SPORTS WRAP
After a taste of the atmosphere at the University of Minnesota pool, members of the Owatonna High School boys swimming and diving team are working on getting back there for the state meet in February.
Senior Phoenix Storm believes the 200 free relay can get to the show. “We have a chance, but we have to put in the work and push through it. A lot of hard work in practice and make sure we’re swimming all of our yards and having a good taper at the end of the season,” said Storm.
Coach Peter Rhodes told Owatonna Live they have an outside chance to advance. “That’s a lot of fun to see. For them to keep motivated and keep working toward that.”
He says sophomore Jacob Gleason “is one of the top sprinters within the conference.” At the Maroon and Gold meet he took second in the 50-meter freestyle. He and senior Logan Flynn are regulars on the 200 relay.
Storm says it was good to get into the state meet pool. “It’s a lot of high competition, facing people around the same speed. It’s a good preview for what state could be like.”
Senior diver Connor McBroom has his sights on a trip to state as well, needing a top four finish at sections. “Practicing all of my dives right now because I think I’m at the hardest degree of difficulty that I can go for. So, I need to practice them to get higher scores.”
McBroom started swimming in eighth grade and decided to give diving a try a few years ago in order “to get everything done on the list” and because “I don’t like cardio, but I like the water.”
While he still swims relays and an occasional individual event, “I found (diving) really fun and enjoyable…I was fond of trampolines and all the flipping. It just came naturally,” said McBroom.
Aiden Thurber started his career as a sprinter, but distance events became more his liking, generally competing in the 500. He also does the 200 individual medley. “That one’s a lot of effort to put in. Honestly, takes a lot more out of you than the 500 even with it being less yards. But you have to put a lot more effort into the other strokes.”
After having been on varsity since his eighth-grade season, senior year is hitting Thurber hard. “It’s exciting, a little upsetting as well because I’ve really enjoyed this team. Watching everybody grow up. Being able to learn from all of the now graduated older classmen… Being able to share what they taught me to the younger guys.”
Senior Noah Mazariego appreciates the attitude of the team. “I really enjoy swimming in general. I did play other sports before swimming. It’s a lot more fun and the community is a lot better. It’s still competitive like other sports… Here we can be disappointed at a loss, but we still had fun and we tried our best.”
He mainly swims freestyle and keeps getting personal records. “I do want to continue getting faster because that’s mostly my end goal for every year. Just try to get faster every single race.
“I’ve swam the 500 quite a bit this year because I do quite enjoy distance more than sprinting…It’s still tough, it’s hard. But it feels a lot more laid back and since I pace it myself, it’s a lot more me compared to just sprinting,” Mazariego said.
Rhodes says he’s been fortunate over the years “to have really good groups of guys that have just a great attitude and want to come in, work really hard and have fun.” The Huskies host a diving invitational on Saturday, Jan. 24. Their final home dual is against Northfield on Thursday, Jan. 29.
Adapted floor hockey
Celly. A noun. A short celebration of a goal in hockey.
After Owatonna freshman Aaron Calhoun scored his second goal at last week’s adapted floor hockey game at Federated Gym at OHS, he ran toward the large crowd of spectators and flexed his muscles.
After his first goal he dropped his stick and celebrated with his teammates.
That left many of us, including the South Suburban coach, wondering what was in store should Calhoun complete the hat trick. While that didn’t happen in a 13-2 loss for the home squad, the crowd still appreciated the efforts of both teams. OHS freshman goalie Lucas Dauck turned aside nearly 35 shots.
Once a season the Huskies shift from their regular home gym at the middle school. Teams on their schedule request to be “that team” says coach C.W. Wolfe, “They’ve even been trying to get their athletic directors to be doing this. Look at what Owatonna’s doing. It’s kind of nice that we’re envy of the state.”
He says being the only team that doesn’t co-op with another school makes this event possible. “Owatonna is an amazing community. They come out every year, pack the stands… It’s such a unique experience.”
