Teams: Becker, Big Lake, Chisago Lakes, Foley, Lakes International, Milaca, Monticello, Ogilvie Mora, Princeton
- 2022 Section Champion: Monticello – 484.5 pts
- 2022 Section Runner-up: St. Cloud Tech – 334 pts
Notable Graduates:
- Delany Varney (Becker) – 100 Fly (4th Sections), 100 Back (8th Sections)
- Britney Krumrei (Big Lake) – Diving (1st Sections/5th State)
- Giorgia Sachhi (Milaca) – 100 Fly (10th Sections), 100 Back (7th Sections)
- Rita Erickson (Ogilvie Mora) – 200 Free (6th Sections), 500 Free (7th Sections)
- Callie Metsala (Princeton) – 100 Fly (2nd Sections/11th State), 100 Breast (1st Sections/14th State)
- Hattie Opdahl (Chisago Lakes) – Diving (1st Sections 4A/4th State)
- Sylvia Struve (Chisago Lakes) – Diving (2nd Sections/7th State)
- Kendle Mihm (Lakes International) – 50 Free (4th Sections 4A), 100 Free (6th Sections 4A)
Team Outlook
Some changes in the section bode well for 2022 champion Monticello. The third place team, Sauk Rapids-Rice moves up to class AA and the second and fourth place teams move to section 6A in St. Cloud Tech and Cathedral St. John’s Prep. Moving into the section will be Chisago Lakes and Lakes International For all the details of the section realignments, you can visit our previous article.
This looks to be all Monticello this year in the section and in a big way. Monticello graduates minimal points and has a slew of top point scores coming back. Freshman Adalynn Biegler leads the way, returning as section and state champion in both the 50 and 100 Free. Junior, Adrienne Yender joined Biegler in the sprint frees last season, placing fourth in both events at sections. Junior McKenna Biegler also contributed last season in the freestyle. She placed second in the 200 Free and fourth in the 500 Free at sections. Senior Rose Urick placed second last season and twelfth at the state meet in the 100 Breast, while freshman Scarlet Urick will look to build on her fifth place section finishes in the 200 IM and 100 Fly. Sophomore Ella Vagle placed third in 2022 in the 100 Back and will be aiming to make the state meet this season.
Other Notables
Becker eight grader made an impression last year during her rookie season, placing seventh in the 200 Free and sixth in the 500 Free. Also, Sophomore Laila Cook, returns after two top eight finishes at sections. Cook placed eighth in both the 200 IM and 100 Breast. Senior diver Lauren Woelfel placed tenth at the state meet in diving and will contend for the section champion position in 2023
Foley Senior Ellie Kilgard was section champion in both the 200 and 500 Free and went on to place sixth in the 200 Free and eighth in the 500 Free at the state meet.
Milaca seniors Samantha Meyer and Hilary Leom helped lead then to a state birth in the 200 Free Relay in 2022 and both were top point scores as individuals at the sections meet. Meyer placed seventh in the 100 Free and Leom placed fifth in the 100 Breast.
Chisago Lakes always has divers. Freshman Chelsea Stipe will join the section and battle for one of the four state qualifying spots. Senior Ellie Undem will be a presence in the 100 Free and 100 Back. Undem was a state top sixteen finisher in the 100 Free and state qualifier in the 100 Back.
Princeton, Ogilvie Mora and Lakes International will look to 2023 as a building year. Each team graduated a high impact senior but have swimmers and divers that will be looking to make some noise in 2023.