Teams: Austin, Faribault, Mankato East, Mankato West, Northfield, Red Wing, Simley, Winona
- 2024 Section Champion: Northfield – 491 pts
- 2024 Section Runner-up: Mankato East – 349 pts
Notable Graduates:
- Gabe Heinritz (Northfield) – 50 Free (3rd Sections / 14th State), 100 Free (4th Sections)
- Jens Kasten (Northfield) – 50 Free (3rd Sections/7th State), 100 Free (1st Sections/7th State)
- Evan Loe (Northfield) – 100 Fly (5th Sections), 100 Back (4th Sections)’
- Isaiah Anderson (Mankato East) – 200 IM (5th Sections), 500 Free (5th Sections)
- Graham Bennet (Mankato East) – 100 Breast (6th Sections)
- Jordan Hogue (Mankato East) – 100 Free (1st Sections/4th State), 100 Back (1st Sections/2nd State)
- Kaleb Kim (Mankato East) – 100 Breast (2nd Sections/16th State)
- Isaac Luethmers (Mankato East) – 100 Free (7th Sections)
- Jackson Thomas (Mankato East) – 100 Fly (6th Sections)
- Christopher Vasquez (Mankato East) – 100 Back (8th Sections)
- Elijah Vieth (Winona) – 200 Free (4th Sections), 100 Free (6th Sections)
- Zach Evenson (Austin) – 50 Free (2nd Sections), 100 Free (2nd Sections)
- Riley Ferguson (Austin) – Diving (6th Sections)
- Christian Jack (Simley) – 200 IM (4th Sections), 100 Back (4th Sections)
- Carter Kline (Simley) – Diving (5th Sections)
- Shilah Smolinski (Simley) – 200 Free (5th Sections), 500 Free (8th Sections)
- Ezra Dennis (Red Wing) – 50 Free (6th Sections)
- James Hoisington (Faribault) – 100 Fly (4th Sections)
Team Outlook
Northfield certainly graduated some top points and some relay power but it looks like they have plenty in the tank to repeat as Section 1A Champions in 2025. Senior Josh Kraby will lead the way coming off his state championship in the 100 Back and runner-up finish at state in the 100 Fly. Senior Peyton Truman also had an impressive 2024 season, winning the 100 Breast at sections and finishing second in the 200 IM. At the state meet, Truman placed 7th in the 200 IM and 6th in the 100 Breast. Another senior, Nick Scheglowski, placed 2nd in the 200 Free and 5th in the 100 Free at the section meet. He would go on to place 10th in the 200 Free at state. Junior Will Udelhofen will also be a top line swimmer for the Gators this season. Udelhofen returns as section champion in the 200 Free and placed 3rd in the 500 Free. At the state meet, he finished 9th and 14th respectively. Other key returnees are senior Oliver Momberg, junior Rouke Bennett, and sophomore James Graham.
Mankato East will feature junior Elliot Bartell returning as section champion in the 50 Free and 100 Fly. Bartell was the state champion in the 100 Fly. Senior Spencer Flitter placed 4th last season in a highly competitive diving section. Flitter placed 7th at the state meet.
Other Notables
Winona sophomore Cordel Ruppert will return after an impressive freshman season. Ruppert placed 3rd in the 200 Free and 2nd in the 500 Free at the section meet. He would go on to finish 16th in the 500 at the state meet. Joining him will be sophomore Matthew Baumgartner, who placed 8th in the 100 Free and 3rd in the 100 Breast at sections as well as senior Matthew Brisco, who placed 7th in the 200 IM and 100 Breast.
Austin will be led by junior Brent Dahl. Dahl was a double winner at the section meet in the 200 IM and 500 Free. At the state meet he placed 3rd and 5th in those events, respectively. Senior Lucas Myers returns after finishing 7th in both the 50 Free and 100 Fly at sections. Joining him is sophomore Hunter Peters, who placed 8th in the 200 Free and 4th in the 100 Breast at the section meet.
Simley junior Vincent Evangelista will be the top returning point scorer for his squad. Evangelista scored a 3rd place finish in the 200 IM and a 5th place finish in the 100 Back at the section meet.
Red Wing will return the top two divers in the section with juniors Zachary Mikkelson and Laden Nelson. Mikkelson placed 2nd at the state meet and Nelson placed 9th. Senior Ethan Ihrke was the 5th place finisher at sections in the 50 Free and placed 3rd in the 100 Fly. At state, he placed 7th in the 100 Fly
Faribault sophomore diver Asher Ferris placed 3rd at the section meet and 10th at the state meet in 2024.
Mankato West will continue to build on their young 2024 squad. Sophomore Isaac Sanderson returns after placing 6th in the 200 Free and 7th in the 500 Free at the 2024 section meet.