The spring sport season is right around the corner. How are OHS Students preparing for the season? It varies from sport to sport, but a lot of it is the same whether it is conditioning, hitting baseballs in a batting cage or just going to captains practice. Owatonna’s tradition of excellence has been seen through the preparation before the season.

Owatonna Boys Lacrosse player Mitch Wiese said, “Some of the guys have been getting together going to open gyms to get the feel for the game back, and also getting our team chemistry back together.” Captains practice is led by the captains to get the team ready for the season.  Coaches are not allowed to be at these practices, nor can they lead practice until the first official day of practice. “Assembling a team takes time, but that’s why we do it,” said Owatonna Girls Lacrosse captain Amy Oldenburg. Oldenburg, like other captains, has started a captain’s practice once a week to get the players back in shape and get their feel for the game back.    

Owatonna continuation of excellence is due to the preseason work the athletes put in to prepare for the season. Owatonna Boys Track coach Kevin Stelter said, “There are some kids who are meeting after school running together, lifting and working out. The captains are taking care of that stuff.” In all spring sports the MSHSL sets a rule into place that before the allowed date, coaches are not allowed to run practice. That is why the captains set up captains practice dates to set the team into motion for the upcoming spring.

Track and Field and Girls Softball are all underway on Mar. 13, Baseball doesn’t start until Mar. 20 and Lacrosse starts Apr 3. As the weather gets nicer, Huskies fans will see the off season work pay off greatly.