Teams in the Section
Albany, Holdingford, Little Falls, Melrose Area, Rocori, Sartell St Stephen, Sauk Centre, Sauk Rapids Rice, St. Cloud Apollo, St. Cloud Tech
2025 Section Champion: Sartell St Stephen – 361 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Melrose Area – 356 pts
Notable Graduates
- Maggie Cole (St. Cloud Tech) – 200 Free (1st Sections), 500 Free (1st Sections/8th State)
- Izzy Westling (St. Cloud Apollo) – 200 IM (1st Sections/2nd State), 100 Free (1st Sections/1st State)
- Brooke Ruoff (Melrose Area) – 200 IM (5th Sections), 100 Back (3rd Sections/5th State)
- Ava Wensmann (Melrose Area) – 200 IM (6th Sections)
- Maddi Kraemer (Melrose Area) – 100 Fly (4th Sections)
- Maizie Jennissen (Sauk Centre) – 50 Free (2nd Sections), 100 Free (7th Sections)
- Brooke Bromenshenkel (Sauk Centre) – 100 Fly (2nd Sections), 100 Breast (4th Sections)
- Ally Lucas (Sauk Rapids Rice) – 50 Free (4th Sections), 100 Back (6th Sections)
- Adalyn Godfrey (Sauk Rapids Rice) – 100 Back (7th Sections)
- Malea Beeler (Rocori) – 100 Fly (5th Sections), 500 Free (4th Sections)
- Allie Reitmeier (Rocori) – 200 IM (7th Sections)
- Kiera Florek (St. Cloud Tech) – Diving (3rd Sections)
- Jacklynn Adams (St. Cloud Tech) – Diving (5th Sections)
- Kaylee Meester (Sartell St Stephen) – 50 Free (7th Sections)
- Marni Koosmann (Sartell St Stephen) – 100 Breast (7th Sections)
- Lucy Heringlake (St. Cloud Apollo) – 50 Free (8th Sections)
- Abi Nagorski (Little Falls) – 100 Breast (8th Sections)
Section 6A graduates a large and accomplished senior class, headlined by St. Cloud Apollo’s Izzy Westling, who won the 200 IM and 100 Free at sections and went on to win the Class A state title in the 100 Free and place 2nd in the IM. St. Cloud Tech loses double section champion Maggie Cole, and the departures ripple across the standings—Melrose, Sauk Centre, Sauk Rapids Rice, and Rocori all lose key scorers. After a section race decided by just five points, the 2026 title looks wide open.
Section Outlook
Sartell St Stephen defended a razor-thin section title and returns a deep, balanced group. Junior Tori Carlson is the centerpiece, scoring in the 200 Free (3rd) and 500 Free (2nd) and reaching the state meet in the distance events. Junior Mckenna Searcy is a versatile threat, winning the 100 Fly and adding a 4th in the 100 Back, while junior Tess Hovda scored in both the 500 Free (3rd) and 100 Back (5th) and qualified for state in the 500. Junior Addison St. Sauver contributed in the 200 IM (8th) and 100 Fly (6th), senior Mara Segura placed 6th in the 200 Free, junior Xavia Finnern added a 7th in the 200 Free, and freshman Zoe Marushin is one to watch after scoring in both sprints (6th 50 Free, 6th 100 Free). Sophomore Allysen Gilbert gives the Sabres a returning diver after a 6th-place finish. With this much back, Sartell should be right in the title hunt again.
Melrose Area finished a heartbreaking five points back and returns enough to push for the crown. Senior Lauren Reed leads the way, taking 2nd in both the 200 Free and 100 Free and reaching the state meet in the 100. Senior Chloe Viere scored in the 200 Free (8th), and junior Annika Frieler added sprint depth with a 3rd in the 50 Free. Senior Maggie Frieler (7th 500 Free), senior Ella Erdmann (8th 500 Free), and senior Josie Eveslage (4th Diving) round out a strong returning group, with sophomore Sydney Beuning (8th Diving) adding depth on the boards. The Dutchmen have the pieces to chase down the section title in 2026.
Sauk Rapids Rice returns one of the section’s biggest stars and looks poised to climb. Junior Kate Walz is the headliner, winning the 100 Breast at sections and adding a 2nd in the 200 IM before claiming the Class A state breaststroke title and placing 5th in the IM. Senior Esme Grabinski gives the team a championship diver, winning the section title and reaching state, while junior Mya Miller scored in the 50 Free (5th) and senior Olivia Schaap added a 5th in the 500 Free. Junior Ava Erdmann contributed in the 100 Free (4th), and junior Caroline Czeck placed 7th on the boards. With Walz leading the way, the Storm should be a top contender.
St. Cloud Tech loses double champion Maggie Cole but returns a strong junior- and senior-laden core. Senior Aliina Gustin is the standout, taking 3rd in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 100 Breast and reaching the state meet in both. Senior Maren Nelson scored in both the 200 Free (5th) and 100 Back (2nd) and qualified for state in the backstroke, senior Anja Gustin added a 3rd in the 100 Fly, and senior Brenna Gruber placed 2nd on the boards and reached state. The Tigers have the depth to remain in the section’s top tier.
Rocori brings back a talented group led by junior Chelsea Willenbring, one of the section’s best swimmers, who won both the 50 Free and 100 Back at sections and reached the state meet in both events. Senior Ariana Outhwaite is a versatile scorer, placing 4th in the 200 IM and 3rd in the 100 Breast, while senior Jayda Larson added an 8th in the 100 Free and senior Avery Scott placed 7th in the 100 Fly. Eighth-grader Olivia Willenbring is one to watch after scoring 5th in the 100 Breast as a seventh-grader. The Spartans return enough to stay near the top.
Sauk Centre returns junior Livia Jennissen, who scored in the 100 Breast (6th), and junior Kiera Bjork, who placed 6th in the 500 Free, to lead a group that graduates several key seniors. The Streeters will lean on their returners to hold their spot in the section’s middle tier.
Holdingford returns senior Maggie Gross, the team’s top scorer, who placed 4th in the 200 Free and 3rd in the 100 Free. With Gross leading the way, the Huskers have a reliable anchor to build around.
Albany returns senior Lauren Hennen, the team’s standout, who placed 5th in the 100 Free. With Hennen leading a developing group, Albany will look to build on its section showing.
St. Cloud Apollo loses state champion Izzy Westling and did not return an individual top-8 finisher, leaning instead on its younger swimmers to rebuild scoring depth in 2026.
Little Falls did not return an individual top-8 finisher and will look to its younger swimmers as it works to build depth in the seasons ahead.