Each of the 12 finalists had a long list of incredible accomplishments with a variety of state appearances and school records. In the end, Ava Wolfe and Preston Meier were named the Oldenburg Senior Athletes of the Year for Owatonna High School. Ezra Oien and Trever Schirmer earned the Junior Athlete of the Year honors during the ceremony held in the auditorium Wednesday.

AVA WOLFE - OLDENBURG SENIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Wolfe holds the school record with 18 career shutouts in hockey while earning four varsity letters. She is a five-time letter-winner in track and a state meet qualifier. Coach Debby Gleason said, "Ava has had such a successful career with Owatonna track. Her speed, power, and sheer willpower is an amazing combination to watch."

The other finalists were Hillary Haarstad and Janessa Moore. Haarstad was voted the Most Valuable Offensive Player in soccer and was a top defender for the basketball team. Haarstad is a top triple jumper and high jumper this spring in track. Moore was a five-time state meet participant in gymnastics. She also played soccer and is a captain for the track squad.

PRESTON MEIER - OLDENBURG SENIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Meier has qualified for the state cross country meet three times and earned six letters. He was the starting goalie for the hockey team the last two seasons and is a four-time letter-winner in lacrosse. He was a captain in all three sports. Meier will play lacrosse at Concordia of Wisconsin.

The other finalists were Grant Achterkirch and Landen Johnson. Achterkirch led the football team in tackles during his junior and senior seasons. He also played hockey and baseball. Achterkirch will play football at the University of St. Thomas. Johnson is a two-time state wrestling champion and three-time finalist. He will wrestle at North Dakota State University.

EZRA OIEN - JUNIOR FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Oien is a three-time letter-winner in soccer and has scored 40 career goals. She has over 100 points in her hockey career and was named the Huskies' Offensive Player of the Year for the last two seasons.

The other finalists were Anni Moran and Abby Vetsch. Moran is Owatonna's first girl to reach 100 career goals in lacrosse. She also runs cross country and plays basketball. Vetsch is a four-time letter-winner in hockey and has three letters in soccer.

TREVER SCHIRMER - JUNIOR MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Schirmer is a two-time letter-winner in football and played on both the offensive and defensive lines during the 2021 season. He is a captain for 2022. Schirmer won both the shot put and discus at the Big Nine Conference meet in 2021.

The other finalists were Blake Burmeister and Justin Gleason. Burmeister is a three-time All-Conference basketball player and one of the top shooters in school history. Gleason holds the OHS record in the long jump and triple jump and finished fourth at state in the long jump as a sophomore.

O-CLUB MEMBERS

  • Grant Achterkirch - football, hockey, baseball
  • Jaci Burtis - cross country, track, clay target
  • Connor Ginskey - cross country, basketball, track
  • Ryan Gregory - soccer, hockey, track
  • Hillary Haarstad - soccer, basketball, track
  • Eli Knutson - football, football, baseball
  • Preston Meier - cross country, hockey, lacrosse
  • Janessa Moore - soccer, gymnastics, track
  • Taylor Schlauderaff - soccer, basketball, track
  • Audrey Simon - volleyball, basketball, lacrosse
  • Caleb Vereide - football, hockey, baseball
  • Nick Williams - football, basketball, baseball
  • Luke Wottreng - football, clay target, lacrosse

Students who letter five times in their career including three as a senior qualify for the O-Club.

 

LOOK: What are the odds that these 50 totally random events will happen to you?

Stacker took the guesswork out of 50 random events to determine just how likely they are to actually happen. They sourced their information from government statistics, scientific articles, and other primary documents. Keep reading to find out why expectant parents shouldn't count on due dates -- and why you should be more worried about dying on your birthday than living to 100 years old.

More From KQCL Power 96