Mark Seguin

The head swim nerd of this place.  Lover of all things swimming related and on a mission to help elevate the sport and empower those who love it to contribute to it in their own special way

Know Your Swimming or Diving: The Data Tools Inside Your Locker

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Your times tell a story. Your locker helps you read it — and use it to get faster or score higher.

Anybody can look up a time. What your Swim Locker does is different: it takes your swimming and turns it into something you can actually learn from. Not a wall of numbers — a picture of where you’ve been, where you are, and how close you are to where you’re headed.

Here’s what’s waiting in the Data tab.

Watch yourself get faster

The Progression chart is the one you’ll keep coming back to. Pick an event, pick a season, and watch your times trend on a real line chart. There’s nothing like seeing that line drop. You can even flip on the section cut line to see exactly where you stand against it.

See how close you are

State Cuts answers the question every swimmer is secretly doing math on in their head: how far am I? It shows the state cut times for your events and lays your bests right next to them, so the gap isn’t a mystery — it’s a target.

Find your strengths

Your Stroke Portfolio maps your events as a radar so you can see your shape as a swimmer at a glance — where you’re strong, where there’s room. And My Events lays out everything you swim so you can see your whole lineup in one look. Some swimmers are surprised what their strongest event actually is.

Know where you stand

My Rankings shows where you rank on your team, in your class, and across the state — for each of your events. And if you want the bigger picture, you can jump to the HS Hub and see HS Power Rankings and the Times Database open up the wider world of high school swimming whenever you want to dig in.

Your best times, always close

Your Best Times live right up front — a quick snapshot of your PRs so your proudest swims are never more than a tap away.

It’s about your next race

Here’s the thing all of this is really for: these aren’t just stats to admire. They’re tools to use. See the trend, spot the gap, find the event where you’re closest to something big — and take that into your next practice and your next race.

Open the Data tab or add the data modules and take a look. Your story’s already in there.

Make It Yours: Customizing Your Locker

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A space that’s actually yours should look like you. Here’s how to make your locker one of a kind.

Here’s the thing about your Swim Locker: out of the box, it’s already yours. But the fun part is making it feel like you — because no two swimmers are the same, and no two lockers have to be either.

Let’s take the tour.

Start with the backdrop

Your locker comes with 48 different backgrounds across six categories — so whether you’re into clean and minimal, bold and loud, or something with a little ocean energy, there’s a look that fits. Pick the one that feels like you the second you open the app.

Set the vibe

Backgrounds are just the start. You’ve got 28 tile vibes to style the cards in your locker, 68 icons to mark them however you want, and 9 different fonts to set the tone. Want your locker calm and focused? Done. Want it loud and a little chaotic? Also done. The combinations are basically endless, which means yours won’t look like anyone else’s.

Make it personal

This is where it really becomes yours:

  • Add your own photo. Drop in a shot of you at the blocks, your teammates, your dog — whatever fires you up. You can fill it, fit it, and set the focus point so it looks exactly right.
  • Rep your team. Add your team logo so your locker flies your colors.
  • Pin a quote. Put a quote tile up with words that mean something to you — something to see every time you check in.

Arrange it your way

Your locker isn’t a fixed grid you’re stuck with. Drag your tiles around and put what matters most right where you want it. Swap tiles, move them into open spots, even use half-size tiles to fit more in. Your most-checked stuff up top, the rest wherever makes sense to you. It’s your room — arrange the furniture however you like.

So… go make it yours

The best locker is the one that feels like you opened the door and set it up exactly how you wanted. Spend five minutes playing with backgrounds, vibes, and your photo, and watch it turn into a space you actually look forward to opening.

It’s all waiting for you. Time to make it yours.

Your Swim Locker: a space that is actually yours

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Lots of apps and sites can tell you anybody’s times. Your Swim Locker is different — it’s not a database you look things up in, it’s a place that belongs to you.

Make it yours, first. Pick your background, your colors, your fonts. Drop in your own photos and your team logo. Rearrange everything until it feels right. Nobody else’s locker looks like yours, because you built it.

Then there’s the stuff a public site would never give you. Recognition badges when you earn them — a season best, a big time drop, your varsity debut, sections, state — landing on your own shelf to keep. A game of the day. A quote to start the morning. Trivia, your playlist, your gear list. Little things that make checking your locker something you actually want to do, not a chore.

It’s also where you set your sights. Write down your goals — the time you’re chasing, the cut you want, the thing you’re working toward — and keep them in front of you instead of in your head. And you’ll have a place to journal, too: log how a race felt, what clicked, what you want to fix before the next one. The locker isn’t just where you see what you’ve done — it’s where you decide what’s next.

And it’s private. This isn’t a public profile where the whole internet ranks you against everyone else. It’s your corner — your progress, your wins, your vibe, on your terms. You decide what it looks like and you’re the one it’s built for.

