Teams in the Section
Albert Lea, Austin, Faribault, Mankato East, Mankato West, Northfield, Red Wing, Saint Peter, Tri-City United, Winona
2025 Section Champion: Mankato East – 371 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Northfield – 366 pts
Notable Graduates
- Alivia Hemry (Austin) – 50 Free (3rd Sections) 100 Free (5th Sections)
- Emma Born (Mankato East) – 100 Back (2nd Sections), 200 IM (4th Sections)
- Anna Kapsner (Mankato West) – Diving (3rd Sections/14th State)
- Ella Holleran (Northfield) – 100 Back (4th Sections)
- Ella Porter (Northfield) – 50 Free (7th Sections), 500 Free (6th Sections)
- Evie Bauer (Northfield) – 100 Fly (8th Sections)
- Audrey Larson (Red Wing) – 100 Back (3rd Sections)
- Ella Schmiesing (Tri-City United) – 50 Free (1st Sections/4th State), 100 Free (1st Sections/7th State)
- Lily Traxler (Tri-City United) – Diving (7th Sections)
- Abby Williams (Winona) – 100 Breast (1st Sections/4th State),
- 200 IM (2nd Sections/11th State)
- Piper Jones (Winona) – 200 Free (3rd Sections), 500 Free (3rd Sections)
- Kenley Jacobs (Winona) – 200 Free (7th Sections), 500 Free (4th Sections)
Section 1A says goodbye to a strong senior class, headlined by Tri-City United’s Ella Schmiesing and Winona’s Abby Williams—both two-time section champions who medaled at state. Their departures, along with Winona’s distance duo of Piper Jones and Kenley Jacobs, open the door for the section’s deep group of underclassmen to step forward in 2026.
Section Outlook
Mankato East brings back the bulk of a championship roster and looks every bit the team to beat again in 2026. The heartbeat of the lineup is freshman Kamille Andresen, who already swims like a veteran—she won the 100 Fly, took 2nd in the 100 Breast, and backed both up at state with a 9th-place finish in the fly and 14th in the breast. Senior Camryn Schuh returns as a sprint and breaststroke weapon, having placed 2nd in the 50 Free and 5th in the 100 Breast, while classmate Kelsey Andresen scored in the 100 Fly (3rd) and 100 Back (6th). Sophomore Brittan Hoffman is a genuine dual threat, placing 4th in the 100 Free in the pool and 2nd on the boards, where she also reached state. Add freshmen Maliah Lang (7th 100 Breast, 7th 200 IM) and Charlotte Amborn (8th in both the 200 and 500 Free), and the Cougars have scoring depth at nearly every grade level except the one that graduated.
Northfield pushed Mankato East to the wire and returns more than enough to stay in the title hunt. Senior Greta Kortuem anchors the group with a 3rd-place finish in the 100 Breast and a 3rd in the 200 IM, the latter earning her a trip to state. Fellow senior Mae Bowers was the section’s distance standout, winning the 500 Free and adding a 4th in the 100 Breast, while Addie Lloyd brought sprint and fly speed with a 2nd in the 100 Fly and 4th in the 50 Free. Senior Hollis Holden contributed in the freestyle events (4th in the 200, 6th in the 100), and Kasie Larsen added middle-distance points with finishes in the 200 and 500 Free. Sophomore Violet Connole rounds out a promising young core with a 6th in the 100 Fly. With nearly the entire scoring group back, the Raiders should once again be in the conversation at the top.
Red Wing returns a balanced, veteran-laden lineup that finished a strong 3rd. Senior Eliana Cory headlines the group, taking 2nd in the 200 Free and 2nd in the 500 Free while qualifying for state in the 200. Senior Kylie Moffett gives the team a true championship piece on the boards, winning the section diving title and reaching state. Senior Eva Wardle adds freestyle depth (5th in the 200, 8th in the 100), and sophomore Sienna Yockey already looks like a sprinter to watch after a 3rd-place showing in the 100 Free. Sophomore Charlee Jacobson scored in both the 100 Breast (6th) and 200 IM (6th), and eighth-grader Vivian Smyth signaled real distance potential with a 7th in the 500 Free.
Winona loses a celebrated senior trio but returns enough to remain competitive. Junior Magdalene Deiss is the swimmer to build around, scoring in multiple events with an 8th in the 100 Back and an 8th in the 200 IM. Senior Olivia Teichroew chipped in sprint points with an 8th-place finish in the 50 Free, and junior diver Ava Kerkenbush added depth with a 5th-place section finish on the boards. The Winhawks will lean on their young swimmers to rebuild around the holes left by graduation.
Austin returns its biggest star and a solid supporting cast. Senior Gracie Greenman is one of the most dangerous swimmers in the section—she swept the 100 Back and 200 IM at sections and went on to place 3rd in the backstroke at state, a genuine podium threat heading into 2026. Junior Eva Taylor adds breaststroke depth with an 8th-place section finish, and sophomore Madison Mensink gives the Packers a developing diver after reaching the consolation final. With Greenman leading the way, Austin has a foundation worth watching.
Mankato West brings back one of the section’s premier sprinters in junior Jordan Woodford, who won the 200 Free and took 2nd in the 100 Free—both state-qualifying swims. Junior Grace Ward is a steady scorer in multiple events, placing 5th in the 50 Free and 5th in the 100 Back, while senior Olivia Schultze added a 5th in the 100 Fly. Junior Morgan Stewart rounds out the returning group with a 7th in the 100 Back. Even with the loss of diver Anna Kapsner, the Scarlets have a strong young nucleus.
Tri-City United graduates section champion Ella Schmiesing and did not return an individual top-8 finisher, but the Titans will lean on a young group as they look to reload in the sprint events in 2026.
Saint Peter leans on returning senior Adela Madson, the team’s most reliable scorer, who placed 4th in the 100 Fly and 5th in the 200 IM. Her ability to score in multiple events gives the Saints a dependable anchor to build around in 2026.
Faribault returns a pair of scorers who should anchor the lineup. Senior Olivia Fisher brings sprint speed with a 6th in the 50 Free and 7th in the 100 Free, while eighth-grade diver Makena Gunderson is the story to watch—she placed 4th at sections and went on to finish 11th at state as just a seventh-grader, signaling an exciting future on the boards. Junior Hattie Danberry adds further diving depth with a 6th-place section finish.
Albert Lea returns junior Emilie Troster, who scored in the 100 Fly with a 7th-place section finish and will look to lead a young Tigers group as it continues to build.