Tribune Notebook: Montevideo football star headed to UMD
Feb. 9—Montevideo's Francis O'Malley was among the area's top prize recruits who made his college intentions public this week.
O'Malley has signed with the University of Minnesota-Duluth football team to play tight end. UMD is an NCAA Division II program.
O'Malley was one of eight area athletes known to have had signing ceremonies Wednesday. Other football players included Lac qui Parle Valley's Kaden Molden and TJ Mitchell, New London-Spicer's Lucas Swenson, Litchfield's Jacob Dietel (Wisconsin-Stout) and Willmar's Jonathan Ritz (Bethel), Dylan Staska (Bethel) and Matthew Strey (Jamestown).
Molden is headed to Minnesota State-Moorhead and Mitchell signed with Southwest Minnesota State. Both are NCAA Division II programs in the same Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference that UMD is in. Swenson signed with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, an NCAA Division III program. Ritz and Staska head to Bethel, an NCAA Division III program. Strey is going to Jamestown, an NAIA school in North Dakota. Dietel is going to Wisconsin-Stout, another NCAA Division III school.
There were also a number of football athletes who signed early, including Hunter Kallstrom of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, who committed to Wyoming, and Willmar's Hayden Venenga, who is headed to South Dakota State. Both are NCAA Division I programs.
O'Malley ran for 1,930 yards and 23 touchdowns and also returned a kick for a touchdown for the Thunder Hawks, who were 6-4. He was a top-10 finalist for Mr. Football and was selected to particiapted in the Minnesota High School Football All-Star game.
"Francis was an absolute beast," Montevideo head coach David Vik told the West Central Tribune during selections for the
all-area football team
.
Wednesday was a national signing day for NCAA Division I and II programs. Division III, junior college and NAIA programs also have signing celebrations, though unlike Division I and II, they generally are not binding.
Area student-athletes who are known to have committed are up to 20. Note that if there is anyone not noted here, please send an email to sports@wctrib.com to be added to the list.
Here's a list of known commitments:
Athlete, school: Dylan Alexander, Minnewaska
Sport: Baseball
College: Minnesota-Crookston
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Athlete, school: Carter Auspos, KMS
Sport: Football
College: Minnesota-Morris
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Jared Cortez, KMS
Sport: Baseball
College: Southwest Minnesota State
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Athlete, school: Jacob Dietel, Litchfield
Sport: Football
College: University of Wisconsin-Stout
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Dyllon Geiser, LQPV
Sport: Baseball
College: NDSCS-Wahpeton
Affiliation: NJCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Maximus Hansen, BBE
Sport: Wrestling
College: Augsburg
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Garrison Jackman, Litchfield
Sport: Football
College: Wisconsin-Stout
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Jasen Jansen, RCW
Sport: Football
College: Jamestown
Affiliation: NAIA
Athlete, school: Hunter Kallstrom, KMS
Sport: Football
College: Wyoming
Affiliation: NCAA Division I
Athlete, school: Malaki Lee
Sport: Football
College: North Dakota State College of Science
Affiliation: NJCAA Division III
Athlete, school: TJ Mitchell, LQPV
Sport: Football
College: Southwest Minnesota State
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Athlete, school: Kaden Molden, LQPV
Sport: Football
College: Minnesota State-Moorhead
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Athlete, school: Javin Mungai, RCW
Sport: Track and field
College: Wisconsin-River Falls
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Francis O'Malley, Montevideo
Sport: Football
College: Minnesota-Duluth
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Athlete, school: Jonathan Ritz, Willmar
Sport: Football
College: Bethel
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Chi Schneider, NLS
Sport: Baseball
College: Upper Iowa
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Athlete, school: Dylan Staska, Willmar
Sport: Football
College: Bethel University
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Matthew Strey, Willmar
Sport: Football
College: University of Jamestown
Affiliation: NAIA
Athlete, school: Lucas Swenson, NLS
Sport: Football
College: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Athlete, school: Hayden Venenga, Willmar
Sport: Football
College: South Dakota State
Affiliation: NCAA Division I
Athlete, school: Kaydence Roeske, River Lakes (Paynesville)
Sport: Women's hockey
College: Minnesota State-Mankato
Affiliation: Division I
Athlete, school: Gretchen Volk, Willmar
Sport: Volleyball
College: Sioux Falls
Affiliation: Division II
