Section Previews

Teams in the Section

Stillwater, East Ridge, Mounds View, Woodbury, Roseville, White Bear Lake, North/Tartan

2025 Section Champion — Stillwater Area 599
2025 Section Runner-up — East Ridge 404

Notable Graduates

• Ellie Bina (Mounds View) – 500 Free (1st Sections / 1st State), 200 Free (1st Sections / 4th State
• Savanna Crego (Mounds View) – 1m Diving (3rd Sections)
• Kami Karel (Mounds View) – 1m Diving (1st Sections)
• Hailey Schmit (Stillwater) – 100 Fly (7th Sections), 100 Back (7th Sections)
• Isabel Koch (Stillwater) – 100 Fly (3rd Sections)
• Reese Bilot (Stillwater) – 500 Free (3rd Sections), 200 Free (5th Sections)
• Shaeffer Watson (Stillwater) – 50 Free (5th Sections), 100 Free (4th Sections)
• Linnea Brandt (Roseville) – 200 IM (5th Sections), 100 Breast (6th Sections)
• Lucy White (Roseville) – 100 Fly (6th Sections)
• Maya Adhikari (Roseville) – 1m Diving (8th Sections)
• Addison Forshee (Woodbury) – 200 Free (6th Sections), 500 Free (5th Sections)
• Irene Lee (East Ridge) – 100 Back (5th Sections)
• Izzy Hanson (East Ridge) – 100 Free (8th Sections),
• Malea Johnson (East Ridge) – 100 Breast (7th Sections)

Stillwater loses a strong senior class — Bilot, Watson, Koch, Schmit — but its returning core is so deep it barely registers. Mounds View takes the hardest hit at the top: it graduates Bina, its state 500 champion, plus both of its top divers (Karel and Crego). Roseville and East Ridge each lose multiple relay and stroke contributors.

Section Outlook

Stillwater won the section by nearly 200 points and returns almost every piece of a championship roster — this is the deepest team in 4AA by a wide margin. Claire Christianson (sophomore) is a superstar, winning the 100 Back and taking 2nd in the 200 IM at sections, with a 3rd (IM) and 6th (100 Back) at the Class AA state meet. Molly Mahoney (sophomore) is right there — she won the 100 Fly, was 3rd in the 200 Free, and scored in two events at state (10th 200 Free, 6th fly). Lucy Paczosa (senior) is the section’s best sprinter, sweeping the 50 and 100 Free and placing 4th in both at state. Audrey Serres (senior) is a multi-event stroke returner (3rd 200 IM, 2nd 100 Breast, both state-scoring), and Maddie Mathiason (freshman) is a breaststroke star in the making — 4th in the section 100 Breast and 2nd at the state meet as an eighth-grader. The depth behind them is absurd: Gabbi Pearson (sophomore, 4th 50/7th 100), Neva Sanders (junior, 2nd 100 Back/8th fly), Laney Hellyer (sophomore, distance), Isla Siverson (sophomore, IM), Lauren Kissinger and Maddy Kissinger, plus divers Cyra Brazzell (senior), Avery Crickenberger (senior), and Sadie Grecian (junior) — three returning top-8 section divers. This is my clear pick to repeat as section champion; the graduation losses don’t dent a roster this loaded.

East Ridge returns the single most important athlete in the section and holds firmly at second. Logan Havermann (senior) is the headliner — she won the 200 IM and 100 Breast at sections and is the returning Class AA state champion in both events, the most decorated returning swimmer in the class. Megyn Gillard (senior) is an elite sprinter (2nd 50 Free, 3rd 100 Free, plus 10th/14th at state), Mia Seidl (senior) is a two-event stroke scorer (4th 200 IM, 5th 100 Breast, 12th breast at state), Sabine Keister (junior) scored across the 200 Free, 100 Fly, and relays, and Olivia McClintock (sophomore) added the 100 Free (5th) and 100 Back (3rd) plus relay legs. With Havermann anchoring and a deep stroke-and-sprint group returning, East Ridge is a lock for second.

Mounds View takes the section’s hardest graduation hit — Bina and both top divers (Karel, Crego) are gone — but keeps a strong distance-and-sprint core. Kara Gorzek (junior) is the leader, scoring 2nd in both the 200 and 500 Free at sections with a 12th-place finish in the state 200. Lauren Maki (junior) is a top sprinter (3rd 50 Free, 2nd 100 Free, tied-12th in the state 100). Riley Bury (freshman) is a rising talent — 3rd in the 100 Breast at sections and 15th at state as an eighth-grader — and Annika Schwartz (junior) added a 4th in the 500 Free. With Gorzek, Maki, and Bury leading, Mounds View has enough to hold third even without Bina and its diving points.

