STEELE SPORTS

After having spent over a full year in Steele County and witnessing multiple sports seasons, one part of my job that I have enjoyed the most is watching athletes evolve and come into their own in their sport.

It really is wild what can change in a year for some athletes and looking back on some of the moments from this winter already, I’ve noticed a couple of staggering changes in both athleticism and confidence.

Just this last week when I watched sophomore Bo Zwiener square off with No. 4 Tommy Elwood, I noticed a huge difference in both athletes.

A year ago, both were freshman wrestlers who were incredibly talented but more than anything, shy kids who liked to keep their heads down and handle business.

When I watched them both step onto the mat this past week, the initial impression that I had of them both completely changed.

The talent and hard work of both athletes were on full display but more than anything, I witnessed a change in their confidence and enthusiasm for the sport.

For six minutes, I watched a war of attrition take place where both understood the stakes at hand.

For reference, when I interviewed Zwiener after his match to improve to 18-2 last year against NRHEG, my questions were met with mostly one-word answers and a shy smile.

The Zwiener that I witnessed rolling off Elwood at the sound of the final whistle, who raised his arms and yelled to the crowd to hype up his team, seemed like an almost entirely different person.

Also giving me flashbacks to a year ago this past week was Cooper Cooke, Blooming Prairie’s new big man in the post for the boys’ basketball team.

One year ago, fans would jump to their feet when Drew Kittelson would throw down flashy dunks and make big plays.

When I watched Cooke slam home an alley-oop pass from Zach Hein against Chatfield, I had to double-check the roster to make sure I knew his stats from last year.

Before my eyes, I was watching last year’s backup become – in the words of Dick Vitale – this year’s “big man on campus”, throwing down dunks and energizing the crowd during a game where the Blossoms desperately needed some life.

As reporters, we look most forward to seeing these types of yearly changes as we follow along with the careers of local athletes.

It’s always a blast to watch athletes recognize their potential and come into their own before our very eyes.