As winter sports get going at Owatonna High School, the crucial players on each team start to stand out. For several teams, some of those players are sophomores. Boys’ hockey and basketball both have young teams, with each having far more juniors and sophomores compared to seniors. Both teams are above .500 in conference play and have a real chance to shock some people.

Boys’ Basketball is hopeful after coming off a strong 2024/25 season in which they made

a solid run in sections. With only four seniors, there is a lot of opportunity for younger athletes to step up.   

Arik Tackmann is a sophomore playing a supporting role on the varsity team, earning solid minutes. He describes his experience as a young role player and what it means to him, “It feels good that, you know, I’m younger than a lot of the guys, and being able to contribute in a way that not others maybe can. It’s like, right away at the season, I didn’t really expect to be playing where I am right now, but it’s just, it’s really cool, and it’s fun to be able to play at a higher level.” With those opportunities also comes pressure.

Tackmann voiced how pressure can be an influence, “As a sophomore, you gotta, like, play your absolute best every time you can.” Tackmann is looking forward to becoming a starter and playing a bigger role in the next couple of years.

This year’s Boys’ Hockey team is a staple of a young team. The team has multiple young leaders, with five sophomores contributing points. The Huskies are 4-2 in conference play, and if they keep playing at this rate, they’re looking at a 5th seed in the Big Nine tournament, which is an improvement from last year. Looking forward to next year, there are a lot of returning players, such as Captain Grady Roush and other playmakers, such as Zach Roesner and Caleb Ringhofer.

Roesner talked about the challenges of being a younger player in a varsity sport, “Now [I] just gotta use, like, my abilities. You gotta use your speed. You gotta use other things besides size.” Roesner also noted what it’s like to be a young leader, “People look up to you, and you have to be a leader on and off the ice. You have to lead by example.” The Huskies have everything they need to succeed, both this year and in the years to come.

Winter sports at OHS are looking promising, but can these next few years live up to the current potential and result in historical seasons?