These 5 Owatonna High School Teams Lived Their State Tournament Dreams in 2016

The ultimate experience for a prep athlete is to qualify for the state tournament. Five Owatonna High School teams lived those dreams in 2016.

The Owatonna Huskies football squad helped open up US Bank Stadium this fall just as the Indians did in 1982 at the Metrodome. This November, OHS played a great game against Elk River in the semifinals but lost 19-7. It was the closest game the Elks faced in their march to a state title. It was Owatonna's third state tournament trip in five years.

Owatonna's boys soccer team also made it to state for the third time in the past five seasons. The Huskies needed a dramatic come-from-behind win over Farmington in the section final to reach the state stage. OHS lost to Wayzata in the quarterfinals in a cold rain at Benilde-St. Margaret's High School in Richfield.

The Huskies gymnastics team broke new ground by advancing to the state meet and placed sixth at the Sports Pavilion at the University of Minnesota. OHS senior Steph Kretlow finished second individually on the vault.

The OHS adapted floor hockey team is a regular participant in the state tournament. They finished third in 2016. Alex Burns and Zach Sencer were named to the All-Tournament team. Burns also won a statewide adapted athletics award this year.

Owatonna's high school bowling team went to the state tournament in early December and placed third.

Three Huskies teams came up one step short of state in 2016. Girls hockey, baseball and girls tennis all finished as section runners-up. The OHS boys track team won the Big Nine title last spring.