Teams: Cherry, Chisholm, C-E-C, Duluth Denfeld, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, International Falls, Mesabi East, Northeast Range Ely, Proctor-Hermantown, Rock Ridge, Two Harbors-Silver Bay
- 2023 Section Champion: Rock Ridge – 375 pts
- 2022 Section Runner-up: Mesabi East – 335 pts
Notable Graduates:
- Ellie Bjorge (Rock Ridge) – 200 IM (8th Sections), 100 Fly (9th Sections)
- Jaelyn Parks (Rock Ridge) – 50 Free (9th Sections), 100 Free (5th Sections)
- Hailey Pechonick (Rock Ridge) – 100 Fly (5th Sections), 100 Back (9th Sections)
- Mia Stark (Rock Ridge) – 200 IM (9th Sections), 100 Free (4th Sections)
- Gabriella Saice (Mesabi East) – Diving (5th Sections)
- Alyssa Jackson (Grand Rapids) – 100 Fly (6th Sections), 100 Back (2nd Sections)
- Chloe Peterson (Grand Rapids) – 200 IM (3rd Sections)
- Macie Emerson (Hibbing) – 50 Free (5th Sections), 100 Fly (7th Sections)
- Mia Savage (Hibbing) – 100 Free (13th Sections), 100 Back (6th Sections)
- Ava Niksich (Proctor Hermantown) – 200 Free (1st Sections), 500 Free (1st Sections)
- Jillian Biben (International Falls) – 50 Free (2nd Sections)
- Quianna Ford (International Falls) – 200 IM (14th Sections), 100 Breast (8th Sections)
- Liv Christner (Duluth Denfeld) – Diving (2nd Sections)
Team Outlook
This will be a competitive section meet again this season. Rock Ridge took home the title last year, but Mesabi East will be challenging them, and you can never count out Grand Rapids. Rock Ridge’s Maggie Gripp is the highest returning point scorer in their senior class. Gripp placed 4th in the 100 Back and 10th in the 200 IM. The team’s core is with their juniors, where they have a quartet that notched top 8 finished in 2023. Allison Anderson placed 6th in the 200 Free, Samantha Bartovich finished 2nd in the 200 Free and 1st in the 500 Free, Amelia Kober scored a 6th place finish in the 50 Free and 3rd place finish in the 100 Free, and Paige Robillard placed 4th in the 200 Free and 3rd in the 500 Free. Freshman Madison Husmann added some to the point total last season with a 6th place finish in the 100 Breast.
Mesabi East will feature a strong and deep senior class this year. They have 6 seniors that placed in the top 8 in at least one event at the 2023 section meet. The top returning scorer is Aubree Skelton. Skelton placed 4th in the 50 Free and was section champion in the 100 Free. Adeline Butzke placed 5th in both the 200 and 500 Free, Ashley Fossell finished 7th in the 50 Free and 4th in the 100 Breast, and Kyra Skelton placed 7th in the 200 IM and 4th in the 100 Fly. Senior Kerbie Olmstead added a 7th place finish in the 100 Free and senior Summer Cullen added a 3rd place finish in the 100 Back. Mesabi East also has a couple talented sophomores in the mix. Lily Larson placed 8th in the 200 and 500 Free and Mae Layman placed 6th in the 200 IM and 8th in the 100 Fly. Freshman Micah Layman also will be a strong contributor, returning after placing 7th in the 100 Breast.
Grand Rapids will have a couple seniors at the forefront of their squad this season. Emily Ericson was section champion in the 50 Free and placed 2nd in the 100 Free in 2023 and Nevaeh Hoard finished 3rd in the 200 Free and 4th in the 500 Free. Freshman Lauren Rauzi will be looking to improve on her 5th place finish in the 200 IM this season and returns as section champion in the 100 Breast.
Other Notables
Hibbing junior Raini Gibson had a strong section meet in 2023, placing 4th in the 200 IM and was section champion in the 100 Fly. Gibson went on to place 9th at the state meet in the 100 Fly. Fellow junior Riley St. George was just behind her in the 100 Fly and scored a 3rd place finish. Sophomore Naomi Ronning returns after placing 7th in the 200 Free and 8th in the 100 Free in 2023. Sophomore Evie Renskers returns as section champion in diving and senior Sylvie Wetzel finished 6th in diving last season to give Hibbing a shot of getting two to state this year.
Proctor-Hermantown senior Norah Gunderson returns as section champion in the 200 IM and runner up in the 100 Fly. Joining Gunderson are seniors Samantha Stevens and Megan Gunderson. Stevens placed 5th in the 100 Back and Gunderson 6th in the 500 Free.
International Falls senior Kieren Ford finished 7th in diving last season and will look to challenge for one of the coveted top 4 spots this year. Junior Mary Versteeg placed 6th in the 100 Free in 2023 and played a key role on all three relays at the section meet.
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton senior Julia Peterson will look to build on her 7th place finish in the 100 Free and 8th place finish in the 100 Back from 2023. CEC senior diver Rylee Demers placed 3rd and fellow senior diver Lizzy Wells placed 8th in 2023.
Two Harbors junior Bella Imholte had a big meet last year. She placed 3rd in the 50 Free and was section champion in the 100 Back. At the state meet, Imholte placed 10th in the 100 Back. Senior Ava Oswald-Swenson also had a strong meet with a 9th place finish in the 100 Free and 5th place finish in the 100 Breast.
Stella Maris Academy found some success in the inaugural season. Freshman Eleanor Enslin finished second in the 200 IM and 100 Breast and eighth grader Ella Stone placed 3rd in the 100 Breast. Strong, young talent for a program just getting started.
Duluth Denfeld junior Claire Roufs qualified for the state meet in diving last season with a 4th place finish and will be looking to climb the ladder this season.
Northeast Range Ely senior Anna Larson will lead the way for her squad this season, recording an 11th place finish in the 50 Free and 10th place finish in the 100 Fly in 2023.
Chisholm senior Maggie Nelson is the top returning scorer this year for her team. Nelson placed 13th in the 500 Free and contributed on all three relays at the section meet in 2023.