Owatonna-Area Athletes Excelled in College Sports in 2017

Local sports highlights for 2017 include many athletes that have moved on to college sports with great success. OHS graduate Andrew Stelter wrapped up his four-year career with the Gopher football team as a senior helping the team transition to a new coach. Carlie Wagner, a two-time state champ at NRHEG, is currently in her senior season with the Gophers, hoping to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time. OHS grad Peter Jones is one of the low scorers each time out with the Gopher golf team.

Blooming Prairie graduate Taylor Hagen is a junior on the Northern Iowa women’s basketball team and has appeared in every game so far this season. Her former Blossoms’ teammate Madison Worke plays for Winona State.

Former Owatonna kicker Carter McCauley closed out a stellar career with Winona State, finishing as their all-time leader in field goals, with a career-long of a Warriors’ record 59 yards. He is also the career field goal leader now for the Northern Sun Conference. The Warriors made it to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in a decade. McCauley was named an Academic All-America for the third time and has graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Med school is next for McCauley.

His teammate from the state championship 2013 team, Ty Sullivan completed his return from a devastating knee injury suffered in the Prep Bowl final to get on the field with UMD. Sullivan, who was a captain his senior season, made a tackle on special teams on the very first on-field play of his college career.

OHS grad Brianna Hartmann earned All America honors by winning a regional title while playing tennis for Gustavus Adolphus College.