Chisholm, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, Duluth Denfeld, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, International Falls, Mesabi East, Northeast Range Ely, Proctor Hermantown, Rock Ridge, Stella Maris Academy, Two Harbors
2025 Section Champion: Grand Rapids – 313 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Two Harbors – 297 pts
Notable Graduates
- Bella Imholte (Two Harbors) – 200 Free (1st Sections/7th State), 100 Back (1st Sections/9th State)
- Paige Robillard (Rock Ridge) – 200 IM (2nd Sections), 100 Fly (1st Sections)
- Samantha Bartovich (Rock Ridge) – 200 Free (4th Sections), 500 Free (2nd Sections)
- Amelia Kober (Rock Ridge) – 50 Free (2nd Sections), 100 Free (3rd Sections)
- Allison Anderson (Rock Ridge) – 50 Free (4th Sections), 100 Free (6th Sections)
- Raini Gibson (Hibbing) – 50 Free (1st Sections), 100 Fly (2nd Sections)
- Riley St. George (Hibbing) – 200 IM (3rd Sections), 100 Fly (3rd Sections)
- Nattie Butler (Cloquet-Esko-Carlton) – 50 Free (3rd Sections), 100 Free (5th Sections)
- Claire Roufs (Duluth Denfeld) – Diving (2nd Sections)
- Natalie Sheff (Duluth Denfeld) – 100 Breast (5th Sections)
- Ella Larson (Mesabi East) – 500 Free (8th Sections), 100 Back (6th Sections)
- Via DeBeltz (Northeast Range Ely) – 500 Free (7th Sections)
- Emma Berg (Proctor Hermantown) – 100 Back (7th Sections)
Section 7A graduates a deep senior class, headlined by Two Harbors’ Bella Imholte, who won the 200 Free and 100 Back at sections and was the section’s lone individual qualifier to place at the Class A state meet. Rock Ridge loses its entire scoring core—Paige Robillard, Samantha Bartovich, Amelia Kober, and Allison Anderson all graduate—and Hibbing says goodbye to sprint and fly standouts Raini Gibson and Riley St. George. After a section race decided by 16 points, the 2026 title looks wide open.
Section Outlook
Grand Rapids returns the bulk of a section-winning lineup and looks like the early favorite to repeat. Freshman Ella Goodman is the centerpiece, scoring in the 200 IM (6th) and taking 2nd in the 100 Back as one of the section’s brightest young swimmers. Junior Lauren Rauzi is a versatile threat, winning the 100 Breast and adding a 4th in the 100 Free, while sophomore Rohrey Hyduke scored in the 100 Fly (5th). Senior Marlene Ericson contributed in the 100 Fly (8th) and 100 Back (3rd), junior Ava Goodman added a 4th in the 100 Back, and freshman Analise Spahn placed 4th in the 100 Breast. The Thunderhawks also return a championship diver in junior Kennedy Garner, who won the section title, with sophomore Kali Benes right behind her in 3rd. With this much back, Grand Rapids is loaded.
Two Harbors loses Bella Imholte but returns a strong group. Senior Lucy Lane is the headliner, taking 2nd in the 200 Free and winning the 500 Free, while sophomore Toby McDonald scored in both distance events (8th 200 Free, 5th 500 Free). Junior Brynn von Goertz added sprint depth with a 5th in the 50 Free and 7th in the 100 Free, senior Harper Smith placed 5th on the boards and 5th in the 100 Back, and freshman Rylee Schmitz scored in the 200 IM (7th). With Lane and a deep supporting cast back, the Agates should remain right in the title hunt.
Mesabi East returns a remarkably deep group anchored by the Layman family. Senior Mae Layman scored in the 200 IM (5th) and 100 Fly (7th), while senior Dallas Layman added points in the 50 Free (8th) and 100 Back (8th). Junior Olivia Prazak is a distance standout, placing 5th in the 200 Free and 3rd in the 500 Free, senior Lily Larson scored in the 200 Free (7th), and freshman Abbigail Berndt added a 7th in the 50 Free. The Giants return enough to stay in the section’s top tier.
Rock Ridge graduates its entire scoring core but returns a pair of promising juniors. Junior Madelyn Hancock scored in the 500 Free (4th), and junior Maddison Husmann added a 6th in the 100 Breast. The Wolverines will lean on Hancock and Husmann to lead a rebuild after heavy graduation.
Hibbing loses two key seniors but returns senior Naomi Ronning, the team’s standout, who took 3rd in the 200 Free and won the 100 Free. Senior Evie Renskers gives the team a returning diver after a 4th-place section finish, and senior Lizzy Haupt added a 7th in the 100 Breast. With Ronning leading the way, the Bluejackets have a strong anchor.
Duluth Denfeld returns one of the section’s brightest young cores. Sophomore Gabby Anderson is the standout, winning the 200 IM and taking 2nd in the 100 Free as one of the top underclassmen in 7A. Sophomore Ella Stone scored in the 100 Breast (3rd), sophomore Jalisa Smith added points in the 100 Free (8th), and sophomore Ari Storlie placed 6th on the boards. With its young group returning intact, the Hunters are positioned to climb.
Proctor Hermantown returns senior Laney Gunderson, a versatile scorer who placed 4th in both the 200 IM and 100 Fly, and senior Samantha Herron, who scored in the 200 Free (6th) and 500 Free (6th). With Gunderson and Herron leading the way, the Mirage have a reliable veteran core.
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton returns freshman Hailey Raisanen, who scored in the 200 IM (8th) as a promising young swimmer, to lead a group that graduates sprint standout Nattie Butler. The Lumberjacks will look to their underclassmen to rebuild depth in 2026.
International Falls returns junior Mackenzie Minnick, who placed 6th in the 100 Fly, and junior diver Greta Bennett, who scored 8th on the boards. With its returners back, the Broncos will look to build in 2026.
Stella Maris Academy returns freshman Ivy Ferguson, the team’s top young talent, who scored in the 50 Free (6th), and junior Noranna Lisi, who placed 8th in the 100 Breast. With its young swimmers leading the way, Stella Maris will look to grow its program.
Northeast Range Ely 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.
Chisholm did not return an individual top-8 finisher and will look to its younger swimmers as it continues to develop its program in 2026.