2021) earned All-District Academic honors while playing soccer at Division II Southwest Minnesota State University. The sophomore defender played in 10 games for the Mustangs, starting seven times. She helped anchor a defensive corps that had four shutouts. She had a pair of assists as well. Dahnert is majoring in business administration.
Owatonna Live schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 29:
OHS boys’ hockey vs Farmington, 7 p.m.
Medford girls basketball vs Waseca, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 1:
OHS girls’ hockey vs Winona, 7 p.m.
Medford wrestling quad, 5 p.m.