As Joe Ollman’s senior year comes to an end as a Highlander, another door opens for him to play football at South Dakota State University.

In the fall, Ollman is planning on continuing his education in exercise science. Ollman said, “I’m going into exercise science to become a personal trainer/strength and conditioning coach. I’ve worked with three personal trainers during high school, and it got me really interested in what they do. I’ve learned a lot about that type of work just through my work with them. I want to be able to help people do what they love and do what I love to do, which is working out for a sport I enjoy so much.”

Ollman started playing tackle football in middle school, but he found great joy in playing the sport in sixth and seventh grade.

Head Coach Drake Zortman described Ollman as more than just an athlete, referring to his strong, calming presence in the huddle, on the sidelines and in the locker room.

Zortman added, “… he’s very dependable and durable, even if he’s nicked or injured a little bit, you knew he was always going to be there. He was always one of the hardest working kids around.”

Ollman said he goes into the game with the mindset that he will do whatever is necessary to win.

When asked about how the 2021-22 season was different from `previous seasons, Ollman said, “Based on the expectations that we had, not a lot of people outside of the team really expected us to go anywhere. We were projected to finish fifth in the conference to start the season. No one really thought we were going to no anywhere. We proved everyone wrong and brought the culture of Homestead football back.”

Ollman said his teammates are all like brothers to him. They all have created an unbreakable bond because of all of the time they have spent together.

Junior quarterback Salvatore Balistrieri said that Ollman is a player many of his peers look up to and has helped the teammates around him strive to be the best players they can be.

“He’s a great teammate with a great ability to lead, especially leading by example. He demonstrates to all of us how to play and prepare our hardest,” Balistreri said.

Senior running back Tyler Miller said Ollman is the hardest working teammate he’s ever had, adding that, “it was great to play alongside a great friend this [past season]”.

Along with creating ‘bromances’ as a team, they also created many memories.

Balistrieri said he couldn’t pick one memory because there are so many. Although, he touched on how he enjoyed the countless touchdowns they made together, making it to state, and growing as players as quarterback and running back.

Miller said that his fondest memory is when, “we got mullets cut for our playoff run.”

As far as one of Ollman’s fondest memories, he said, “I’d probably say the level four playoff game against Kettle Moraine. It was just a great team experience, and to beat a team like them it really, really meant a lot to us seniors,and the coaches, and honestly just everyone on the team. It was an overall great night, and experience.”