This year also featured a hype video before introductions, created by OHS media specialist Eric Hancock. “They get super excited about it…They get in front of the camera and they start dancing… Their personalities, each one of them comes out.”
The players look forward to the Wild horn sound effect after a goal. “The first time it goes off every year, the faces are just lit.”
The Huskies face a certain disadvantage. Wolfe pointed out that a recent game was “against all of the schools in Dakota County. So, you have six 5A and 6A football schools combining into one (team). So, it makes competition a little tough.”
Joey Poole is a senior. “What am I excited about? Playing with my teammates and supporting the team.” Over his six seasons he’s improved in “taking the puck.”
One of his favorite drills in practice is learning to lift the puck. “You have to work as a team and take the puck, and we have to keep practicing.”
Sophomore Randall Graves told Owatonna Live teamwork means “a lot. Helping each other in the game.” He also likes cross-country and football. Poole swims and bowls.
Players can join the team in seventh grade. Wolfe says there’s a big group of sixth graders waiting. Poole encourages them, “Because it’s fun and you get to experience playing against other teams.”
The excitement level was high before Monday’s game. The formality of it being picture day seemed to calm down the athletes. But as several players began to climb the bleacher steps to the track that circles the gym, Wolfe implored them to come back down, “We’ve got to conserve some energy” for the game.
Owatonna seniors include Poole, Miley Ahrens, Andrew Ballstadt, Ean Bassett, and Kyle Goergen. OHS has games remaining on Wednesday, Jan. 21; Wednesday, Jan. 28; and Monday, Feb. 2 at the middle school.
Hockey, hockey, hockey
Life took on a Groundhog Day feel last week. As I write this, OHS hockey has hosted five games over a five-day stretch. By the time you read this, that will have risen to seven consecutive home games, three for the girls and four for the boys.
By the time I entered the Four Seasons Centre for the second time on Saturday, I could not have told you what day of the week it was. Mind you, I loved it. Day after day of hockey is my Fantasy Island dream.
Repetitive themes ran throughout. A pair of contests were 0-0 after the first period. Two others were 1-0. Three times the team that scored first lost. Four of the games were tied at some point in the final period. Yet none reached overtime.
The Owatonna girls scored a pair of weekend victories after losing to Class AAA No. 6 Mankato East on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Alexis Noble scored a power play goal in the opening minute against the Cougars but three straight goals late in the second propelled East to a 5-2 win.
The Huskies saw a 3-1 lead evaporate against Rogers on Friday but were saved by a late power play goal from Kendra Bogen, her second marker of the game, for a 4-3 win. OHS rallied from a 2-0 deficit against Elk River the following afternoon with two goals by Gabriella Padgett on the way to the 4-2 victory. June Froman scored the winner off an assist from Paige Thompson.
The OHS boys took a 1-0 lead into the third period against No. 17A Rochester Lourdes on Thursday, January 8 thanks to a late first period goal from Grady Roush. The Eagles scored three times in a four-minute span of the third for a 3-2 win. The Huskies held No. 6A Northfield to a scoreless draw until midway through the third when the Raiders erupted in their 4-0 win.
Five days. Five games. Three hot dogs and a couple of bags of popcorn. Great way to start the new year.
Fight cancer
Huskies boys hockey hosts Stick-it-to-Cancer on Tuesday, Jan. 27 to benefit Dennis “Spud” Drache in his battle against liver cancer.
A message on the OHS boys hockey Facebook page states, “We are asking our families, players and community members to join us in any way you can. Purchase a shirt, donating baked goods, spreading the word or simply showing up with love and support.”
Owatonna hosts Waseca. Junior varsity plays at 5 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m.
OwatonnaLive.com play-by-play schedule
Thursday, Jan. 22:
OHS boys swim/dive, vs. Mankato East, 6 p.m.
OHS gymnastics, vs. Mankato East, Mankato West, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 23:
OHS girls basketball, vs. Albert Lea, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 24:
OHS boys hockey vs. Rochester Century/JM, 7 p.m.