Camp Brings Together Owatonna Football’s Past and Future
The experience of the annual Owatonna Huskies youth football camp has come full circle for many former participants who have grown up through the system, played on Friday nights and beyond, and now help lead or teach at the camp. Matt Skala and Andrew Stelter are examples of this.
OHS graduate and athletic hall of fame member, Skala has taken over organizing and leading the camp from Marc Achterkirch. A longtime Huskies assistant coach, Achterkirch now takes on the added responsibility of OHS activities director. He still coaches at the camp, but Skala is the man with the clipboard at the camp.
Skala participated in the youth camp as a kid, played on an Owatonna state runner-up team, played some college football, and has come back to town as an assistant coach.
He reported that about 250 kids in third through tenth grade are at the camp which concludes Thursday at the OHS stadium and practice fields. These youngsters need only look around to see players and coaches who have been part of multiple state championship teams while having their own title dreams.
The staff leading the drills, skills and games include about 70 people, consisting of the OHS football coaches, plus current and former players.
Stelter, likewise, took part in the camp as a youngster. Now, like many other former OHS players, he is back to help lead kids through skills. However, he is coming off a four-year career at the University of Minnesota after being a stalwart of the Huskies 2013 state title team. He worked with kids this week while wearing a 2017 state championship t-shirt.
Assistant coach Dellas Solie said the camp has featured former Division I players before, usually a Federated employee from another part of the country who played college ball at the top level.
Golden Gophers commit Jason Williamson, an incoming senior at Owatonna, has also assisted with the camp this year.
Varsity football practice begins on Monday, August 13 along with all other fall varsity sports. The football team will scrimmage on Saturday, August 25 and open their season at Faribault on Friday, August 31.
Download the KRFO app to listen to Owatonna High School football games this fall. Flash back to memories and notes from the 2017 state championship season.