Woodbury returns a balanced group after a fourth-place finish, though it loses Addison Forshee, its top distance swimmer. Iris Sorenson-Wagner (junior) is the leader, a multi-event returner (6th 50 Free, 4th 100 Back) who anchored two relays. Nina Faulkner (junior) is a major asset on the board, returning as the section diving runner-up. Amelia Jones (sophomore, 8th 500 Free), Evelyn Webb (sophomore, sprint/relay), and Avery Forshee (senior, IM and distance B-finals) add depth. With Faulkner’s diving points and Sorenson-Wagner leading the swimmers, Woodbury holds fourth.

Roseville loses Brandt and White but returns a young, developing group. Harper Vestrum (eighth grader) is the standout — she scored in the 100 Back (6th) and swam medley and free relay legs as a seventh-grader, a genuine multi-event talent to build around. Sophia Stromstad (junior) returns from sprint-free and relay duty, and Grace Hill (sophomore) and Lucia Harper (sophomore) add young relay depth. The program leans youthful, but Vestrum gives it a returning A-final scorer to grow around at fifth.

White Bear Lake returns its two best swimmers, both multi-event scorers. Charlotte McIntyre (junior) is the leader — 2nd in the 100 Fly, 8th in the 200 IM at sections, and a relay anchor. Audrey Borofka (senior) is a strong sprinter (7th 50 Free, 6th 100 Free) who also anchored relays. Eva Hoefer (sophomore) and Anna Miller (sophomore) add young relay and B-final depth. With McIntyre and Borofka leading, White Bear Lake has a solid returning core to hold sixth and press Roseville.

North/Tartan faces the steepest rebuild in the section. The co-op’s points came primarily from its 200 and 400 free relays, but those relays were largely senior-crewed — the scoring 200 Free Relay was made up entirely of graduating twelfth-graders (Fleming, Hoffmann, Tvedten, and Richmond). North Tartan will be building its lineup back from a young roster, developing swimmers into A-final and relay-scoring range as it works to climb from seventh.

Teams in the Section

Rosemount, Eastview, Apple Valley, Eagan, Two Rivers, Park, Burnsville

2025 Section Champion — Rosemount 460
2025 Section Runner-up — Eastview 378

Notable Graduates

• Greta Marcott (Apple Valley) – 50 Free (1st Sections / 2nd State), 100 Back (1st Sections / 2nd State)
• Ruby Wiegrefe (Apple Valley) – 200 IM (5th Sections), 500 Free (6th Sections)
• Isla George (Rosemount) – 200 Free (2nd Sections / 14th State), 500 Free (2nd Sections / 5th State)
• Annika Arlandson (Rosemount) – 100 Free (1st Sections), 50 Free (2nd Sections)
• Jenna O’Keefe (Rosemount) – 100 Fly (4th Sections), 200 IM (7th Sections)
• Katie Rucci (Rosemount) – 100 Fly (6th Sections)
• Dyana Reyes (Rosemount) – 1m Diving (6th Sections)
• Lily Sisson (Eastview) – 200 Free (1st Sections / 15th State), 500 Free (3rd Sections / 7th State)
• Molly Vogen (Eastview) – 200 IM (4th Sections), 100 Fly (7th Sections)
• Aimee Birmingham (Eastview) – 100 Back (2nd Sections), 50 Free (4th Sections)
• Halle Jansma (Eastview) – 1m Diving (2nd Sections)
• Sada Gustafson (Two Rivers) – 1m Diving (1st Sections / 4th State)
• Alice Wood (Park) – 1m Diving (7th Sections)

This is a graduation-heavy section at the very top. Rosemount loses Arlandson, George, and three diving/fly scorers; Eastview loses Sisson, Birmingham, Vogen, and Jansma; Apple Valley loses Marcott, its double section champion and the most decorated athlete in the section. All three contenders reload from underclass depth, but the top of each roster changes considerably.

Section Outlook

Rosemount won the section comfortably and returns the single most important swimmer in it. Madi Jennen (senior) is the headliner — she won the 500 Free at sections, placed 4th in the 500 at the Class AA state meet, and swam on both scoring relays.  Around her the returning core is deep and young: Nora Behrens (freshman) is a superstar in the making, having won both the 200 IM and 100 Breast at sections as an eighth-grader. Avery Jelinek (junior) is a strong sprinter (3rd 50 Free, 3rd 100 Free) and relay leader, Ava Gullickson (sophomore) scored in the 100 Free (6th) and 100 Back (6th) and swam a medley-relay leg, Savannah Kerkhoff (sophomore) took 2nd in the 100 Fly, McKenzie Michalak (senior) added distance points (5th 200, 5th 500), and Greta Reichert (junior) chipped in a 5th in the 100 Back. Rosemount loses real firepower in Arlandson and George, but with Jennen anchoring and Behrens rising, this is my pick to repeat as section champion.

