Owatonna's top four senior and junior male and female athletes have combined to appear in nearly 15 state tournaments and meets. Two of them are Big Ten commits and another hopes to play two sports in college.

The OHS Athletic Department on Wednesday announced senior athletes of the year, Margo Achterkirch and Peyton Robb and junior athletes of the year, Sydney Kretlow and Jason Williamson.

Achterkirch is already a three-time state track and field participant and has a good shot at making it four in a row this season. She is a six-time letter winner on the track and earned five letters each in soccer and hockey. Achterkirch led the Huskies' girls' hockey team in scoring in her senior season and was voted team MVP. She was the defensive MVP in her sophomore and junior seasons for the soccer team before missing some time as a senior due to injury. Achterkirch will attend St. Benedict and plans to compete in soccer and track. She said she will miss the time with her friends and teammates when she graduates.

Robb is Owatonna's first three-time state wrestling champ after capping his senior season with a 48-0 record. He was also a state runner-up once. Robb is the all-time OHS leader with 110 pins and is third in career victories. He won a pair of gold medals while representing the U.S. at last summer's Pan-American Games. Robb will wrestle for Nebraska.

Robb was a bit surprised to win the Oldenburg Senior Athlete Award considering he only competes in one sport, but figured coaches voted for him because they know how much time he puts in year round. Robb leaves in early June for Nebraska.

The other senior athlete finalists are Sydney Schultz, Sophie Amundson, Abe Havelka and Dalton Kubista.

Kretlow was part of Owatonna gymnastics' first two trips to the state meet, capturing third place as a team in 2018. She was All-State in vault and beam. Kretlow has run at the state track and field meet twice in the 800 and is the school record holder in that event. She was a top attacking midfielder for the top-seeded soccer team, but transitioned to defense when the Huskies were hit with a rash of injuries last fall.

Kretlow said all the time and work necessary to succeed athletically is worth it when she stands on the podium with her teammates.

Williamson is already Owatonna's all-time rushing leader in football with his senior season yet to come. He was named the Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year after the Huskies won the state championship last November and was USA Today All-State. He has committed to the University of Minnesota.

Williamson led the basketball team in steals and assists this winter. He is on the track honor roll in the long jump, 100 dash and 4x200 relay.

The other junior athletes finalists are Skyler Eaton, Ali An, Cade King and Jake Miller. The 110% award was presented to seniors Rilee Schmidt and Ryley Glynn. The Minnesota State High School League AAA award winners are Hannah Gebur and Braeden Meier. The MSHSL ExCEL Award honor went to Elena Dant.

 

 

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