State Champions to Join Owatonna Athletic Hall of Fame

Four of the five members of the 2019 Owatonna High School Athletic Hall of Fame class won state championships as a participant or coach. All four athletes were members of the National Honor Society. Two of them went on to compete at the Division I level of college athletics. One will join a sibling in the hall.

Induction ceremonies for the 25th class of the hall of fame will take place Friday, September 13 at Owatonna High School. The latest five members will bring the total number of honorees to 125. The hall of fame display is in the commons area outside the OHS gym.

Tom Haigh (class of 1958) will join his brother Jim in the hall of fame. Tom lettered eight times in football, basketball and track and was part of a district basketball title in his senior season. He was the Jostens Junior Athlete in 1957. Haigh played basketball at UMD, winning three conference championships. He taught and coached in Great Falls, MT. Haigh passed away in 1998.

Nicki (Miller) Martineau (class of 1990) won the state gymnastics championship in the floor exercise in her junior season and returned to state her senior year. She lettered seven times between swimming/diving and gymnastics. Miller-Martineau was a six-time Big Bine champ, four in gymnastics and two in swimming/diving. She competed in gymnastics at the University of Winona.

Derek Johnson (class of 2001) was a two-time state wrestling champion individually and was a member of the state team championship in 1998. He won back-to-back individual titles in 1999 and 2000. He held career records for wins, pins and takedowns at the time of his graduation. Johnson wrestled at the University of Wisconsin until an injury ended his career.

Amy (Kubat) Lageson (class of 2008) earned nine letters in track, basketball and volleyball. A five-time letter-winner in track, Kubat-Lageson won the state shot put title in 2008 while finishing fourth in the discus. She was a three-time Big Nine champ in shot put. She threw the hammer for the University of Minnesota. Kubat-Lageson played on section championship teams in basketball and volleyball, making her a rare O-Club member who competed at state in all three sports.

Jeanne Stursa coached and taught at Owatonna High School from 1973 to 2008. She led the addition of adapted floor hockey at OHS. The team won the state title in 2004 during a stretch of six straight appearances at state that included three runner-up finishes and a pair of consolation championships. Stursa also coached tennis and basketball.

A reception for the inductees will take place at 3 pm on Friday, September 13 at the high school with recognition also at the Huskies' football game that night.