Eastview graduates heavily — Sisson, Birmingham, Vogen, and diver Jansma — but returns a solid, multi-event middle class. Frances Anderson (senior) is the leader, scoring in the 200 IM (3rd) and 100 Breast (3rd) and swimming relays. Maddie Wentzel (senior) is a distance returner (4th 200 Free, 4th 500 Free), Hazel Richins (sophomore) doubled up in the stroke events (6th 200 IM, 4th 100 Breast), Olive Sisson (sophomore) added distance points (7th 500 Free, B-final 200), and Ava Fortier (junior) scored in the 100 Back (8th) and the 100 Fly B-final. That’s a returning group spread across IM, distance, and stroke — enough to hold second, though the graduation of its top end makes the margin over Apple Valley tight.

Apple Valley loses Greta Marcott, the section’s most decorated swimmer and a two-event state medalist, plus Wiegrefe. But the returning group is young and genuinely strong. Samantha Graves (junior) is the centerpiece — she won the 100 Fly, was 2nd in the 200 IM at sections, and swam on both scoring relays, a true multi-event anchor. Vivian Lenzen (junior) is elite in the sprints (2nd 100 Free, 3rd 200 Free) and a relay leg, and Morgan Rutherford (freshman) is a rising talent, taking 3rd in the 100 Fly as an eighth-grader plus medley and relay duty. Leah Rudashevsky (junior) is a two-sport scorer (3rd in diving, plus sprint-free B-final), and Uliana Borbol (sophomore) added a 4th in the 100 Back. With Graves and Lenzen leading a young class, Apple Valley is a live threat to overtake Eastview for second.

Eagan returns a balanced, youthful group after a fourth-place finish. Kate Lebo (senior) is the leader, scoring in both sprint frees (5th 50, 5th 100) and swimming two relays. Ali Peterson (junior) is a multi-event returner (8th 100 Free, 7th 100 Back, plus relays), Greta Norman (junior) scored in the 50 Free and free relays, Lucy Norman (senior) added sprint depth, and Chloe Qiu (eighth grader) is a young talent, reaching the 200 Free A-final and both relays as a seventh-grader. Evelyn Palmer (eighth grader) rounds out the youth with a 6th in the 100 Breast as a seventh-grader. Eagan returns nearly its entire scoring group, giving it a stable hold on fourth with room to rise.

Two Rivers loses Sada Gustafson, its state-placing diving champion, but keeps useful swimming depth. Amina Savoie (senior) is the leader, scoring in the 100 Free (7th) and swimming both relays. Izzy Stiner (senior) is a distance returner (6th 200 Free, B-final 500), Lila Gaboury (sophomore) is a multi-event scorer (8th 200 IM, 5th 100 Breast, medley leg), and Kate Souzek (freshman) adds young relay and B-final depth. The program returns enough across sprint, distance, and stroke to stay in the section’s middle tier even without its diving anchor.

Park returns a diving-led group and a rising young sprinter. Chloe Micek (freshman) is the standout — she scored in the 100 Free (4th) and 100 Back (3rd) and led off a relay as an eighth-grader, a genuine multi-event talent to build around. The diving board is a strength: Ruby Igl (senior, 4th) and Isabelle Brown (senior, 8th) both return as section scorers. With Micek developing and a pair of returning divers, Park has a foundation, though it will look to add A-final swimming depth to climb from sixth.

Burnsville returns a compact but useful scoring core. Lee Vatafu (senior) is the leader, a multi-event returner who scored in the 50 Free (6th), 500 Free (8th), and swam two relays. Madeline Noble (junior) is a strong stroke swimmer, taking 2nd in the 100 Breast and 5th in the 100 Fly, giving Burnsville a genuine returning A-final anchor. Sloane Dunn (junior) and Bella Blons (junior) add relay and B-final depth. With Noble and Vatafu returning, Burnsville has the pieces to press Park for sixth.

Teams in the Section

Minnetonka, Edina, Shakopee, Prior Lake, Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Waconia, Chaska, Bloomington Jefferson

2025 Section Champion — Minnetonka 559
2025 Section Runner-up — Edina 549

This is the deepest section in the state, and it isn’t close: it contains both of the 2025 Class AA state powers. Minnetonka edged Edina by ten points for the section crown, and no one else was within 300 — Shakopee was a distant third at 211. At the state meet that followed, Edina and Minnetonka finished 1-2 in Class AA, so this section final was effectively a state championship preview. Expect the same again in 2026.