2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 8AA

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Section 8AA

Teams: Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd, Buffalo, Elk River, Monticello, Moorhead, St. Cloud Crush, St. Michael-Albertville

2025 Section Champion: Buffalo – 327 Points
2025 Section Runner-up: Brainerd- 297 Points

Notable Graduates

  • Cooper Running (Alexandria) – 200 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 2nd state), 100 Yard Butterfly (1st sections, 3rd state)
  • Cayden Abell (Alexandria) – 100 Yard Backstroke (7th sections)
  • Nash Gabrielson (Brainerd) – 1m Diving (5th sections)
  • Kyler Carlson (Brainerd) – 50 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections, 14th state)
  • David Herath (Brainerd) – 1m Diving (3rd sections, 13th state)
  • Nathan Chaussee (Brainerd) – 200 Yard IM (5th sections), 100 Yard Backstroke (4th sections)
  • James Lemus (Buffalo) – 200 Yard Freestyle (4th sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 13th state)
  • Rylan Close (Buffalo) – 50 Yard Freestyle (1st sections), 100 Yard Butterfly (2nd sections, 14th state)
  • Mason Evenson (Buffalo) – 1m Diving (1st sections, 2nd state)
  • Ethan Christianson (Elk River) – 50 Yard Freestyle (7th sections)
  • Evan Streit (Elk River) – 1m Diving (8th sections)
  • Gabe McDermott (Monticello) – 1m Diving (1st sections, 7th state)
  • Ethan Bad Heart Bull (Monticello) – 200 Yard IM (5th sections, 14th state), 100 Yard Backstroke (3rd sections, 11th state)
  • Tyler Grue (Monticello) – 200 Yard IM (7th sections), 100 Yard Breaststroke (3rd sections)
  • Carter Reburn (Moorhead) – 200 Yard IM (6th sections), 100 Yard Backstroke (7th sections)
  • Vance Kroetsch (Moorhead) – 1m Diving (2nd sections, 10th state)
  • Aaron Volk (Moorhead) – 100 Yard Breaststroke (8th sections)
  • William McKeown (St. Michael–Albertville) – 1m Diving (4th sections)
  • Riley McKenzie (St. Cloud Crush) – 1m Diving (5th sections)
  • Andy Offerdahl (St. Cloud Crush) – 500 Yard Freestyle (4th sections)
  • Garett Lane (St. Cloud Crush) – 100 Yard Backstroke (5th sections)

Section 8AA is about as muddy as a section can get.  Between significant graduation, the loss of Sartell and Sauk Rapids-Rice and the addition of Alexandria, Monticello, and the newly minted St. Cloud Crush (Tech and Apollo), it’s all up for grabs.  One thing that is for sure, this section is going to be fast and produce it’s fair share of state points.

Defending champions Buffalo will take a pretty solid hit from graduation but returns a younger but competitive group led by Morgan Sims, who scored in both the IM and 500 Free. Sprint depth comes from Cameron Cich, while Allen Bertelson contributes in the 500 Free and backstroke. The Bison also return multiple developing underclassmen who gained finals experience last season, positioning the program for continued growth.

Alexandria returns one of the most complete and dangerous lineups in the section, with strength across freestyle, IM, stroke events, and diving. The Cardinals are led by Andy Wacek, a section champion in both the 200 IM and 100 Free who also reached the state podium, giving the team elite versatility at the top of the lineup. Freestyle depth is a major asset, highlighted by Eli Wimmer, Camden Kosters, Adison Newman, and Carson Bumgarner, all of whom reached championship finals in either the 200 or 500 Free. Sprint scoring is supported by Micah Kietzmann and Zachary Iverson, while additional freestyle and relay depth comes from Micah Overshiner. Stroke events remain a strength with contributors such as Luke Christenson, Keaton Dummer, and Gavin Peterson, who all factored into butterfly or backstroke finals.

On the boards, Alexandria is a true standout, returning the top two finishers in diving—Kyler Kavanagh and Krew Muscha—both state qualifiers, with Ryan Sanden adding further depth after a top-eight sectional finish. With elite diving, deep freestyle groups, strong relay potential, and a championship-caliber IM presence, Alexandria enters the season as a legitimate contender in the section.

St. Cloud Crush will have an impressive core anchored by two elite multi-event scorers. Micah Davis headlines the group after winning section titles in the 200 Free and 100 Fly and capturing state championships in both events. The IM and breaststroke combination of Charlie Bobick provides another major scoring engine, as he won the 200 IM and the 100 Breast while also finishing on the state podium. Supporting depth comes from Amittai Preisler, who contributed across freestyle and butterfly, along with Orion Preisler in diving. Additional scoring potential comes from Joey Krueger, Sawyer Ruprecht, Garrett Hosch, and Xavier Mickelsen, giving the Crush depth in freestyle and stroke events. With top-end dominance and growing middle depth, St. Cloud Crush remains a major factor in the section race.

