2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 4A

Section 4A

Teams in the Section
Chisago Lakes, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hill-Murray, Humboldt/Washington/OWL, St. Paul Como Park, St. Paul Harding, St. Paul Johnson

2025 Section Champion: St. Thomas Academy – 625 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Chisago Lakes – 349 pts

Notable Graduates

• Michael Jagt (Fridley) – 200 Yard Freestyle (7th sections)
• Grant Sundberg (Chisago Lakes) – 200 Yard IM (8th sections)
• Nate Bear (Chisago Lakes) – 50 Yard Freestyle (4th sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (6th sections)
• Donovan Timmerman (Humboldt/Washington/OWL) – 1m Diving (1st sections, 15th state)
• Tanner Betts (Chisago Lakes) – 100 Yard Backstroke (4th sections)
• Ameer Ait Daoud (Columbia Heights) – 100 Yard Backstroke (6th sections)
• Jackson Cunningham (Chisago Lakes) – 100 Yard Breaststroke (4th sections)
• Colin Heiland (Chisago Lakes) – 100 Yard Breaststroke (7th sections)

Section 4a has only one change, but it’s a doozy…St. Thomas Academy and it’s 600+ points leave the section.  Expect a lot of new state qualifiers coming out of this section in 2025-2026.

Chisago Lakes returns one of the most complete and well-balanced lineups in the section, led by a core of proven championship performers across multiple events. Riley Solberg (5th in the 200 Free) and Anden Solberg (8th in the same event) give the Wildcats strong returning depth in the middle-distance freestyle group, while Jack Walsh (7th in the 200 IM) adds versatility in a key multi-stroke event. The sprint crew also remains competitive, with Wyatt Olson placing 8th in the 100 Free and contributing to the 50 Free finals last season. On the boards, Chisago Lakes brings back two exceptional young divers—Talan Koester-Radmann (2nd) and Brayden Dameral (3rd)—representing one of the strongest diving duos in the section and offering major scoring potential for years to come. Additionally, Lincoln Battles (8th in the 500 Free) rounds out a distance group that shows both depth and youth. With finals scorers in every discipline, Chisago Lakes remains firmly positioned as a top-tier contender.

Como Park brings back top-end talent capable of winning events outright, led by breakout sprint star Joey Schumacher, who placed 3rd in the 50 Free and won the 100 Free, along with a 9th-place finish at state. His ability to produce elite-level times gives Como Park a dangerous front end in the sprints. Arthur Anderson provides additional strength with sectional finals swims in the 200 Free (6th) and 500 Free (6th), giving Como reliable scoring in both middle-distance and long-distance events. In the fly and backstroke, Noah Williamson contributes major versatility with a 3rd-place finish in the 100 Fly and a 3rd-place finish in the 100 Back, along with a 12th-place showing at state in the backstroke. This trio forms one of the most potent combinations of sprint, fly, and back talent in the section. With strong underclassmen returning and multiple state-level performers, Como Park is well-positioned to rise in the team standings.

Hill-Murray enters the season with one of the most exciting young cores in the section. Rising star Paidon McGuire leads the way after a sensational freshman year that included a section title in the 100 Fly and a 4th-place finish at state, plus a runner-up finish in the 100 Free. Seventh-grader Jacob Polasky proved to be one of the top young all-around swimmers in the area, placing 5th in both the 200 IM and 500 Free, showing remarkable range rarely seen at his age. The Pioneers also retain Joseph Glamos, who scored in both the 100 Fly (8th) and 100 Back (7th), adding valuable depth in the stroke events, while Aiden Kelly returns after placing 3rd in the 100 Breast and 16th at the state meet, giving Hill-Murray a strong breaststroke presence. With major scorers returning in fly, breast, IM, distance, and sprint free, Hill-Murray boasts one of the deepest and youngest rosters in the section, poised for a significant climb.

Fridley brings back several reliable scorers who form the backbone of a steadily improving lineup. Wyatt Engelman (6th in the 200 IM) anchors the multi-stroke group, while Wyatt Olson contributes sprint impact after finishing 7th in the 50 Free and 8th in the 100 Free. The Tigers also return Quinn Henrikson, a versatile upperclassman who reached the finals in both the 50 Free (8th) and 100 Fly (2nd), giving Fridley a dependable scorer in crucial stroke and sprint events. On the boards, Ugo-Chiedu Chukwuisiocha adds additional depth after placing 4th in diving. With multiple finals performers returning—including top-three stroke talent—Fridley has the foundation to stay competitive and potentially move up in the standings if emerging swimmers can support its strong upper-class group.

Humboldt/Washington/OWL, Johnson, and Harding should be able to take advantage of new section alignment to score some top 8 finishes in the upcoming season