SPORTS WRAP
Home opening thrill
The OHS volleyball team was the first varsity team to try out the new gym. “I would say it was pretty electric because we had so many new fans come to help us and see the new school. It was pretty fun,” said senior captain Mehsa Krause on the OwatonnaLive.com Coaches Show.
The large video screens make a statement that reinforces the on-court action. “It says ‘nice block’ on it or anything like that. It’s pretty cool. So, people know what actually happened. Because some people are like, ‘oh that was cool. We got a point but what actually happened?’” Scoreboard capabilities go beyond what fans saw in the first couple of nights.
Samantha Bogen, a senior captain, added, “It was kind of crazy… Seeing all those people wanting to come out and watch, even if it was just to see the new gym, it was nice that they were here and being able to support us.”
She says the school may test your directional abilities. “It is a maze. But it’s really nice, having all the new things in there. And the open classrooms, I really like that. So, you’re not just in a square, and you can see other things going on around. I think it’s really cool,” said Bogen.
Volleyball coach Rachel Malo said the opener was incredible. “Any atmosphere, no matter what, when you have fans and when you have the bleachers down, when you have music, everything like that, it just adds to it. But being in this new place was so exciting with the ceiling higher and the new scoreboards. You could tell that the girls were just extra excited,” she said.
Some extra fans in attendance may have come out mainly to see the new gym. “Hopefully, we can keep them around to watch volleyball and be intense and have them here to cheer us on,” Malo added.
Hats off
The soccer pitch could have been littered with hats for all the goals scored recently by the Huskies. Senior Garrett Karsten had a hat trick against Mankato West in a 5-0 win last week and added a five-goal explosion in a 5-2 victory over Austin on Thursday. His ten goals have him among the state leaders.
Coach Bob Waypa indicated in the preseason, “There is a good chance we will slide him up to play Benny’s spot from a year ago.” Bangs led the team with 16 goals in 2022.
Attley Klemmensen notched her first career varsity goal against Red Wing and added two more in a 7-0 girls’ soccer shutout. The sophomore has burst upon the scene giving the Huskies another weapon to complement junior Kennedy Schammel who put in three in Thursday’s 6-0 win at Austin after scoring 10 last season.
Coach Nate Gendron noted that Schammel “will be a lights-out goal scorer” and that “we expect some exciting things from her. This kid never stops and can get the scoring job done.”
Owatonna Live schedule
Thursday
OHS boys’ soccer vs. Mankato East, 7 p.m.
Medford volleyball vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo, 7:15 p.m.
Friday
OHS football vs. New Prague, 7 p.m. (simulcast on The FAN/Owatonna, 106.3 FM/1170AM)
Blooming Prairie football vs. Wabasha-Kellog, 7 p.m.
Medford football vs. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, 7 p.m.
Saturday
OHS girls’ soccer vs. Chaska, 1 p.m.
OHS boys’ soccer vs. Cretin-Derham Hall, 3 p.m.