Moorhead returns a focused and competitive core led by Sahan Nagodavithana, who brings strong versatility after placing near the top in both the 200 IM and the 100 Backstroke. Francis Casey adds important scoring depth across freestyle and butterfly, with finals appearances in the 200 Free and 100 Fly, giving the Spuds a reliable multi-event contributor. Sprint strength comes from Matthew Brendemuhl, who reached the championship heat in the 50 Free and followed it up with a solid finish in the 100 Free. With experienced scorers in IM, sprint freestyle, and fly, Moorhead enters the season with a compact but effective lineup capable of producing points across multiple events.

Elk River returns a compact but productive core led by Bjorn Pederson, who anchors the distance group after finishing runner-up in the 500 Free and advancing to the state meet. Spencer Damman provides valuable versatility after scoring in the 200 IM and contributing in the 100 Fly, giving the Elks strength in the middle events. Sprint and stroke depth comes from Deidric Walliczek, who placed among the top finishers in the 100 Backstroke and qualified for state, and Brody Vetsch, a finals scorer in the 100 Free. With proven contributors across distance, IM, sprint freestyle, and backstroke, Elk River remains competitive with a focused group capable of producing points in multiple event areas.

Monticello brings back a strong stroke-oriented group led by Sam Martin, who won the section title in the 100 Back and earned a state finish. The IM and breaststroke combination of Tyler Grue provides additional scoring strength, while Santiago Castro, Lincoln Heckendorf, and Marvin Tapiz Dominguez give the Magic depth in sprint freestyle. Diving remains a factor with Noah Miller and Lucas Anderson returning as section finalists. With strength in backstroke, IM, freestyle depth, and diving, Monticello continues to field a competitive and balanced lineup.

Brainerd returns a streamlined but competitive group led by Henry McCulley, who provides sprint strength after reaching championship heats in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle. Drew Haglin adds important stroke depth in the butterfly, where he posted a solid finals finish, while Brooks Brichacek contributes additional sprint scoring after qualifying for the championship heat in the 50 Free. With returning scorers across sprint freestyle and butterfly, Brainerd enters the season with a focused lineup capable of producing points in multiple sprint events.

Bemidji returns a small but promising group led by John Scherling, a runner-up finisher in the 100 Breaststroke, and Tanner Johnson, who reached finals in the 200 Free. Brayden Anderson adds additional breaststroke depth, giving the Lumberjacks a developing core to build around.

STMA returns contributors in sprint freestyle and diving, highlighted by Dane Barthel and Landan Rooker, both of whom reached championship finals. While depth is limited, the returners provide consistent scoring opportunities.

2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 7AA

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Section 7AA

Duluth East, Centennial, Anoka, Blaine, Andover, Forest Lake, Coon Rapids, Cambridge Isanti

2025 Section Champion: Duluth East – 501 Points
2025 Section Runner-up: Centennial – 357 Points

Notable Graduates

  • Elliot Yung (Duluth) – 200 Free (2nd Sections/ 21st State) 100 Free (4th Sections)
  • Jackson Ling (Coon Rapids) – 200 Free (3rd Sections) 500 Free (1st Sections/ 21st State)
  • Levi Carlson (Forest Lake) – 200 Free (6th Sections) 100 Back (7th Sections)
  • Caleb Cregan (Centennial) – 200 IM (3rd Sections) 100 Back (4th Sections/28th State)
  • Pete Saftner (Duluth) – 200 IM (4th Sections) 100 Fly (1st Sections/ 15th State)
  • Seji Sudoh (Duluth) – 50 Free (2nd Sections/ 25th State) 100 Breast (1st Sections/ 5th State)
  • Joseph Murray (Centennial) – 50 Free (3rd Sections) 100  Free (8th Sections)
  • Abe Olson (Anoka) – 50 Free (4th Sections) 100 Back (6th Sections)
  • Leif Braaten (Duluth) – 50 Free (8th Sections)
  • Landon West (Duluth) – 100 Fly (2nd Sections/ 19th State) 100 Back (3rd Sections/19th State)
  • Levi Garberg (Anoka) – 100 Fly (4th Sections)
  • Nolan Peterson (Blaine) – 100 Free (7th Sections) 100 Breast (8th Sections) 
  • Charlie Nohner (Andover) – Diving (3rd Sections/ 16th State)
  • Cale Bortnem (Duluth) – Diving (4th Sections/ 18th State)
  • Coen Andersland (Andover) – Diving (8th Sections)