Notable Graduates

• Libbi McCarthy (Edina) – 50 Free (1st Sections / 1st State, state record 22.52), 100 Free (2nd Sections / 1st State)
• Lydia Cameron (Minnetonka) – 500 Free (2nd Sections / 2nd State), 200 Free (2nd Sections / 3rd State)
• Lilia Roberts (Eden Prairie) – 200 IM (2nd Sections / 4th State), 100 Back (3rd Sections / 4th State)
• Sarah Hurley (Minnetonka) – 100 Fly (2nd Sections / 9th State), 200 IM (5th Sections / 5th State)
• Jane Hughes (Edina) – 100 Back (4th Sections / 7th State), 200 IM (10th Sections / 7th State)
• Audrey Peterson (Edina) – 200 Free (8th Sections / 8th State), 500 Free (9th Sections / 8th State)
• Sophie Dahl (Chaska) – 100 Back (6th Sections / 15th State), 200 IM (15th Sections)
• Anja Nymo (Edina) – 200 Free (8th Sections)
• Audrey Tate (Edina) – 100 Fly (5th Sections)
• Taylor Thompson (Edina) – 100 Breast (5th Sections)
• Hailey Stotko (Waconia) – 500 Free (8th Sections), 100 Breast (7th Sections), 2 relays
• Haylee Quern (Shakopee) – 100 Breast (8th Sections)
• Eloise Anderson (Edina) – 1m Diving (7th Sections)

Edina graduates the most raw firepower — McCarthy alone was worth 40 individual points plus relay legs, and Hughes, Peterson, Tate, and Thompson add to the loss. Minnetonka loses Cameron and Hurley, two multi-event scorers. But as the outlook shows, both blue-bloods reload from absurd depth.

Section Outlook

Minnetonka is the defending section champion and still loaded. It graduates Cameron and Hurley but returns the deepest roster in the section, top to bottom. Claire Wilkey (junior) is a superstar: she won the 100 Free at sections, was 2nd in the 50, and placed 3rd (50) and 2nd (100) at the state meet. Sofia Kukowski Gonzalez (freshman) is already elite — 4th in both the 200 and 100 Free at sections as an eighth-grader, with 5th and 6th at state. Annika Graham (senior) scored in both sprint frees and anchored relays, and Brianna Harvey (sophomore) was 5th in the 50 and 8th in the 100. The distance-and-IM group is enormous: Vivian Schott (sophomore, 6th 200/4th 500, both scored at state), Isabelle Lane (sophomore, 7th 200/5th 500), Ellyn Virgin (sophomore, 7th 500), Brooke Olson (senior, 3rd 100 Fly/6th 200 IM, 10th fly at state), and Lauren Killelea (senior, 2nd 100 Back/3rd back at state). And the diving is the best in the section: Alexa Ulanoski (sophomore) won the board and was 3rd at state, with Claire Friberg (junior, 3rd) and Nevaeh Love (junior, 4th) both returning top-4 section divers and state scorers. This is my pick to repeat as section champion — the graduation losses barely dent a roster this deep.

Edina is a co-favorite, reloading around a generational sophomore. It loses more than Minnetonka on paper — McCarthy, Hughes, Peterson, Tate, Thompson — but it returns the single best returning athlete in the section. Bobbi Simmons (junior) is a generational talent: she won the 200 IM and 100 Back at sections and placed 2nd (IM) and 1st (100 Back) at the Class AA state meet. Amira Nguyen-Ingalsbe (senior) is a genuine multi-event star — 3rd in the 50 Free, 2nd in the 100 Breast at sections, with 6th and 5th at state. The younger class is deep and rising: Gwenyth Maclachlan (junior, 4th 200 IM/4th 100 Fly, two state-scoring swims), Sophie Katz (sophomore, 3rd 500 Free, state-scorer in two frees), Eliana Gorski (freshman, 3rd 100 Breast), Ellie Katz (sophomore, 4th 100 Breast), Kenzie Kaufenberg (sophomore, 5th 100 Back), Megan Greenberg (sophomore, 6th 100 Fly), and Cat Muir (senior, 2nd diving/5th at state). Edina won’t have McCarthy’s points, but with Simmons anchoring and this much returning depth, the section race stays a dead heat — I’d call Minnetonka–Edina a genuine toss-up, tilting on how their relays reshuffle.

Shakopee is a clear third, led by two state-caliber returners. It sits well behind the top two but is comfortably the best of the rest, and it returns its two biggest weapons. Lexi Tippie (senior) is the marquee non-Tonka/Edina swimmer in the section — she won the 200 Free at sections, was 3rd in the 100, and at the state meet was the 200 Free champion and 3rd in the 100 Free. Genessa Sentyrz (junior) is right there — she won the 100 Fly and was 4th in the 200 IM at sections, with 3rd (fly) and 6th (IM) at state. Miranda Francois (sophomore) adds a section title in the 100 Breast plus a 7th-place state finish. With three returning individual event-winners and state scorers, Shakopee locks down third and could nip at the top two’s relays.

