Teams: Chisholm, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, International Falls, Mesabi East, Proctor-Esko, Rock Ridge
- 2024 Section Champion: Grand Rapids – 600 pts
- 2024 Section Runner-up: Mesabi East – 340 pts
Notable Graduates:
- Sam Barton (Grand Rapids) – 100 Fly (5th Sections), 100 Breast (4th Sections)
- Seth Barton (Grand Rapids) – 200 IM 6th Sections), 100 Breast (7th Sections)
- Nik Casper (Grand Rapids) – 200 Free (2nd Sections), 100 Free (4th Sections)
- Isaac Palecek (Grand Rapids) – 50 Free (3rd Sections), 100 Back (2nd Sections)
- Carter Steele (Mesabi East) – 100 Free (2nd Sections), 100 Back (1st Sections)
- Gabe Aagenes (Rock Ridge) – Diving (2nd Sections), 100 Breast (3rd Sections)
- Gunnar George (Rock Ridge) – 50 Free (1st Sections), 100 Free (1st Sections)
- Bodi George (Rock Ridge) – 100 Fly (3rd Sections), 100 Fly (4th Sections)
- Luke Hecimovich (Rock Ridge) – 100 Breast (2nd Sections)
- AJ Hultman (Rock Ridge) – 200 Free (3rd Sections), 500 Free (3rd Sections)
- Tyler Fosso (Hibbing) – Diving (1st Sections)
- Alex Hanegmon (Hibbing) – 50 Free (6th Sections), 100 fly (8th Sections)
- Christian Massich (Hibbing) – 50 Free (7th Sections)
Team Outlook
Grand Rapids graduated some serious points, but probably not enough to impact their chances of repeating as section champions in 2025. Senior Joe Loney will lead the way returning as section champion in both the 200 and 500 Free. Loney also scored some state points in those events with 15th place finishes in each in 2024. Sophomore Zak Vidmar also had a stellar section meet with a 2nd place finish in the 200 IM and was section champion in the 100 Breast. At the state meet, Vidmar placed 15th in the Breast. Leif Wyland returns for his senior year after finishing 3rd in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 500 Free at the 2024 section meet and will be looking to get some state points this season. Grand Rapids brings back several other top 8 section finishers for this season with seniors Kasey Cowan, Will Skaudis, and Matt Phillips as well as juniors Max Connelly, Jack Kellin, and Graham Verke. Divers a-plenty for Grand Rapids as well with senior David Aultman placing 4th, freshman Dylan Aultman placing 5th and 8th grader Wyatt Hammerlund placing 6th. With the top 2 finishers from 2024 graduated, there’s a shot for 3 divers from this team to make it to state.
Other Notables
Mesabi East brings back their own double section event champion with junior Cole Layman. Layman won both the 200 IM and 100 Fly last year and scored a 14th and 15th place finish at the state meet in those events. Senior Alex Leete returns after placing 4th in both the 200 Free and 500 Free in 2024 and will be looking for a trip to state in both events this season. Senior Zade Baker placed 7th in the 200 IM and 6th in the 100 Back and senior Connor Feldt added a 5th place finish in the 200 IM to round out the Mesabi East core group. Junior Aiden Johnson is the top returning diver in the section, placing 3rd last season. He will be the favorite for section champion this year and to score some state points for the squad.
Rock Ridge graduated a lot of its horsepower in 2024, but there is youth coming up through the ranks. Freshman Aaron Spiering placed 9th in the 200 Free and 8th in the 500 Free last season and will be looking to make the jump into the top 4 this season.
International Falls will be led by senior Brendyn Scholler and junior Connor Tomczak. Scholler placed 4th in the 50 Free and 5th in the 100 back, while Tomczak scored 7th place finishes in the 200 Free and 100 Fly.
Proctor-Esko will return senior Garek Pilinski, who finished 5th in the 100 Breast in 2024. Freshman Levi Raisanen also had a strong section meet last year, finishing 9th in both the 100 Fly and 100 Back. He will be looking to crack top 8 in both this season.
Chisholm senior Nathan Splinter was the top scorer for the squad at the section meet in 2024. He placed 7th in the 500 Free and held spots on all three relays.