Section 7AA is a section with a lot of young up and coming swimmers. Duluth East won the section last year by 144 Points, making the 2025 season a Three-peat for the program. Having graduated 8 seniors out of the 20 athletes they brought to the meet last year, they will have to fight hard to get that 4th win.  Even with the large number of graduates, a good number of point scoring athletes are returning to Duluth this year, and are still the team to watch for 7aa. Returning seniors Joey Zelen, Lucas Warren, Keegan Persons and Isaac Clark, all look to return to the podium in their respective events. Zelen is looking to defend 1st place finishes in both the 50 and 100 Free where he went on to take 3rd and 2nd respectively at the State Meet. Warren is coming back to defend a win in the 200 IM, where he went on to place 12th at State, as well as returning to state in the 100 Free where he placed 2nd at the section meet, and 18th at state. While some of the notable graduates from Duluth made up key parts in their all 1st place relays, they are still going to be the team to beat in those relays with most of the returning athletes still being top 16 swimmers at the meet.

Centennial – Centennial looks to continue their trend of being a strong team, with a large number of their team’s top performers returning from last year. Seniors Isaac Nguyen and Elliot Shepard are both returning with goals to continue their trend of being top point scorers for Centennial. Nguyen looks to continue to be key parts of Centennial relays and a Top 8 Finisher in the 100 Free, while Shepard looks to return to the Top in the 50 free. Centennial’s top performer, Junior Benno Schuhbauer, returns to the team after winning both the 200 Free and 100 Back last year, with 12th and 13th place finishes respectively at State. Juniors Grant Page and Sawyer Celotta will also be returning this season looking to continue their Top 8 Finishes, with Page in the Fly and Celotta in the 50 Free.

Anoka – Placing 3rd in the section last only 29 points behind Centennial, Anoka looks to return to the meet stronger than the year before, having only graduated 3 seniors. With a large number of returning point scorers, Anoka is not a team to be counted out. Senior Wesley Anderson is looking to break into the Top 8 in the 200 IM and return to the podium in the 100 Breast, while Junior Kaleb Erickson looks to improve his 5th place finishes in both the 200 and 500. Senior Richard Vojtek returns looking to improve his 6th place finishes in the 50 and 100 Free with so many notable graduates in both events. Finally Anoka’s top performing athlete, 9th grader Dante Framke, returns with goals to make the state meet again in both the 100 Free and 100 Back where he placed 10th and 11th respectively.

Blaine – With a fairly even split of younger and older athletes last year, Blaine looks to yet again surprise teams with speed in unexpected places and continue their increase in the amount of athletes returning to day two of sections. Placing 4th overall last year, Blaine did not send any athletes to state but had several Top 8 athletes. Returning Junior Carson Hammill has goals of continuing his Top 8 placement in the 200 IM and 500 Free, while 9th Grader Benjamin Lam looks to break into the Top 8 with a crazy hard event lineup of the 100 Fly followed by the 500 Free. Blaine’s top performing athlete Jarrid Magnuson returns to Blaine with goals of making state in both the 500 Free and 100 Back where he placed 3rd and 5th respectively.

Andover – Placing 5th last year, Andover is looking to make a jump in the standings with goals to catch Blaine and move back into the top half of the section. With only 4 of their point scoring seniors having graduated, it looks like Andover may just be able to do it. Senior Raymond Maki looks to drop below the 5 minute mark, and return to state in the 500 Free where he placed 2nd at sections. Maki also looks to make a return to the Top 8 in the 200 IM where he placed 5th last year. Sophomores Taylor Maki and Nobel Andersland both return to the team to continue being key parts of the teams relays, and hope to break into the Top 8 in their individual events. Andover has a strong Junior Core this year, with Divers Isaiah Croaston and Ethan Oswell returning to the team. Croaston looks to return to the state meet this year, while Ethan has goals of punching into the Top 8. Andover’s top performing athlete, Junior Rogan Ellis, also returns to the team to continue being a key part of Andover’s relays. Ellis is also looking to make a return to the state meet in the 200 IM and 100 Breast, bettering his 2nd and 3rd place finishes last year at the section meet. 

Forest Lake – Only graduating 2 seniors from last year, Forest Lake is going to be a much stronger team than the previous season. With almost every athlete returning, this young team will be looking to place far higher than the year before now that they have the experience of the section meet. With only two returning Seniors, the team is still young, but under the guidance of Thatcher Robertson and Jamison Livermore, they will be quick. Livermore is back to defend his diving win and return to the state meet, and Robertson looks to improve upon his 5th and 6th place finishes in the 100 Fly and 100 Breast respectively. Junior Leo Schmidt looks to improve his  Top 8 Placements in the 200 IM and 100 Breast. 

Coon Rapids – Being a small team, Coon Rapids has struggled recently at the section meet. With their top point earner and state athletes Jackson Ling graduating, Conn Rapids is in a rebuilding year. Returning Junior Carter Ling, is looking to make Top 8 in the 50 free, as well as improve his 6th Place finish in the 100 Fly. Senior Michael Currier has goals to break into the Top 8 in both the 200 and 500 where he placed 9th and 12th respectively. Several other Coon Rapids athletes are returning who just missed out on making day two of the section meet. If those boys can make day two this year, it is possible that Coon Rapids has a much better showing at the section meet this year. 

