2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 5A

Section 5A

Teams in the Section
Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Melrose-Sauk Centre, Morris Area, Park Rapids, Sartell St. Stephen, Sauk Rapids-Rice

2025 Section Champion: Alexandria – 528.5 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Melrose-Sauk Centre – 379 pts

Notable Graduates

• Truett Carlson (Sartell–St. Stephen) – 200 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections, 16th state), 500 Yard Freestyle (3rd sections, 13th state)
• Macen Toavs-Etcheverry (Melrose/Sauk Centre) – 200 Yard Freestyle (5th sections), 500 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 11th state)
• Grant Eveslage (Melrose/Sauk Centre) – 50 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (3rd sections, 12th state)
• Alex Wilwerding (Melrose/Sauk Centre) – 50 Yard Freestyle (3rd sections, 13th state), 100 Yard Backstroke (3rd sections)
• Sevrin Anderson (Melrose/Sauk Centre) – 100 Yard Butterfly (2nd sections, 9th state), 100 Yard Breaststroke (1st sections, 8th state)
• Cash Walz (Sauk Rapids–Rice) – 200 Yard IM (1st sections, 6th state), 500 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 2nd state)
• Evan Scapanski (Sauk Rapids–Rice) – 200 Yard IM (4th sections), 100 Yard Breaststroke (1st sections, 11th state)
• Garret Broman (Sauk Rapids–Rice) – 100 Yard Butterfly (3rd sections, 13th state), 100 Yard Backstroke (1st sections, 7th state)
• Blake Swenson (Detroit Lakes) – 50 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 4th state), 100 Yard Backstroke (1st sections, 3rd state)
• Bjorn Anderson (Detroit Lakes) – 50 Yard Freestyle (6th sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (5th sections)
• Carter Pew (Morris Area) – 1m Diving (6th sections)

Quite a bit on influx of talent into this section for the 2025-206 season.  Yes, the 2024-2025 champs Alexandria move up to Class AA, but filling the void will be two teams moving down from Class AA.  Sauk Rapids Rice and Sartell St. Stephen join the section to make this quite the battle.  This will be fun to watch shake out!

Melrose/Sauk Centre returns one of the deepest top-to-bottom lineups in the section, featuring finalists in virtually every event. Hunter Leslie (3rd in the 200 Free, 5th in the 500 Free, 14th at state) anchors the middle-distance and distance group, while Sullivan Stumler adds sprint depth with finals appearances in the 200 and 100 Free. The IM and long-free group is bolstered by Nolan Fleischhacker (6th in the IM, 3rd in the 500 Free), and Samuel Stangler provides additional sprint scoring with top-eight finishes in the 50 and 100 Free. The Mustangs also return the section’s strongest diving corps, led by Andrue Stalboerger (3rd at sections, 4th at state), with Zaron Olmschenk (5th) and Treivyn Graves (7th) both contributing. The breaststroke crew is equally deep, with Stalboerger (5th) and Anthony Bierschbach (8th) returning as reliable scorers. With elite diving, strong freestyle depth, and multi-event scorers, Melrose/Sauk Centre sits firmly among the top teams in the section.

Sauk Rapids–Rice enters the season with a solid and steadily improving roster anchored by returning scorers in multiple events. Jack Merritt is a key contributor with top-six finishes in both the 200 and 500 Free, and Dylahn Nagel adds diving presence after placing 7th at sections. In the breaststroke, Andrew Scapanski returns after finishing 6th, giving the Storm essential scoring in an often-thin event. The team also gains points in the 500 Free, where Merritt placed 6th, and continues to develop young talent across freestyle and stroke groups. With several emerging swimmers and returning point-scorers, Sauk Rapids–Rice remains competitive and capable of upward movement.

Fergus Falls brings back one of the most complete and balanced lineups in the section, loaded with returning finalists across every stroke and distance. Matthew Tuel is a major point-producer with top-three finishes in both the 200 Free (2nd, 13th at state) and 500 Free (2nd, 12th at state). Sprint and stroke events are similarly strong, led by Jaden Kwapinski, who finished 2nd in the 100 Free (13th at state) and 2nd in the 200 IM, and rising eighth-grader Lucas Tuel, who reached finals in the IM (7th) and the 100 Fly (5th). Landon Votava adds depth in freestyle with top-four finishes in the 200 and 500 Free. Fergus Falls also brings back Reece Hansen, a top stroke returner who placed 3rd in the 100 Fly (15th at state) and 2nd in the 100 Backstroke (4th at state). Importantly, Ethan Strande returns as well—placing 5th in the 100 Breaststroke—giving the Otters a strong presence in an event where many teams lack depth. With scoring athletes across every discipline, Fergus Falls projects as one of the top contenders for the section title.

Detroit Lakes returns a strong but more compact core of scorers following the correction. Ben Mathiason headlines the Lakers as a rising multi-event standout, placing 4th in the 200 IM and 2nd in the 100 Breaststroke. The team also returns Alex Mack, who scored with a 7th-place finish in the 100 Fly, and Lucas Lundberg, who finished 4th in diving and added a 13th-place state finish. DL’s strength lies particularly in IM, breaststroke, diving, and select stroke events. While their sprint and freestyle depth is thinner without Strande, Detroit Lakes still brings back high-value swimmers capable of producing strong mid-tier sectional scoring.

Park Rapids returns a handful of key scorers anchored by mid-distance and stroke finalists. Carter Schiller is a major contributor with a 3rd-place finish in the 200 IM (15th at state) and 6th in the 100 Free, while Brayden Tackett adds depth after placing 8th in the IM. Distance support comes from Christian Thorson, who placed 8th in the 500 Free. While Park Rapids does not have the depth of the larger programs, the team’s top-end swimmers give them the ability to score meaningfully in IM, free, and stroke events..

Sartell–St. Stephen brings back a versatile group of young finalists and divers who appear ready to take a collective step forward. Hayden Lenarz returns as a top stroke performer after finishing 4th in the 100 Fly, while Thomas Runkle adds sprint stability with a 6th-place finish in the 100 Free. Distance support comes from Nolan Snyder (7th in the 500), and the breaststroke group is strengthened by Sawyer Albjerg, who placed 4th. On the boards, Jack Rodine finished 6th, giving the Sabres an exceptional long-term prospect. With strong sophomore and junior classes, Sartell–St. Stephen is positioned for steady growth.

Morris Area returns a single finals scorer in William Coler, who placed 8th in the 100 Backstroke. While the program lacks broad sectional scoring at this stage, Coler provides a reliable stroke presence and a foundation to build from in the coming seasons.