5 QUICK QUESTIONS

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR NUMBER (No. 3)? IS THERE A STORT BEHIND IT?

“I always wore number one growing up and then my sophomore year Aiden Walter had it. He played my position and he was someone I looked up to. And then (Owen) Beyer took one last year, so I just stuck with number three and I had a pretty good season, so I just stuck with it.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE UNIFORM COMBINATION?

“Easy, blue and white.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY CONNECTION TO OWATONNA SPORTS?

“I had two uncles that grew up in the Owatonna football program (Matt Skala and Nate Skala) and both played sports in college and both have been on the coaching staff here for a long time. My mom grew up in Owatonna and was a three-sport athlete and played sports in college. Dad played sports as well, and then my two older brothers played a bunch of sports at Owatonna. And then my younger siblings are involved in a lot of sports as well — there’s a lot going on in our family.“

WHAT OTHER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?

“Um, let’s see…basketball, track, and then I’m in NHS, Big Brothers-Big Sisters and then there is DECCA. That’s what I can think of right off the top of my head.”

IS THERE A MEMORABLE PHRASE THAT YOU REMEMBER FROM A COACH OR AN ASSISTANT?

“I was going to say ‘the sooner we go, the sooner we go’ but Meneguzzo used that one, so I’ll go with ‘Hoorah’ by coach Eggermont. Whenever he says that, it gets us going, whether it’s in the weight room or after someone makes a play on the field, it always pumps us up’“

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Q & A WITH NOLAN GINSKEY

YOU SCORED ON AN 80-YARD RECEPTION THE FIRST TIME YOU TOUCHED THE BALL AND WERE IMMEDIATLY EXPECTED TO PLAY A PRETTY SIZABLE ROLE AS A SOPHOMORE, BUT OBIOUSLY SUFFERED A SEASON-ENDING INJURY IN WEEK 1. HOW HAS BEING FORCED TO SIT OUT FOR ESSENTIALLY AN ENTIRE SEASON INFLUENCED YOUR OVERALL CAREER?

“I mean, like you said, after my first touch on varsity went for a touchdown, it obviously felt really good and it set a pretty high bar for myself. But then after getting injured and being forced to watch almost an entire season from the sidelines, it served as motivation because I knew what I was capable of doing out there. It pained me to miss all those games like that and I felt like I was disappointing my teammates, so it made me want to come back  as healthy as possible and better than ever. Once the offseason hit last year, I worked to get back — worked my ankle and the rest of my body — and was ready to get going right away during my junior season.“

INTERALLY, EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH KNEW WHAT YOU WERE CAPABLE OF BEFORE LAST SEASON, BUT YOU PROBABLY SNUCK UP ON A LOT OF OPPONENTS. THAT’S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR. HOW ARE YOU PEPARED FOR THAT?

“There are little changes I can make here and there, but it’s honestly all about trusting my teammates around me and trusting the coaches to put me in position to succeed. Last year, the supporting staff was really, really good, but I think we are just as talented this year. That goes both defensively and offensively, and however the coaches plan on getting me the ball this season, I’m good with.“

YOU PROGRESSED EACH WEEK LAST SEASON, BUT REALLY BLEW UP (IN WEEK 4) AGAINST NORTHFIELD. WAS THERE A SPECIFIC POINT WHEN THE GAME STARTED TO SLOW DOWN FOR YOU?

“I would say it happened more throughout the season. The more we put in the playbook, the easier it came for me and the harder it was for defenses to start. Once you start really understanding what the defense is doing and what our ultimate goal is on offense, it makes things a lot easier. It also helped that I had so many playmakers around me. Everything really opened up against Northfield and boosted my confidence and it was off from there.”

YOUR CONNECTION WITH THE QUARTERBACK LAST YEAR WAS INNATE. I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE BROTHERS AND SEPERATED BY ONE GRADE. THIS YEAR, YOU GUYS ARE BREAKING IN A NEW QUARTERBACK. HOW DID YOU START BUILDING THAT TRUST IN THE OFFSEASON?

“In the summer, just getting the new QB worked in was huge. I think it allowed them to step up and play with confidence and knowing they can trust in the wide outs and know the o-line is going to protect them is huge. And the coaches did everything they could to make it easy on them — coaching them up and preparing them the best they can. But, obviously, last year’s chemistry with (Jacob) was pretty unique and special, but this year we can be just as dynamic.”

THIS TEAMHAS EVEN HIGHER EXPECTATIONS THAN LAST YEAR. IN YOUR OPINION, HOW DOES THIS PARTICULAR GROUP DEAL WITH HAVING THAT TARGET?

“We love it. And even if there are still people out there who don’t think we are going to do well, we flourish off that type of stuff too and amped us up even more. I mean, whoever our opponent is, we aren’t going to let up on the throttle and then if people start expecting great things from us, that’s great. But if they don’t, we are going to be great anyway.”

I WILL END WITH THIS: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE AN OWATONNA FOOTBALL CAPTAIN?

“I mean, the Owatonna football program is one of the best in the state, so being elected a captain and having my teammates look up to be as a leader — whether it’s on the field, off the field — it’s a true honor. It’s been something I have dreamed of my whole life and I just want to go out there are set an example for everyone.”