Cambridge Isanti – Similar to Forest Lake, Cambridge Isanti is looking to bring back their young team and hope that their experience from last year helps them improve and have more athletes make day two of the meet. Junior Joshua Clinkenbeard looks to make Top 8 in the 50 free and 100 Back where he placed 12th and 9th respectively. Alongside him Juniors Reid Streed looks to make Top 8 in the 100 Fly where he placed 11th, and Junior diver Eddie Steman has goals to take one of the Top 4 spots on the podium for diving to make state, improving on his 5th place finish from last year.

2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 6AA

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Section 6AA

Bloomington Kennedy, Burnsville, Edina, Hopkins, Minneapolis South-Henry-Roosevelt, Richfield, St. Louis Park, St. Paul Highland Park-St. Paul Academy

2025 Section Champion: Edina – 612 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Hopkins – 258 pts

Notable Graduates

  • Charlie Rostal (St Louis Park) – 200 Yard Freestyle (5th sections), 500 Yard Freestyle (5th sections)
  • Henry Berg (St Louis Park) – 200 Yard Freestyle (7th sections), 500 Yard Freestyle (6th sections)
  • Finley Berry (St Louis Park) – 200 Yard IM (5th sections), 100 Yard Backstroke (6th sections)
  • Leo Kalvik (Hopkins) – 200 Yard Freestyle (6th sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections)
  • Joseph Rinaldi (Hopkins) – 1m Diving (6th sections)
  • Avery Merfeld (Hopkins) – 1m Diving (7th sections)
  • Liam Schons (Hopkins) – 200 Yard IM (8th sections), 100 Yard Butterfly (3rd sections)
  • Shea Becker (Hopkins) – 50 Yard Freestyle (5th sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (7th sections)
  • Jiarui Xue (Edina) – 200 Yard IM (1st sections, 2nd state), 500 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 1st state)
  • Reid McAllister (Edina) – 100 Yard Butterfly (7th sections)
  • Jon Bailey-Zimmerman (St Paul Highland Park–SPA) – 50 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 10th state), 100 Yard Freestyle (5th sections)
  • Tait Johnson (Richfield–AHA) – 1m Diving (5th sections)
  • Jack Dzierzak (Richfield–AHA) – 100 Yard Butterfly (6th sections)
  • Drew VonRuden (Bloomington Kennedy) – 100 Yard Freestyle (7th sections)

Section 6AA sees the departure of Minneapolis Southwest and Cretin-Derham Hall.  Taking their place will be Burnsville moving over from 2AA and Bloomington Kennedy moving up from 2A.  Edina is still a juggernaut and returning state champion.  Coming within 300 points of them would be a win for a lot of teams at the section meet.

Edina returns a powerhouse lineup loaded with championship-level talent and depth across every event group. The team brings back the top three finishers in the 200 Free—Joe Hemberger, Alex Allocco, and Willy Thurk—all of whom were also state scorers. Their IM group remains elite with Jiawen Xue and Talan Macfarlane returning as top-three performers. Hemberger also leads the butterfly group after winning the 100 Fly and placing top-three at state.  Sprint freestyle is another major strength, anchored by Patrick Curran, the returning section champion in the 100 Free, supported by David Ritter, a finals scorer in the 50 Free, and additional depth from Clyde Anderson and several versatile mid-distance swimmers. Distance scoring is exceptional as well, with Thurk and Allocco finishing 2nd and 3rd in the 500 Free to form one of the strongest long-distance duos in the section.  Edina’s backstroke group is dominant, returning the section’s top three finishers—Curran, Xue, and Liam McAuliff—alongside emerging depth from Kai Mehta. Breaststroke is equally formidable with George Goepfrich, Macfarlane, and Michael Riolo, all top-five finishers who give Edina unmatched stroke depth.  The team’s diving corps is the best in the section, returning Edward Frey, Kingston Kavati, and Niko Yannopoulos, who swept the top three places and all reached the state meet. With elite strength across sprinting, distance, strokes, and diving, Edina enters the season as the overwhelming section favorite.

Minneapolis “TMT” returns a focused and impactful group headlined by Emery Taylor, a top sprinter who placed 2nd in the 50 Free and 3rd in the 100 Free. The stroke group adds more scoring potential through Ravi Elliott, who made championship finals in both the 100 Fly and 100 Back, including a 5th-place and 7th-place finish respectively. Breaststroke is bolstered by returning finalists Rowan Lesmeister and Griffin Larson, providing reliable depth in one of the section’s most competitive events. While the roster is not as deep as Edina’s, MSWR brings back several high-impact swimmers capable of generating significant points and anchoring strong relays.