Prior Lake brings distance-and-sprint balance around Solt and Haycraft. Livy Solt (sophomore) is the headliner — 5th in the 200 Free, 6th in the 100 Free at sections, with 6th and 9th at the state meet as a freshman. Kaela Haycraft (senior) is a multi-event distance/IM returner (7th 200 IM, 6th 500 Free, plus 14th in the state IM). Bella Duevel (junior) added a 6th in the 100 Breast, and Charlotte Clark (senior) was 8th on the diving board. That’s a returning core across sprint, distance, stroke, and diving — enough to hold fourth and press Shakopee for third.

Eden Prairie is rebuilding around a veteran junior class after losing Roberts. The Eagles graduate Lilia Roberts, their two-event state scorer and section centerpiece, and the returning group leans on juniors. Huiju Kim (senior) is a distance returner (11th 500 at sections, B-final), Bonarissa Lobo (senior) and Sawyer Worum (junior) scored in the fly B-final and swam relays, and Emily Tollefson (senior) featured on both free relays. Without Roberts the ceiling drops, but the relay contributors return intact, giving Eden Prairie a stable fifth-place base.

Chanhassen returns its entire sprint core, built around two sisters. Abrie Agazzi-Glaze (senior) is the leader — 3rd in the 200 IM, 7th in the 100 Free at sections, with a 10th-place state finish in the 100 Free. Aelyn Agazzi-Glaze (sophomore) and Olivia Patrick (sophomore) both return from sprint-free scoring swims and anchored the 3rd-place 200 Free Relay, and Brady Smith (senior) adds IM and breaststroke depth. With all four legs back on a section-podium relay and Abrie leading individually, Chanhassen holds sixth and has the pieces to climb.

Waconia returns distance-and-stroke depth behind graduated Stotko. The Wildcats lose Hailey Stotko, their top multi-event scorer, but keep useful depth. Ella Floeter (senior) is the leader, scoring in the IM and breaststroke B-finals and swimming two relays, and Ava Pavek (junior) and Adelyn Lant (sophomore) return from relay and sprint duty. Virginia Elg (eighth grader) is a young talent to watch, having reached the 100 Breast B-final as a seventh-grader. The program returns enough relay and stroke depth to hold its spot in the section’s second tier.

Chaska is diving-led with stroke returners. It loses Sophie Dahl, its top swimmer and a state backstroke scorer, and the returning strength is on the diving board: Claire Hendrickson (senior) was 6th in section diving and returns as a reliable scorer. Swimmers Maika Tardia (senior, breaststroke B-final) and younger relay legs like Kaycee Totman (junior) and Taylor Hanish (junior) give Chaska a foundation to build around as it works swimmers back into A-final range.

Bloomington Jefferson builds from a compact scoring group. Jefferson’s points came from a small, competitive core led by Selma Jaffri (senior), who reached the 50 Free A-final (8th) and the 100 Free B-final and anchored relays. With Sofia Oman (junior) and Alina Pham (senior) returning from relay and distance duty, Jefferson has a nucleus to grow, though the program will look to develop more individual A-final scorers to climb the section table.

Teams in the Section

Rochester Century, Lakeville North, Rochester Mayo, Lakeville South, Farmington, Rochester John Marshall, New Prague, Owatonna

2025 Section Champion — Rochester Century 372
2025 Section Runner-up — Lakeville North 315

Notable Graduates

• Sophia Blixt (Rochester Century) – 100 Breast (1st Sections / 4th State), 100 Fly (2nd Sections / 4th State)
• Sarah Homme (Rochester Century) – 50 Free (8th Sections)
• Addison Kram (Rochester Century) – 500 Free (6th Sections)
• Chloe Magnuson (Rochester Century) – 100 Free (3rd Sections), 50 Free (4th Sections / 11th State)
• Adriana Clemon (Lakeville South) – 50 Free (2nd Sections / 9th State), 100 Fly (3rd Sections / 2nd State)
• Madeline Gau (Rochester Mayo) – 100 Back (1st Sections / 10th State), 100 Fly (5th Sections / 8th State)
• Payton Hultgren (Lakeville North) – 50 Free (3rd Sections / 5th State), 100 Fly (4th Sections / 5th State)
• Whitney Szorcsik (Lakeville North) – 200 IM (2nd Sections), 100 Fly (8th Sections / 14th State)
• Taylor Gergen (Farmington) – 100 Breast (4th Sections / 8th State), 100 Fly (9th Sections)
• Parker Risch (Farmington) – 200 IM (3rd Sections), 100 Breast (6th Sections)
• Julia Ogren (Rochester John Marshall) – 100 Fly (1st Sections / 1st State), 100 Free (1st Sections / 5th State).
• Maysen Pettengill (Rochester John Marshall) – 100 Free (7th Sections)
• Taylor Bassett (New Prague) – 100 Free (2nd Sections / 16th State), 50 Free (5th Sections / 14th State)
• Corinne Hawley (New Prague) – 1m Diving (6th Sections)
• Ava Otteson (New Prague) – 1m Diving (8th Sections)

This is a graduation-heavy section, and it hits the top of the standings hard. Rochester Century loses Blixt, Magnuson, and Homme; Rochester John Marshall loses Ogren, its individual centerpiece, and Pettengill; Lakeville North loses Hultgren and Szorcsik. The 100 Fly is almost entirely rebuilt — five of the top eight flyers at sections were seniors.

