Just how good are the No. 4-1A Spartans? There’s no better barometer than playing Hermantown, which has won three of the last seven state titles and finished runner-up once in that stretch. Orono also has a recent state title (in 2018) on its resume, but its program is more subject to the up-and-down cycles of talent all teams not named Hermantown endure.
The defending Class 1A champion Hawks, long the standard-bearer among the state’s small schools, are off to a 3-0-1 start, with all their opponents of the Class 2A variety. Hermantown begins a three-game stretch against Class 1A foes with a hard-hitting Orono team that is 7-0-0 and joins the Hawks among the state’s eight remaining unbeaten squads.
When Orono’s 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior Bradley Walker is in full-on beast mode (which is all the time) he is one of the state’s most intimidating and effective players. He has 10 points to lead the Spartans while junior Cayden Effertz has a team-best seven goals. Joshua Kauppinen has five goals and Dallas Vieau, a Penn State commit, four to lead the Hawks.