McKenna Larsen has one less thing to worry about as she begins her final year at Oconto Falls High School.
The OFHS senior has verbally committed to Winona State University, a Division II school in Winona, Minn., where she will play volleyball and softball.
“It’s a big relief,” Larsen said. “Going into senior year, it’s the last time to play with friends. I kind of wanted to, not get it out of the way, but it’s nice to have it off my shoulders.”
Larsen had scholarship offers from many schools, including Division I schools.
But the mix of academics and the ability to play two sports made Winona State a perfect option, she said.
“They’re giving me the opportunity to play both sports,” Larsen said. “I really took advantage of that. I really didn’t want to decide (on one sport), because I didn’t want to regret it. Now I get to go to a place and try both.”
Winona State women’s volleyball coach Dave Simon was the first to contact Larsen about playing for the Warriors.
“He made contact first, after playing club, and I kind of said to him that I was thinking about playing both (sports),” Larsen said.
Simon told her that was a possibility and put her in contact with softball coach Greg Jones.
Larsen was offered a tuition scholarship to play volleyball, but will have to walk on her freshman year for softball, with the opportunity to earn scholarships down the road.
“This summer the softball coach talked to me more,” Larsen said. “That’s when I really knew that I wanted to go there.”
The influence of McKenna’s older sister, Brynn, may have played a factor, too.
“My sister played in the same conference (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference at Concordia University) as them in softball and she always said, ‘Oh they’re so good at softball,’” McKenna Larsen said. “They were successful. I would love to step into a program like that to continue my softball career. … It’s one of the best Division II conferences around.”
“Brynn decided early. (McKenna) wanted to decide early and sign early,” said Dawn Larsen, McKenna’s mother as well as her volleyball and softball coach. “Nov. 1 will be her signing date. She can just concentrate on her three sports. … Just go out her last year and have fun.”
McKenna’s decision made her mother proud and a little nostalgic.
“Any time that you can continue to play an athletic sport and get money for it, as a parent, you have to be proud,” Dawn Larsen said. “Like her sister, she’s worked hard. I’d love to see her go to Winona, because that would be close. After she moves on, our lives as parents will change. It’s closer than Eastern New Mexico.
“We’re excited. It’s amazing that she’s a senior already. I look at her and she’s no longer that little McKenna.”
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