Section Outlook

Rochester Century reloads as champion with a strong junior core. The champions graduate real firepower in Blixt, Magnuson, and Homme, but they return the pieces to stay in the hunt. Alexandra Pool (junior) is the centerpiece — she scored in the 200 Free (6th) and 500 Free (5th) at sections and swam on both scoring relays. JiaYin Jian-Gross (senior) adds a 5th in the 100 Back and a medley-relay leg, and Kendall Langenbrunner (senior) is the returning section diving champion — a reliable 20-point event-winner, with teammate Ariana Krueger (junior) 3rd on the board, giving Century a genuine one-two diving punch. Depth returns too: Kenzie Brockman (sophomore) was 7th in the 500 Free and swam a free relay, and Quinn Barrone (freshman) placed 8th in the 200 IM. Century won’t have Blixt’s individual points, but with a diving title, a diving runner-up in the making, and a deep junior class, they remain a top-tier section team.

Lakeville North is deep, young, and built to challenge for the title. The runner-up may be the best-positioned team in the section for 2026. Chandler Offerman (junior) is a genuine star: she won the 200 IM at sections, was 3rd in the 500 Free, and placed 8th in the 200 IM at the state meet. Theresa Anderson (junior) is right there with her — 2nd in the 200 Free, 2nd in the 500 Free at sections, plus 14th in the state 500. Lauren Colbert (sophomore) is already a multi-event scorer, with a 4th in the 200 IM, 4th in the 100 Back, and relay legs as a freshman. Adry Sallander (junior) is a strong sprint-free returner (4th in the 100 Free, 7th in the 200 Free), and Justine Anderson (senior) adds points in the 50 Free (7th) and 100 Breast (7th). North loses Hultgren and Szorcsik, but the returning class is younger and deeper than almost anyone else’s — this is my pick to push Rochester Century hardest, and a legitimate title contender.

Rochester Mayo is backstroke-strong with the deepest returning group in the section. Mayo graduates only Madeline Gau among its scorers, and returns nearly everything else — potentially the biggest returning-points haul in 1AA. Elise Weingarten (senior) is the headliner: 2nd in the 100 Back, 5th in the 200 Free at sections, 8th in the 100 Back at the state meet, and a medley-relay leg. Penelope Hauser (senior) scored in both sprint frees (6th 50, 5th 100) and swam two relays. Corrina Tonn (senior) is a multi-event returner — 5th in the 100 Breast, 7th in the 100 Fly, plus 16th in the state fly. Behind them the depth is real: Emelia Fischer (senior, 7th 200 IM, 8th 100 Breast), Halle Yuan (junior, 8th 200 Free), Beatriz Trabuco (senior, 8th 100 Free), and Celine Hermann (senior, 8th 100 Back). With this many returning A- and B-final scorers, Mayo may actually improve on its 2025 third-place finish.

Lakeville South brings sprint-and-distance balance led by Hintz. South loses Adriana Clemon, a two-event section scorer and state fly runner-up, but returns an unusually balanced group. Taylor Hintz (senior) is the standout — she won the 500 Free at sections, was 3rd in the 200 Free, and placed 6th in the 500 and 16th in the 200 at the state meet. Madison Parent (junior) is a returning multi-event scorer: 6th in the 100 Fly, 3rd in the 100 Back, plus 15th in the state fly. Lily Wilkinson (junior) added a 5th in the 200 IM and 6th in the 100 Back, and Kaylee Krohn (senior) was 8th in the 500 Free. South also won the 400 Free Relay at sections and returns three of those four legs (Hintz, Parent, Wilkinson) — a strong building block. Expect them to stay firmly in the top-four mix.

Farmington has freestyle and IM depth, anchored by a junior class. Farmington loses Gergen and Risch but returns a promising young freestyle group. Mikaela Udell (junior) is the leader — she won the 200 Free at sections, added a 6th in the 100 Free and a 7th in the 100 Back, and swam two relays. Micaela Cardoza (junior) scored in both sprint frees (4th 200, 6th 100) and swam relays, and Alyssa Bower (junior) took 4th in the 500 Free and 11th in the fly. Claire Gergen (junior) chipped in a 7th on the diving board. That’s a returning junior class carrying real point totals across freestyle and diving, giving Farmington a stable base even after losing its senior scorers.