St. Louis Park returns a small but steady lineup built around developing talent in the IM and sprint freestyle events. Axel Smith leads the group after placing 7th in the 200 IM as a ninth grader, giving the Orioles a promising young centerpiece with room to grow into a major scorer. The team also gets returning contributions in the 50 Free, where several swimmers earned finals experience last season, providing reliable depth for relays and individual sprint events. While the roster no longer features the big senior freestyle scorers from last year, the returning core offers a foundation for continued improvement and emerging sectional competitiveness.

Hopkins enters the season in a rebuilding phase, returning only one sectional scorer from last year’s championship meet. Luca Arcilla, who placed 8th in the 100 Breaststroke as an eighth grader, provides the Royals with a promising young foundation to build around. With all of last season’s upper-class contributors having graduated, the program will rely heavily on developing talent and newcomer growth to regain depth in freestyle, strokes, and diving. While the returning roster is limited, Arcilla’s early success offers a bright spot and a potential pathway for future improvement.

Burnsville returns Zander Boyko, a top-five section diver who provides the program with dependable scoring on the boards. While the roster shows limited returning swim finalists, Boyko’s contribution ensures Burnsville remains competitive in diving.

Richfield will look to build on last year’s performances and look to their younger core to improve this year.

Bloomington Kennedy will need to adjust to moving up to Class AA, but they have a solid core and should develop some section finalists over the next year or two.

2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 5AA

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Section 5AA

Teams in the Section
Champlin Park, Irondale, Maple Grove, Osseo, Park Center, Robbinsdale Cooper-Armstrong, Spring Lake Park, Wayzata

2025 Section Champion: Wayzata – 650 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Irondale – 331 pts

Notable Graduates

  • Alex Kosel (Osseo) – 200 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections)
  • Connor Elfstrand (Maple Grove) – 200 Yard Freestyle (8th sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (8th sections)
  • Gabriel Jimenez (Maple Grove) – 100 Yard Backstroke (8th sections)
  • Christopher Osborne (Maple Grove) – 1m Diving (6th sections)
  • Henry Botten (Irondale) – 200 Yard IM (2nd sections, 14th state), 100 Yard Backstroke (5th sections, 9th state)
  • Gannon Willmert (Irondale) – 100 Yard Butterfly (8th sections), 100 Yard Breaststroke (5th sections)
  • Dylan Murphy (Wayzata) – 200 Yard IM (7th sections), 100 Yard Breaststroke (6th sections)
  • JP Kirchner (Wayzata) – 50 Yard Freestyle (3rd sections, 14th state), 100 Yard Freestyle (1st sections)
  • Max Carter (Wayzata) – 50 Yard Freestyle (4th sections), 100 Yard Butterfly (3rd sections, 8th state)
  • Quang Nguyen (Wayzata) – 100 Yard Breaststroke (8th sections)
  • Rishab Madasamy (Wayzata) – 100 Yard Breaststroke (2nd sections, 12th state)
  • Arthur Wei (Wayzata) – 100 Yard Backstroke (2nd sections)
  • Jeffrey Lan (Wayzata) – 100 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections), 100 Yard Backstroke (6th sections)
  • Rey Dommaraju (Wayzata) – 100 Yard Freestyle (3rd sections)
  • Nikola Momtchev (Wayzata) – 100 Yard Freestyle (4th sections)
  • Thomas Gendreau (Wayzata) – 1m Diving (2nd sections, 15th state)
  • Connor Hobot (Park Center) – 50 Yard Freestyle (8th sections)
  • Nash Woodward (Champlin Park) – 100 Yard Breaststroke (7th sections)
  • Rhett Simonson (Champlin Park) – 1m Diving (8th sections)
  • Abie Skelton Harris (Robbinsdale Cooper–Armstrong) – 100 Yard Freestyle (6th sections)

One of the few sections that remain untouched this season.  Wayzata appears to be in good shape to dominate again.  Irondale will look to maintain their solid runner-up spot.

Wayzata returns a massive wave of talent across every stroke and distance, giving them one of the strongest returning groups in the section. In freestyle, the Trojans bring back Tristan Farrey, Finn Kirven, Jacob Zolotov, and Andrew Lerdal, all of whom scored top-seven finishes in the 200 Free, while Noah Landry (1st in the 50 Free) and Aleksandr Pershin bolster a fast sprint group. The Trojans also bring elite young IM and fly talent in Jerry Lou—the defending section champion in the 200 IM (5th at state) and runner-up in the 100 Fly (4th at state)—and Nathan Carr, who won the 100 Fly (2nd at state) and the 100 Back (4th at state). Eli Kishish adds elite distance credibility with wins in both the IM and 500 Free.  Aditya Nair, who placed 7th in the 100 Back and Jack Beukelman  who placed 6th in the 500 Free will add even more top 8 depth.  Divers Harper Fang and Jasper Fang give Wayzata additional depth on the boards. With finalists returning in nearly every event and multiple state medalists leading the lineup, Wayzata enters the season as a heavy favorite to control the top of the section.

