Teams: Bloomington Jefferson, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, Prior Lake, Shakopee, Waconia
- 2022 Section Champion: Minnetonka – 504 pts
- 2022 Section Runner-up: Edina – 470.5 pts
Notable Graduates:
- Katie McCarthy (Edina) – 200 IM (1st Sections/1st State), 500 Free (1st Sections/1st State)
- Zella Lucas (Prior Lake) – 200 IM (2nd Sections/ 6th State), 100 Fly (4th Sections/5th State)
- Haley Zelen (Shakopee) – 50 Free (1st Sections /1st State), 100 Fly (2nd Sections/4th State)
- Ella Hall (Edina) – 50 Free (4th Sections/7th State), 100 Breast (1st Sections/5th State)
- Shanze Karimi (Edina)- Diving (1st Sections/4th State)
- Maggie Rhodes (Minnetonka) – 100 Fly (3rd Sections/6th State), 100 Back (2nd Sections/6th State)
- Anna Schrag (Edina) – 200 Free (9th Sections/14th State), 100 Free (6th Sections/14th State)
- Amelie Girard (Shakopee) – 100 Back (5th Sections), 100 Free (6th Sections)
- Georgia Jorgenson (Minnetonka) – 100 Breast (5th Sections)
Team Outlook
Waconia moves up from Class A to join this section and will face a tough task with 5 of the top 9 teams in the 2022 State Meet coming from this section. For all the details of the section realignments you can visit our previous article.
Reigning state champion and section runner up Edina graduates 3-time Athlete of the Year Katie McCarthy as well as high point scorers Ella Hall, Anna Schrag, and section diving champion Shanze Karimi. Edina has plenty of depth and power remaining with sophomores Frances Muir (200 IM 3rd Sections/9th State, 500 Free 2nd Sections/2nd State) and Libbi McCarthy (50 Free 2nd Sections/2nd State, 100 Free 2nd Sections/5th State). Zara Karimi is returning for her junior year as the second top returning diver. Edina always seems to have the next generation of top competitors ready to step up as well.
Minnetonka looks primed to be the section and state favorite this season. They lose valuable points in Maggie Rhodes, but they have a slew of top performers returning. Seniors Paige Dillion, Aralyn Vogel, Paige Olson, and Rylie Ulett look to be near the top in sections and top 8 performers at state in their events. Juniors Annabelle Wentzel, Kendall Schindler and Natalie Hendricks are also in that category. Sophomore Sarah Hurley also made a big splash as a freshman last year, placing in the top 8 in sections in the 200 Free and 100 Fly.
Other Notables
Shakopee will be returning junior and 2022 section champion in the 200 and 100 Free, Ari Zelen. Zelen also placed in the top five in both events later at the state meet. Junior Olivia Wimberger is another returning point scorer for Shakopee, placing fourth in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 Breaststroke last season. Senior Erika Schroeder was a top eight finisher at sections in both the 50 and 100 Free and will continue to be a valuable relay asset this season. Freshman Lexi Tipple placed eleventh in the section meet in the 50 and 100 Free and will be looking to crack the top eight this year.
Chanhassen is led by junior Avery Luedke who placed top four in the section in the 200 and 500 Free and followed up with top four finishes at state. Senior Jennifer Pearson placed fourth in both the 50 and 100 Free at the section meet as well as having top eleven finishes in both at state. Junior Rachel Broadhead should be a top eight competitor in the 200 IM and 100 Fly for sections.
Prior Lake Junior Ivy Solt looks to be a top contender in the section and at state in the 200 and 500 Free, placing top three in sections and top 9 at state in both. Senior Halle Nelson should be a top 8 contributor in the 50 and 100 Free after placing top six in both at sections last season. Junior Alex Peterson looks to move up in a crowded 100 Fly after a sixth-place finish in 2022 at the section meet. Senior Alex Cundiff is the top returning diver from 2022 in the section.
Chaska junior Sophie Dahl placed top sixteen at sections in the 200 IM and top eight in the 100 Back. She will look to be one of the Hawk’s leading point scores this season.
Bloomington Jefferson senior Claire Priest placed thirteenth in the 200 IM and ninth in the 100 Breaststroke in 2022 and will be looking to make top eight this year.
Waconia will have senior Abigail Voelker, juniors Laura Stockinger and Mallory Haas and sophomore Amalia Schaefer into the mix in their new section. All were Class A state qualifiers and Voelker placed sixth in the 100 Fly.