Rochester John Marshall rebuilds around Tri after losing Ogren. John Marshall’s ceiling drops with the graduation of Julia Ogren, its state fly champion and the section’s most decorated swimmer, plus relay anchor Pettengill. But the returning group has a real leader. Abigail Tri (senior) is a section-title threat in her own right — she won the 50 Free at sections, was 2nd in the 100 Breast, placed 15th in the 50 at state, and anchored the section-winning 200 Free Relay. Around her, Madilyn Keller (sophomore) returns from relay duty and B-final swims, and Kayla Mingo (sophomore) featured on both relays as a freshman. JM won’t replace Ogren’s points overnight, but Tri gives them a genuine sprint centerpiece to build the lineup around.

New Prague has stroke-and-diving returners to lean on. New Prague graduates Bassett, its top sprinter, plus divers Hawley and Otteson, but returns a useful core. Aspen Schieffer (sophomore) is the headliner — 6th in the 200 IM and 3rd in the 100 Breast at sections, plus a 9th-place finish in the 100 Breast at the state meet as a freshman. Maddyn Anderson (junior) returns from a 4th-place section diving finish. Relay swimmers Zoe Juncker and Ava Koloc (both seniors) featured on the 200 Free Relay. Schieffer’s state-scoring breaststroke gives New Prague a returning individual point source to grow around.

Owatonna is diving-led, building from a small scoring base. Owatonna’s section points came heavily from the diving board, where it returns real strength: Kate Karsten (senior) was the section diving runner-up, and Myla Anderson (freshman) placed 5th as an eighth-grader — a genuine young diving talent. Krin Eickhoff (senior) adds swimming depth from the B-finals in the 200 and 100 Free. Beyond the boards, the program will look to develop more swimmers into the A-final scoring range, but that returning diving duo gives Owatonna a reliable event to anchor its season.

Teams in the Section

Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Park Rapids, Morris/Minnewaska, Perham/New York Mills, Fosston Bagley, Thief River Falls, BGMR / Roseau / Warroad

2025 Section Champion — Fergus Falls 519
2025 Section Runner-up — Detroit Lakes Lakers 417

Notable Graduates

• Estee VerSteeg (Fergus Falls) – 200 Free (1st Sections / 15th State), 100 Free (2nd Sections
• Ace Api (Fergus Falls) – 100 Fly (2nd Sections), 100 Back (5th Sections)
• Hannah Fear (Fergus Falls) – 100 Back (1st Sections), 100 Fly (7th Sections)
• Rylee Kubela (Fergus Falls) – 50 Free (3rd Sections), 100 Free (5th Sections)
• Marian Martin (Detroit Lakes) – 200 IM (3rd Sections), 100 Breast (4th Sections)
• Emily Peterson (Detroit Lakes) – 100 Free (6th Sections), 100 Back (4th Sections)
• Maria Green (Fosston Bagley) – 100 Back (3rd Sections), 200 IM (8th Sections)
• Lyla Stadtherr (Morris/Minnewaska) – 100 Breast (1st Sections / 3rd State), 50 Free (2nd Sections / 14th State
• Clare Barnstuble (Morris/Minnewaska) – 1m Diving (2nd Sections)
• Ella Roering (Morris/Minnewaska) – 1m Diving (5th Sections)
• Mesa Kittelson (Morris/Minnewaska) – 100 Fly (3rd Sections)
• Taylor Ziemke (Perham/New York Mills) – 50 Free (4th Sections), 100 Fly (4th Sections)

This is a heavy graduating class, and it falls hardest on the two contenders. Fergus Falls loses Estee VerSteeg, its 200/100 Free anchor, plus Api, Fear, and Kubela. Morris/Minnewaska loses both of its top divers and its lone individual champion in Stadtherr. Several Park Rapids athletes had no grade printed in the section results, so those returners are noted below without a class year.

Section Outlook

Fergus Falls loses a lot to graduation, but the cupboard is far from bare, and the champions remain the team to beat. Evelyn VerSteeg (junior) is the headliner returner, having gone 2nd in the 200 IM and 5th in the 100 Fly at sections. Olivia Jensen (senior) brings distance-free firepower, winning the 500 Free outright and taking 2nd in the 200 Free. Ashtynn Koep (sophomore) scored in both freestyles (5th 200 Free, 7th 100 Free), and Alexis Thoma (senior) added top-8 swims in the 200 IM and 100 Fly. The young middle-distance group is real: Marissa Thoma (sophomore) was 6th in the 500 and 2nd in the 100 Back, Maeve Cox (junior) placed 5th in the 500, and Ella Kwapinski (sophomore) was 7th in the 50 Free, 2nd in the 100 Breast, and grabbed 16th at state in the breaststroke. Shelby Christ (sophomore) rounds out the IM depth at 7th. On the boards, sophomore Xiomara Jacobson returns after a 3rd place finish in 2025. With this many returning point-scorers across freestyle, IM, breast, and back, Fergus Falls is still my read as the favorite — though the lost senior firepower means the margin won’t be 100 points again.