Irondale returns a high-impact senior core, led by middle-distance standout Lucas Megahan, who won the 200 Free and placed 6th at state, and also finished 4th in the 100 Fly (6th at state). In sprint events, Isaac Botten provides strong range with a runner-up finish in the 50 Free and a 2nd-place finish in the 500 Free. The Knights also return Samuel Reichert and Dylan Zabrowski, who add depth in the 100 Free, and Kai Nelson, who scored in the IM. Their returning strength is heavily concentrated in the 200/500 Free and butterfly, with strong sprint support behind them. With a reliable blend of top-end performers and additional scoring depth, Irondale remains one of the most competitive teams outside of Wayzata.

Champlin Park brings back several high-value scorers, highlighted by Kiptyn Helmrick, who finished 3rd in the 200 Free and added a top-four performance in the 100 Back. Distance support comes from Henry Finke, who placed 4th in the IM and 5th in the 100 Fly, and the Rebels also return strong diving depth through Collin Kane. Additionally, Champlin Park benefits from solid sprint scoring in the 100 Free with consistent finalists throughout the roster. With meaningful contributors in nearly every discipline, Champlin Park fields a well-rounded group capable of delivering points in both strokes and freestyle events.

Spring Lake Park returns a strong nucleus of stroke and mid-distance swimmers. Isaac Wicks placed 5th in the 200 IM, while Gabriel Bacig finished 7th in the 50 Free and added another finals swim in the 100 Fly. Patrick Ketz (8th in the 500 Free) provides distance stability, helping the team cover multiple lanes in the longest event. With returning talent across IM, sprint, fly, and distance, Spring Lake Park remains a well-balanced program with the potential to improve placement through growing depth.

Maple Grove’s strength begins on the boards, where Pengxu Lor delivered a section title in diving (3rd at state), supported by fellow finalist Oliver Timothy (3rd). In the pool, the Crimson return scoring from Daniel Sher in the 100 Breaststroke.  With exceptional diving depth and promising young stroke talent, Maple Grove has the foundation to remain competitive in total points and could make major relay gains as its underclassmen continue to develop.

Osseo returns one of the section’s best young sprinters in Brady Landstad, who placed 5th in the 50 Free, and top-eight backstroker Brandon Kot. Distance support comes from Wesley Cross, who placed 7th in the 500 Free, while Mason Krings anchors breaststroke scoring after winning the event and finishing 7th at state. With competitive athletes in sprint, breaststroke, backstroke, and distance, Osseo brings back meaningful scoring across the meet lineup and remains a well-rounded mid-tier challenger.

Cooper–Armstrong returns strong distance ability through JJ Degroot, who placed 4th in the 500 Free, and IM talent through Elliot Suby, who scored in the 200 IM. Sprint support is developing, and as the team continues to grow its younger swimmers, Cooper–Armstrong remains competitive in select events with room for improvement in overall depth.

2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 5A

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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.

2025 Boys High School Preview: Section 4AA

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Section 4AA

Teams in the Section
Mounds View, Roseville, St. Anthony, St. Paul Central, Tartan/North St. Paul, Stillwater, White Bear Lake, Woodbury

2025 Section Champion: Woodbury – 414.5 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Mounds View – 379 pts

Notable Graduates

  • Derek Stadheim (Woodbury) – 200 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 11th state), 500 Yard Freestyle (1st sections, 6th state)
  • Raymond Webb (Woodbury) – 50 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections, 15th state), 100 Yard Butterfly (1st sections, 16th state)
  • Eli Faulkner (Woodbury) – 100 Yard Backstroke (8th sections)
  • Aiden Tsao (Woodbury) – 50 Yard Freestyle (4th sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (3rd sections)
  • Maccon Kubitschek (Stillwater) – 1m Diving (6th sections)
  • Jackson Kogler (Stillwater) – 200 Yard IM (1st sections, 1st state), 100 Yard Backstroke (1st sections, 1st state)
  • Drew Hilsendager (St. Paul Central) – 200 Yard IM (6th sections)
  • Damien Aune (St. Paul Central) – 100 Yard Breaststroke (5th sections)
  • Eugene Pedersen (Tartan-North) – 50 Yard Freestyle (6th sections), 100 Yard Freestyle (7th sections)
  • Anthony Parada Romero (White Bear Lake) – 1m Diving (1st sections)
  • Aidan Conlin (St. Anthony) – 100 Yard Butterfly (6th sections)
  • Luke Schmitzer (Mounds View) – 500 Yard Freestyle (2nd sections), 100 Yard Breaststroke (2nd sections)
  • Peyton Kwan (Mounds View) – 100 Yard Breaststroke (8th sections)

Section 4aa adds St. Anthony from Class A this season to mix things up a little.  Graduation may be the biggest difference maker in the team scores though.  Woodbury loses a bit more than runner up Mounds View and the point differential from last season was minimal.

