Owatonna Football Holds Awards Banquet

The 2015 Owatonna football team held one last get-together Sunday. The team gathered to hold its awards banquet and enjoy the season highlight video at the Eagles Club.

There were many high points on the field during their 7-2 campaign that included a 5-0 Red Division championship. In the classroom, the team earned the Gold Award for Academic All-State. Big Southeast District scholar athletes were Alex Emanuelson, Sam Hylle, Alec Holcomb, Lucas Arndt, Joash Rockensock and Lane Thiesse.

Sam Hylle won the Most Valuable Player award in a vote by his teammates. He set school records for yards and touchdowns in a game during the Austin game and had the sixth-highest single-season rushing total in Owatonna history.

Lucas Arndt earned the Lineman of the Year award. Nick Heisler was named the Champion of the Year. Lance Ulrich landed the Special Teams award and Alec Holcomb was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Eight Huskies landed on the Big Southeast All District team.

• Sam Hylle, running back
• Alex Emanuelson, quarterback
• Joash Rockensock, offensive line
• Lucas Arndt, offensive line
• Alec Holcomb, line backer
• Lance Ulrich, outside line backer
• Blake Westphal, defensive back
• Ben Staska, line backer

Four more players earned Honorable Mention

• Brady Ruiter, offensive line
• Austin Abbas, defensive line
• Jake Borchert, defensive back
• Goy Tut, defensive line

Captains for the 2016 will be Ben Staska, Nathan Deason, Jacob Gauthier and Brett Solie. The evening included the recap of the 8-0 b-squad season. Gary Walter presented his latest stellar season highlight video as well.

Several school records were set in 2015. Sam Hylle rushed for 320 yards in the Austin game, scoring seven touchdowns. Aidan Buryska set the mark for most extra points in a game (11) in the same game. As a team, the Huskies gained 644 yards against the Packers.

Hylle's 1,361 yards was the sixth-highest single-season total, and he ended his career 12th on the all-time rushing list with 1,820 yards. Alex Emanuelson's career passing yardage total of 2,295 yards was third-best in school history. His single-season total of 1,124 was the seventh-best ever.