2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 3AA

Section 3AA

Teams in the Section
Apple Valley, Eagan, East Ridge, Eastview, Hastings, Park, Rosemount, Two Rivers

2025 Section Champion: Eagan – 445 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: East Ridge – 386 pts

Notable Graduates

• Mason Deitering (Eagan) – 200 Yard Free (6th sections), 500 Yard Free (5th sections)
• William Nguyen (Eagan) – 100 Yard Breast (4th sections)
• Braden Hegenbarth (Eagan) – 50 Yard Free (1st sections, 5th state), 100 Yard Free (1st sections)
• Aidan Smith (Eagan) – 200 Yard IM (7th sections), 100 Yard Fly (7th sections)
• Liam Edel (Eagan) – 50 Yard Free (7th sections)
• Stone Larson (Eagan) – 1 Meter Diving (2nd sections)
• Aidynn Havermann (East Ridge) – 200 Yard IM (1st sections, 4th state), 100 Yard Back (1st sections, 5th state)
• Michael Shannon (East Ridge) – 200 Yard IM (5th sections), 100 Yard Fly (4th sections)
• Carter Robinson (East Ridge) – 50 Yard Free (5th sections)
• Ethan Beckman (Eastview) – 50 Yard Free (6th sections), 100 Yard Fly (5th sections)
• Lucas Gerten (Rosemount) – 1 Meter Diving (1st sections, 1st state)
• Will Durfee (Rosemount) – 50 Yard Free (2nd sections), 100 Yard Free (3rd sections)
• Charlie Jensen (Hastings) – 1 Meter Diving (5th sections)
• Oliver Gergen (Hastings) – 50 Yard Free (4th sections), 100 Yard Free (7th sections)
• Parker Jeseritz (Park) – 100 Yard Fly (2nd sections), 100 Yard Back (3rd sections)

Section 3AA is one of the few untouched sections in the state after the 2025 realignment.  Eagan gives up the most to graduation, but will it be enough for East Ridge to close the gap?  Is there another team lurking to pass them both?  Stay tuned!!!!

Eagan returns a powerful core led by rising seniors Louis Decattoire and Brad Simpson, who placed 1st and 3rd respectively in the 200 Free last year. Decattoire was also runner-up in the 100 Free, while Simpson added a runner-up finish in the 500 Free. In the sprint events, Josiah Schaffhausen and Braden Hegenbarth provided depth and scoring potential, with Hegenbarth previously placing 5th in the 50 Free and winning the 100 Free. In diving, Jacob Campbell and Ethan Scott gained valuable experience. The breaststroke is in good hands with Liam Wefring, who won the event last season, and William Nguyen also competing. Eagan has scoring threats across the board and will be a team to watch closely this year.

Apple Valley brings back a standout in Gabe Lenzen, who placed 14th in the state in the 200 Free and 12th in the 500 Free. Charlie Peterson also made state in diving and placed 14th, giving the team a strong presence on the board. Mason Yost showed promise as a ninth grader last year in both the 100 Fly and 100 Breaststroke. This team has the potential to improve its point total significantly with a strong returning nucleus.

East Ridge boasts one of the deepest returning rosters in the section. Rising senior Tayo Sennowo and rising sophomore Lucien Espinosa-Splichal were strong in the 200 and 500 Free, while Colton Rutkowski competed in multiple distance events. Blake Moss and Benjamin Briese bring versatility in the IM and backstroke events, and Jamison Reese returns in both the butterfly and backstroke. The team is especially deep in the 100 Breaststroke, with Andy Xie, Ryan Green, and Benjamin Briese all competing last year. Noah Nordman gained key experience as a freshman in sprint freestyle. This is a well-rounded and dangerous team with scoring potential in every event.

Rosemount returns key contributors in Nolen Hansen (freestyle and IM), Zach Manwarren (diving), and Wes Knapp (distance freestyle). Mackenzie Schroeder is another rising talent in the breaststroke. This team may not be the deepest, but it has athletes capable of scoring in multiple events, and their impact will depend heavily on how those swimmers continue to develop this season.

Eastview features a talented young group, highlighted by rising junior Lincoln Joyner, who had strong showings in the IM and butterfly events. Aidan Fitch contributed in sprint freestyle and returns with upside, while Carson Osendorf brings backstroke potential. The Eastview group is technically sound and well-coached, and several of their athletes should make the leap from section finalists to state qualifiers this year.

Park returns Josiah Schaffhausen, who contributed in freestyle and backstroke, and Paul Wallace, who competed in the breaststroke. While not as deep as some of the larger programs, Park continues to develop state-caliber athletes and will aim to break through with more finalists this season.

Thomas Foss leads Hastings into the new season with a standout performance last year — winning the 100 Butterfly and placing 2nd in the 100 Backstroke at the section meet. Tristan Herbst is another strong distance swimmer with top finishes in the 500 Free. This duo gives Hastings an elite one-two punch, and with some emerging younger swimmers, they could climb the team rankings.

Two Rivers will lean on Ruslan Bayuk, who showed solid potential last year in both the IM and backstroke. If he continues to improve and the team builds around him, Two Rivers could find themselves better positioned this year in the section standings.