Woodbury returns one of the deepest and most complete rosters in the section, bringing back top-end scorers across every stroke and distance. In the freestyle group, Grant McElwain (2nd in the 200 Free, 2nd in the Backstroke with a state berth), Alex McElwain (7th in the 200 Free, 8th in the 500 Free), and Colton Rosinski (8th in the 100 Free, 3rd in the Backstroke) give Woodbury exceptional versatility. The IM crew is outstanding, with Aiden Johnson (3rd), Ethan Lu (4th), and Javier Tellez (7th) all returning as finals scorers. Sprint talent is also a major strength—Andrew Qing (3rd in the 50 Free, 1st in the 100 Breast), Finn Novak (5th in the 50 and 2nd in the 100 Free), and Sig Larson (8th in the Fly, 5th in the Back) provide tremendous relay flexibility. Woodbury even adds stroke depth with butterfly finalists Roy Huebscher (3rd) and Larson, plus multiple young distance contributors like Johnson, Avery, and Alex McElwain. This is a returning lineup loaded with scoring and state-qualifying potential, positioning Woodbury as one of the clear front-runners.

Stillwater brings back a strong and balanced lineup led by a mix of upperclassmen and emerging contributors. In freestyle, Zach Cody (4th in the 200 Free, 3rd in the 500 Free) and Jackson Avery (6th in the 200 Free, 4th in the 500 Free) provide reliable finals scoring in the mid-distance and distance events. Sam Loken adds significant sprint speed with top-eight finishes in both the 50 and 100 Freestyle. The IM group features Ethan Finch (8th in the 200 IM) and contributes additional stroke strength in the backstroke, where Finch also placed 7th. Diving remains a solid event for the Ponies thanks to Grady Flynn, who placed 4th in the 1m event. With returning scorers present in every event except breaststroke, Stillwater enters the season with dependable depth and the potential to push toward the upper half of the section team standings.

Mounds View returns one of the most exciting groups of young talent in the section. Sprint standout Danny Bai leads the team after winning the 100 Free and placing 1st in the 50 Free at sections, followed by a 5th-place finish at state in the 100 Free. The Mustangs also return strong freestyle depth with Grayson Then (8th in the 200 Free, 7th in the 500 Free) and Ben Lawrence (5th in the 100 Free). In the breaststroke, Lawrence also added a 4th-place finish, giving Mounds View important scoring in that discipline. The butterfly group is anchored by rising talent Holden Then (4th) and supported by divers Micah Prindle (2nd), Charlie Hieb (3rd), and Alexander Olson (7th), giving Mounds View one of the strongest diving groups in the section. Add in the emergence of Sithsovann Pin-Mene (8th in the 50 Free) and the team’s depth across all grades, and the Mustangs appear poised for a significant climb this season.

White Bear Lake returns a compact but highly effective group of scorers. In the middle-distance freestyle group, Benedict Hoefer provides strong consistency with 3rd-place finishes in both the 200 and 100 Freestyle. The Bears also bring back Miles Cork, who placed 5th in diving, and Finnian McVeigh, who added a 7th-place finish in the 100 Fly and 6th in the 100 Breast. This combination of scoring divers and multi-event stroke performers gives White Bear Lake a dependable core, though they’ll look to emerging swimmers to expand their relay depth and support the upper-end talent.

St. Paul Central features several young contributors who are rapidly developing into reliable scorers. Edward Farwell headlines the group with top-five finishes in the 200 Free (5th) and 100 Fly (2nd), showcasing his importance to both the sprint and stroke groups. Henry Ames adds strong depth with a 6th-place finish in the 500 Free and 6th in the 100 Back, while Isaac Iwaszkowiec contributes stability on the boards with an 8th-place finish in diving.

Roseville returns a talented group of rising scorers led by Miles Vestrum, who placed 5th in the 200 IM and 4th in the 100 Back, giving the Raiders a strong stroke and IM presence. Senior Basheer Al-Homoud (5th in the 100 Fly) also returns to anchor the butterfly group. While Roseville’s overall depth is still developing, their top returning swimmers give them solid scoring potential across IM, fly, and backstroke, positioning the Raiders to remain competitive in key events.

St. Anthony returns several key contributors capable of making championship-level impact. Milo Roy provides valuable freestyle range with sectional top-eight finishes in the 200 and 100 Free.

Tartan–North brings back high-impact scorer Jonas Herrmann. Herrmann is a major asset after placing 2nd in the 200 IM and 6th in the 100 Fly, giving the co-op strength in two highly competitive stroke events.