Teams: Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Fosston-Bagley-Crookston, Morris Area-Minnewaska, Park Rapids, Perham-New York Mills, Thief River Falls, BMGR-Warroad-Rosseau
- 2022 Section Champion: Park Rapids – 561 pts
- 2022 Section Runner-up: Fergus Falls – 358.5 pts
Notable Graduates:
- Massie Lee (Park Rapids) – 200 IM (2nd Sections), 100 Breast (1st Sections)
- Emma Vrieze (Park Rapids) – 50 Free (1st Sections)
- Faith Hamm (Detroit Lakes) – 200 Free (1st Sections,15th State), 500 Free (1st Sections)
- Marin Westrum (Detroit Lakes) – 200 IM (3rd Sections), 100 Fly (5th Sections)
- Kylie Tulius (Detroit Lakes) – Diving (5th Sections)
- Lucy Schultz (Perham-New York Mills) – 200 IM (8th Sections), 100 Fly (8th Sections)
- Brooklyn Millward (Alexandria) – 200 Free (2nd Sections 6A, 13th State), 100 Free (5th Sections 6A)
- Summer Overland (Alexandria) – 200 Free (4th Sections 6A), 500 Free (3rd Sections 6A)
- Emma Bugher (Alexandria) – 200 IM (8th Sections 6A), 100 Breast (4th Sections 6A)
- Alana Guenther (Alexandria) -50 Free (8th Sections 6A100 Fly (7th Sections 6A)
- McKenzie Luetmer (Morris-Minnewaska) – 50 Free (2nd Sections 6A), 100 Free (8th Sections 6A)
Team Outlook
Section 8A will have a different look this year as Alexandria and Morris Minnewaska move in from section 6A. For all the details of the section realignments, you can visit our previous article.
Park Rapids has been the team to beat in recent years but the addition of Alexandira to the section could challenge that. Park Rapids returns a host of top point scorers from last years section meet. Freshman Avery Schueller placed third in the 100 Free and was section champion in the 200 Free. Junior Mylee Edevold also racked up some points by placing third in the 50 Free and 100 Fly. Senior Lizzie Seifert was near the top in points as well, placing second in the 200 Free and third in the 500 Free. Right behind them, you have seniors Claire Voigt and Maya Deshayes, juniors Nora Cedarstron and McKenzie Himango, and freshman Whitney Seigert. All placed in the top eight in multiple events in last year’s section meet. Junior Addison Lauwagie returns as section champion in the 100 Fly and was on three first place relays. In diving, junior Allie Rowland was fourth in the section in 2022 and qualified for the state meet.
Alexandria placed second as a team in section 6A last year and graduated some point, but still have a group of capable swimmers to challenge Park Rapids. Junior Grace Urke placed 3rd in the 200 IM ands just a bit off the state qualifying time. She was also fourth in the 100 Back and should challenge for the section championship in 8A this season. Junior Rayna Holm was seventh at sections in the 200 IM and followed that up with a sixth place finish in the 100 Back. Senior Jisella Haskamp was section 6A champion in 100 Free and will be a favorite in the 100 Breast. Alexandria junior senior Erica Johnson and junior Lauren Hornstein placed second and third in section 6A in 2022 and will be near the top again in 8A.
Other Notables
Fergus Falls did not graduate any points from last year’s section meet and will look to close the gap on Park Rapids as well. Senior Aisling Cox placed sixth in the 200 IM and second in the 100 Back in 2022 and sophomore Estee VerSteeg returns as section champion in the 200 IM and runner up in the 500 Free. The Otters could make things interesting if their young swimmers take the next step this season.
Detroit Lakes will rely on seniors Quinn Rogstad and Rylie Wendt as well as junior Peggy Whitteron to fill some of the gaps left by graduating seniors Faith Hamm and Marin Westrum. Rogstad placed fifth in the 200 Free and sixth in the 500 Free last year, Wendt placed sixth in both the 50 Free and 100 Back and Whitteron placed seventh in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 Fly. Hope Hamm returns as Detroit Lakes’ top diver, finishing third last year and qualifying for the state meet.
Perham-New York Mills will be led by sophomore Taylor Ziemke. Ziemke finished second in the 50 Free and third in the 100 Free in 2022. Fellow sophomore Maggie Vickmark placed eighth last season in the 200 and 500 Free and will be looking to push into the top four this year. Perham also returns the top two divers in the section in seniors Brittney Lorentz and Avery McAllister.
Thief River Falls will be led by seniors Kendal Rantanen and Maren Espe. Rantanen placed second in the 100 Fly and was section champion in the 100 back, while Espe placed sixth in the 100 Free and second in the 100 Breast. Junior Brianna Berg placed eighth in the 50 Free and ninth in the 100 Free and should be looking to move up the ranks this season in those events.
Fosston-Bagley-Crookston will rely on its young swimmers to continue to build their program. Sophomore Chloe Boll finished fourth in the 50 Free and 100 Free in 2022 and freshman Haidyn Friborg finished fourth in the 100 Fly and eleventh in the 500 Free.
Morris Minnewaska junior Melena Longtin will find a good spot in the new section, projecting to place in the top eighth in the 50 and 100 Free. Sophomore Lyla Stadtherr placed ninth in section 6A in the 100 Breast and should be contending for top five in 8A.
BMG/Warroad/Roseau will look to build behind a group of seniors. Lanae Gustafson, Roselynn Dignan, Hannah Dahl, and Guine Daniels all scored points at the section meet in 2022.