For many Minnesotans, it was a cold, long and dark winter. At Orono High School, it could not have been more different. This winter, five sports teams as well numerous individual athletes advanced to their respective State tournaments.

These teams included: boys hockey team, boys basketball team, girls dance team, girls gymnastics team, boys and girls alpine skiing teams, as well as individuals from the boys Nordic ski team and boys wrestling team.

“It was an incredible winter season,” principal David Benson said. “It showed the leadership of the senior class as well as the work ethic that students at this school have.”

The boys hockey team made it back to the State tournament in St. Paul, ending a seven year absence. “Going to the Xcel Energy Center and getting to play in the State tournament was so fun and rewarding,” senior captain Sam Challgren said.

The boys basketball team also made it back to State after a three year absence. “It was an incredible run, “ junior Chris Lecy said. “To represent the school and community was something I will never forget.”

Even the boys wrestling team and boys Nordic ski team also saw individuals make exciting journeys to State tournaments. On the wrestling team, senior Charlie Schmid, junior Jackson Striggow, and sophomore Johnny Schmid all punched their tickets to State.
On the boys Nordic ski team, senior Mike Choiniere also returned to State after participating a season ago as a junior. At this winter’s boys Nordic State meet, Choiniere finished 55th.

This winter also saw the girls dance team make their first State appearance in the Varsity Jazz category. “Seeing the dance team make it to State was so great,” Orono athletic director Bucky Mieras said. “I give a lot of credit to the coaches and players.”

This winter has not only been exciting for the athletes who played, but also for the students and classmates that supported the teams throughout the whole season.

“It made me be proud of being a student at Orono High School,” senior Jake Roach said. Roach was the spirit leader for the senior class, leading the cheers in the student section. “It was so fun and exciting to see so many friends have amazing runs with their teams.”

There are many words that can describe this past winter’s sports season; amazing, incredible, exciting. Rare seems to sound the best. “This hasn’t happened before,” Mieras said.“The school has never sent this many teams to State in the same season.”

What a winter it has been at Orono. “It was such a fun and exciting time to be a student at OHS,” Lecy said.