Teams in the Section
Becker, Big Lake, Chisago Lakes, Foley Falcons, Lakes International, Milaca, Monticello, Ogilvie Mora, Princeton Swim & Dive
2025 Section Champion: Monticello – 539.5 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Becker – 351 pts
Notable Graduates
- Ella Vagle (Monticello) – 50 Free (2nd Sections/6th State), 100 Free (5th Sections/4th State)
- Camdyn Branson (Monticello) – 200 Free (5th Sections), 100 Breast (3rd Sections)
- Jayden Kanthak (Monticello) – 200 Free (8th Sections), 500 Free (5th Sections)
- Liz Thorsten (Foley) – 200 IM (3rd Sections), 100 Back (1st Sections)
- Kelsie Kilgard (Foley) – 200 Free (7th Sections), 100 Fly (3rd Sections)
- Sydney Hanks (Foley) – 100 Back (3rd Sections)
- Laila Cook (Becker) – 100 Fly (8th Sections), 100 Back (7th Sections)
- Karli Kirk (Becker) – Diving (5th Sections)
- Lillian Bonsante (Becker) – Diving (7th Sections)
- Taylar Bockoven (Milaca) – Diving (4th Sections)
- Allyson Strandberg (Princeton) – 500 Free (6th Sections)
Section 5A graduates a strong group of contributors, led by Monticello’s Ella Vagle, who took 2nd in the 50 Free at sections and added a pair of top-six finishes at the Class A state meet. Foley Falcons lose section backstroke champion Liz Thorsten along with fellow seniors Kelsie Kilgard and Sydney Hanks, thinning a team that finished third. Even so, the section returns its biggest name and a deep field of scorers behind defending state champion Monticello.
Section Outlook
Monticello returns the heart of a state championship team and stands as the overwhelming favorite to repeat as section champion. Senior Adalynn Biegler is the headliner and one of the best swimmers in the state, winning the 200 Free and 100 Fly at sections and then taking three individual state titles—the 200 Free (in a state record), the 50 Free, and the 100 Fly. Senior Scarlet Urick is a star in her own right, taking 2nd in both the 200 IM and 100 Fly and placing 7th and 5th in those events at state, while senior Elsie Farnsworth won the 100 Free and took 3rd in the 200 Free at sections, then added a pair of 6th-place finishes at state. Senior Chloe Schwietering gives the Magic a championship diver, winning the section title and placing 3rd at state, with senior Addie Zigan right behind her (2nd Sections, 8th State). The depth runs deep: freshman Emerson Borgschatz (5th 200 IM, 4th 100 Breast), senior Grace Moll (6th 200 IM, 5th 100 Back), junior Brooke Johnson (8th 200 IM, 4th 100 Back), junior Phoebe Figenshau (4th 500 Free, 7th 100 Breast), senior Piper Holmstrom (5th 100 Breast), junior Esther Vagle (7th 50 Free), and freshman Nadia Schwietering (8th Diving) all return. Monticello looks untouchable in 5A.
Becker returns a talented young core and looks to hold its spot as the section’s top challenger. Junior Grace Mork is the standout, winning the 500 Free at sections and taking 2nd at state, while also placing 2nd in the 200 Free. Freshman Izza Mork is a rising force, sweeping the 200 IM and 100 Breast at sections and reaching the state meet in both events. Freshman Mia Suelter is a distance threat, scoring in both the 200 Free (6th) and 500 Free (3rd), and freshman Kandell Hagen added points in the 200 IM (7th) and 100 Free (7th). Junior Maggie Graning gives the Bulldogs a strong returning diver after a 3rd-place section finish. With this much young talent back, Becker should remain firmly in the section’s upper tier.
Foley lose three key seniors but return a promising group. Sophomore Claire Kilgard is the centerpiece, scoring in both sprints with a 3rd in the 50 Free and 3rd in the 100 Free and reaching the state meet in both. Senior Braelyn Rudolph added sprint depth with a 4th in the 50 Free and 4th in the 100 Free, senior Katie Mazacek placed 8th in the 100 Free, sophomore Teegan Loehrer scored 6th on the boards, and junior Gretchen Fair contributed an 8th in the 500 Free. With Kilgard and Rudolph leading the sprints, the Falcons have a foundation to stay competitive.
Chisago Lakes brings back a strong group across multiple events. Junior Eloise Arntson is the leader, taking 2nd in the 500 Free and 4th in the 200 Free and qualifying for state in the distance events. Senior Ingrid Olson scored in both sprints (6th 50 Free, 6th 100 Free), junior Annika Coleman placed in the 50 Free (7th) and 100 Fly (4th), and sophomore Brooke Lind is a versatile young swimmer who scored in the 200 IM (4th) and 100 Back (6th). Junior Olivia Cunningham (6th 100 Breast) and senior Avery MacIver (8th 100 Back) add depth. The Wildcats return enough to remain a top-four section team.
Milaca returns sophomore Azalea Tesch, the section’s top returning sprinter, who won the 50 Free, took 2nd in the 100 Free, and reached the state meet in both events. Junior Anna Tye added a scoring finish in the 100 Breast (8th). With Tesch leading the way, the Wolves have a genuine difference-maker to build around.
Princeton brings back junior Cora Zerwas, the team’s standout, who took 2nd in the 100 Breast and 7th in the 100 Fly and reached the state meet in the breaststroke. Senior Lydia Thompson added a strong 2nd-place finish in the 100 Back, and junior Emersyn Monroe scored in the 500 Free (7th). With Zerwas and Thompson leading the way, the Tigers have a solid returning core.
Big Lake returns a balanced group led by senior Emily Edlund, who scored in both the 50 Free (5th) and 100 Fly (5th), and senior Abigail Fridgen, who placed 6th in the 100 Fly. With its scorers returning, Big Lake will look to climb in 2026.
Ogilvie Mora Swim Team did not return an individual top-8 finisher and will lean on its younger swimmers as it works to build scoring depth in the seasons ahead.
Lakes International competed primarily in the B heats and will look to continue developing its young program in 2026.