Teams: Albert Lea, Austin, Faribault, Mankato East, Mankato West, Northfield, Red Wing, St. Peter, Tri City United, Winona
- 2022 Section Champion: New Prague – 371.5 pts
- 2022 Section Runner-up: Mankato West – 339 pts
Notable Graduates:
- Olivia Walsh (Austin) – 50 Free (3rd Sections/7th State), 100 Free (1st Sections)/9th State)
- Jayne Satre (Mankato East) – 500 Free (3rd Sections), 200 Free (3rd Sections)
- Ava Pike (Winona) – 50 Free (6th Sections), 100 Free (6th Sections)
- Olivia Koeneman (Mankato West) – 50 Free (1st Sections)/9th State), 100 Free (8th Sections)
Team Outlook
With the Section Champion team of New Prague moving to Class AA, one may believe the landscape of the section would change dramatically, but Northfield is moving down from class AA to fill the void. Northfield is a similar team to New Prague with a little more depth, but not quite the diving strength the Trojans have.
Northfield has a chance to qualify all three relays for state and will have some frontline power with junior Nora Kortuem leading the way in the 200 IM and 100 Fly. Also, likely to contribute is junior Clare Liebl in the 200 and 500 free, senior Josie Hauck in the 200 IM and 100 Back, freshman Greta Kortuem in the 200 IM and 100 Breast. All placed in the top 8 in the section 1AA meet last season.
Mankato West also returns with a set of State qualifying swimmers with seniors Olivia Leonard and Lucy Vogt placing top 8 in state in individual events and junior Ella Lee contributing on two state relays and placing top 16 in the 100 Fly. Mankato West also returns their seventh-place state 200 Medley Relay completely intact.
It should be a good battle between these two teams for the Section 1A Championship in the 2023 season.
Other Notables
Senior Hannah Denzer of St. Peter will return as section champion in the 200 and 500 free where she placed second and seventh in state, respectively.
Austin will have the two top returning divers with juniors Alayna Kennedy and Reese Norton. The 2022 Champion Nellie Dalsin will move to Class AA with New Prague. Packers’ Junior Graycie Greenman should be a contender in the 200 and 500 free after placing fourth and second in those events last season.
Mankato East Senior Avery Schuh followed up her fourth-place section finish with a fourth-place state finish in the 50 free and will battle Lucy Vogt from West for the title this year. Schuh also placed seventh at the section meet in the 100 Free.
Ella Schmiesing, the sophomore from Tri City United, will return as the section champion in the 100 breaststroke and finished second in the 100 Free. She ended up placing eighth in the 100 breaststroke at the state meet in November.
Red Wing senior Emma Hoppman is the returning section champion in the 100 back and had a fourth-place section finish in the 100 free.
Winona sophomore Abby Williams finished second in the 100 breaststroke last season and finished in eleventh place at the state meet.
Farbiault will be lead by a trio of seniors this season. Miller Munoz returns as their top diver, Izzie Dokkestul in the sprint and middle distance freestyle, and Bennett Wray-Raabolle in the backstroke and sprint free