Teams in the Section
Cretin-Derham Hall, Hastings, Hill-Murray, Humboldt/Washington/Owl, Math & Science Academy, Mahtomedi, Mounds Park Academy St Croix, Simley, South St Paul-Minnehaha-Cristo, St Paul Como Park, Visitation
2025 Section Champion: Visitation – 487 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Mahtomedi – 359 pts
Notable Graduates
- Alaina Biebl (Mounds Park Academy St Croix) – 200 IM (1st Sections/3rd State), 100 Back (1st Sections/1st State)
- Aleia Lueck (St Paul Como Park) – 50 Free (1st Sections/1st State), 100 Free (1st Sections/2nd State)
- Lucy Metz (Hill-Murray) – 50 Free (3rd Sections), 100 Free (3rd Sections)
- Mollee Ditzler (Visitation) – 200 IM (7th Sections), 100 Fly (4th Sections)
- Ellen Kovats (Cretin-Derham Hall) – 50 Free (8th Sections)
- Lauren Kahley (Visitation) – Diving (5th Sections)
- Lauren O’Donnell (Cretin-Derham Hall) – Diving (7th Sections)
- Alexa Jones (Mounds Park Academy St Croix) – 100 Breast (7th Sections)
Section 4A loses a pair of state champions to graduation. Mounds Park Academy’s Alaina Biebl won the 100 Backstroke at the Class A state meet and added a 3rd in the 200 IM, while St Paul Como Park’s Aleia Lueck claimed the state 50 Free title and took 2nd in the 100. Both swept their individual events at sections, and their exits remove two of the section’s marquee names—though the section still returns a deep field of scorers led by champion Visitation.
Section Outlook
Visitation returns the bulk of a dominant section-winning lineup and looks like the clear favorite to repeat. Senior Merry Miller is the headliner and one of the best swimmers in Class A, winning the 200 IM and 100 Breast at sections before claiming the state IM title and a runner-up finish in the breaststroke. Sophomore Iris Povolny is a rising star, sweeping the 200 and 500 Free at sections and placing 3rd and 4th in those events at state. Senior Anna Cierzan scored in the sprints and backstroke, taking 2nd in both the 50 Free and 100 Back and reaching the state meet in the backstroke, while senior Reeve Wolf added distance points with a 3rd in the 200 Free and 3rd in the 500 Free. Junior Maddie Mullen (2nd 100 Fly, 4th 50 Free), freshman Kate Mechtel (5th 200 Free, 4th 500 Free), junior Ava Decker (3rd 100 Breast), junior Laurel Audette (5th 100 Breast), and sophomore Vivian Kohler (8th 100 Breast) give the Blazers overwhelming depth. With this much firepower back, Visitation should be the team to beat.
Mahtomedi returns a strong group and looks to hold its spot near the top. Senior Abigail Wright leads the way, taking 2nd in both the 200 Free and 100 Free, while freshman Aria Armstrong is one of the section’s brightest young swimmers, scoring in the 200 IM (4th) and 100 Fly (6th) and reaching the state meet in both. Senior Delaney Dumermuth added sprint points with a 5th in the 50 Free, sophomore Adalyn Miller scored in both sprints (7th 50 Free, 5th 100 Free), and junior Riley Parizek contributed in the 500 Free (8th) and 100 Back (6th). Junior Dani Baker (6th 200 Free), junior Maddy Ritter (7th 100 Fly), junior Shaela Murphy (2nd Diving), and freshman Ruby Roitsch (8th 100 Fly) round out a deep, young roster that should keep the Zephyrs in the section’s top tier.
Hastings brings back a loaded group, headlined by one of the section’s biggest stars. Senior Chloe Aarness is the centerpiece, winning the section diving title and going on to claim the Class A state diving championship. Senior Sofia Kovalenko is a versatile force, placing 3rd in the 200 IM and 3rd in the 100 Fly before earning a 4th in the IM and 8th in the fly at state. Junior Emma Dehmlow scored in the 200 IM (6th) and 100 Back (5th) and reached state in the backstroke, and senior Lila Salzman added sprint depth with a 6th in the 50 Free and 4th in the 100 Free. Senior Greta Larson (3rd Diving), sophomore Kira Fuechtmann (4th Diving), senior Mari Hall (6th Diving), and junior Maddy Ritter (7th 100 Fly, 6th 100 Breast) give Hastings real strength in the water and on the boards.
Mounds Park Academy St Croix loses state champion Alaina Biebl but returns a talented senior class. Senior Julia Anderson is the standout, winning the 100 Fly at sections and placing 3rd in the event at state, while also scoring in the 200 IM (5th). Senior Isabella Muyres is a strong breaststroke and fly threat, taking 2nd in the 100 Breast and 5th in the 100 Fly and reaching the state meet in the breaststroke. Senior Josie MacDonald is a distance scorer who placed 2nd in the 500 Free and 5th at state, and senior Peyton Pettipiece added points in the 200 Free (7th) and 500 Free (5th). With its core of seniors returning, the Panthers should stay near the top of the section.
Cretin-Derham Hall returns a balanced group led by senior Cora Moore, who scored in both the 200 Free (4th) and 100 Free (8th). Sophomore Hannah French is a promising young swimmer, placing 8th in the 200 Free and contributing to the team’s relays. With Moore and a developing group returning, the Raiders have a solid foundation in the middle of the section.
Hill-Murray brings back senior Talia Simons, the team’s top returning scorer, who placed 4th in the 100 Breast, and junior Alexis Roehrich, who scored in both the 200 IM (8th) and 500 Free (6th). With Simons and Roehrich leading the way, the Pioneers will look to build on a solid section showing.
Simley returns sophomore Mia Doolittle, one of the section’s brightest young talents, who placed 3rd in the 100 Back and 7th in the 100 Free before earning a 4th-place finish in the backstroke at state. Junior Lauren Oswald added a 7th in the 100 Back. With Doolittle leading the way, the Spartans have a genuine difference-maker to build around.
St Paul Como Park graduates state champion Aleia Lueck and returns junior Adeline Hanson, who contributed in the freestyle events and on the team’s relays. The Cougars will look to their younger swimmers to rebuild scoring depth in 2026.
South St Paul-Minnehaha-Cristo did not return an individual top-8 finisher and will lean on its younger swimmers to build scoring depth in the seasons ahead.
Math & Science Academy returns a developing roster and will lean on its underclassmen as it works to build scoring depth in 2026.
Humboldt/Washington/Owl returns Amelia Keenan, who placed 7th in the 500 Free, as the program continues to develop around its swimmers in the years ahead.