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Olson signs with SMSU to play football

By Staff | Feb 7, 2016

Buc football coaches Randy Kuechenmeister, Brian Kokos and Travis Armstrong congratulate Olson at the signing ceremony last Wednesday.

Blue Earth Area Buccaneer senior Bailey Olson had a big day last Wednesday, Feb. 2.

It was a snow day and no school, but Olson showed up anyway. It was national college signing day, and he was putting pen to paper and signing with the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs.

He will play football for the NCAA Division II Mustangs next season as a wide receiver.

“I was looking at either MSU (Minnesota State University, Mankato) or SMSU,” Olson says. “But, on our recent visit to Marshall, I decided SMSU was the right fit for me.”

Olson says he knows a few other players there, it is the right size school for him, and they also have a very good football program in place.

Bailey Olson signs to play football at SMSU next year.

The Mustangs were 8-3 last year under head coach Cory Sauter.

Olson has been a varsity football starter at BEA for the past three years.

“We had Bailey as a wide receiver-split end and safety for us for two years,” Buccaneer head coach Randy Kuechenmeister says. “But this year we needed him to play quarterback and he stepped up and played well for us, both at quarterback and at safety, too.”

Real well, as he helped lead the maroon and gold to another trip to the State Tournament.

Kuechenmeister says Olson is a playmaker, no matter what position he is playing.

Olson's parents, Jeff and Heidi Olson, are shown with Bailey after he scored his 1,000th point during a recent BEA boys basketball game.

“He makes plays,” the Buc mentor says. “He is fast, tall and can go up high and catch the ball no matter what. He will fit in well with their scheme at SMSU.”

Kuechenmeister adds that the Mustangs had a good season this past year, and they are hoping their new recruits are going to help to continue to build on what they did this past year.

And, the Buc coach is excited that Olson is going to be a part of it.

“I am very happy for him,” the coach notes. “I know he will excel at whatever he does, and he will do very well there.”

At BEA, Olson also plays basketball for the Bucs and has been part of the Track and Field team.

“This year (coming spring) I am thinking about going out for both track and golf,” Olson says. “Why not try it for my senior year.”

Olson has been successful at basketball at BEA as well as football. This past week he scored the 1,000th point of his high school career.

But, football remains his favorite sport. He has been playing it since about fifth grade.

“I enjoy it because I like playing with my friends,” he says. “And the fact that we have been pretty successful at it over the years.”

Olson is the son of Jeff and Heidi Olson of Blue Earth. He has one sister, Ashley, who is attending college at Creighton University in Omaha.

The former Buccaneer wide receiver and quarterback says he is really excited about playing on the college level.

And, who knows, maybe the Mustangs will use his quarterback experience with a trick play that has this wide receiver throw a surprise pass once in a while.