Detroit Lakes return the section’s single biggest star and are built to close the gap. Grace Hamm (sophomore) won both the 200 IM and the 100 Fly at sections and backed it up with 11th at state in the fly — a genuine podium threat at the section level in 2026. Around her, the Lakers have real depth. Taylor Sunde (freshman) and Brooklynn Anderson (freshman) both scored in the 200 and 500 Free as eighth-graders-turned-freshmen, a distance core that only gets better. Adelyn Hamar (senior) doubled up (6th 200 IM, 5th 100 Breast), Evelyn Martin (junior) was 8th in the 100 Back, and Sophia Karlgaard (sophomore) took 6th in the 50 Free. The diving program is a hidden weapon: Izabella Goodrich (senior, 6th), plus Stella Eckman and Emma Qualley (both freshmen, 7th and 8th) give Detroit Lakes three returning top-8 divers. If anyone runs down Fergus Falls, it’s this group.

Park Rapids is sprint-led and genuinely dangerous up top. The program brings back the section’s best sprinter in Avery Schueller (senior), who swept the 50 and 100 Free at sections and was elite at state — 3rd in the 50 and 5th in the 100. She is the most accomplished returning swimmer in 8A. Whitney Seifert (senior) is a strong sprint complement (5th 50 Free, 3rd 100 Free). Beyond the sprinters, Park Rapids has scoring returners in Molly Cederstrom (4th 200 Free, 2nd 500 Free), Julia Grande (6th 200 Free, 8th 500 Free), Cassidy Grewe (4th 200 IM, 6th 100 Back), Lauren Hirt (3rd 100 Breast), and Abbie Randall (7th 100 Back), plus divers Karlee Rowland (1st) and Grace Officer (4th). With Schueller leading and points spread through every discipline, Park Rapids has the pieces to push for runner-up.

Morris/Minnewaska are rebuilding around youth after losing their top end. The Gators graduate their champion (Stadtherr) and both top divers, so this is a step back at the very top. But there’s a youthful nucleus to build on. Sydney Gibson (sophomore) was 6th in the 100 Fly, and Adelyn Ferrian (sophomore) returns from a top-8 diving finish. The Gators were a clear fourth in 2025 scoring and will lean on developing swimmers to hold that spot.

Perham/New York Mills has distance and depth to lean on. Perham loses Ziemke, its top sprinter and flyer, but keeps a useful spread of scorers. Kadence Matzke (sophomore) was 4th in the 500 Free, Elise Janke (sophomore) scored 4th in the 100 Free, and Madison Kratzke (junior) added an 8th in the 100 Breast. It’s a roster without a single dominant star but with enough returning point-scorers to stay in the middle of the section.

Fosston Bagley Seals are anchored by versatility but thin behind it. The Seals lose Maria Green, their most decorated scorer. The returning group is led by depth swimmers rather than a headliner, and Fosston will be building back toward its 2025 sixth-place finish. Expect the program to lean on its relay legs and develop younger swimmers into the scoring spots Green vacates.

Thief River Falls is relay-driven, with a few individual scorers returning. Thief River Falls had a quietly solid relay presence (3rd in the 400 Free Relay at sections) and returns a handful of individual scorers: Faith Hartmann (senior) was 8th in the 200 Free, Elise Schneider (senior) 8th in the 50 Free, Natalia Zoller (junior) 8th in the 100 Free, and Cora VanBuren (sophomore) 7th in the 100 Breast. That’s a foundation of returning point-scorers spread across sprint and stroke events to build the season around.

BGMR / Roseau / Warroad are building from the relays up. The co-op didn’t land an individual top-8 finish in 2025 but qualified relays into the championship heats across the meet. With no top-end scorers graduating or returning to headline, the program’s path forward runs through its relay groups and the development of its younger swimmers into individual scoring range.

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.

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.

Teams in the Section

Becker, Big Lake, Chisago Lakes, Foley Falcons, Lakes International, Milaca, Monticello, Ogilvie Mora, Princeton Swim & Dive

2025 Section Champion: Monticello – 539.5 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Becker – 351 pts

Notable Graduates

• Ella Vagle (Monticello) – 50 Free (2nd Sections/6th State), 100 Free (5th Sections/4th State)
• Camdyn Branson (Monticello) – 200 Free (5th Sections), 100 Breast (3rd Sections)
• Jayden Kanthak (Monticello) – 200 Free (8th Sections), 500 Free (5th Sections)
• Liz Thorsten (Foley) – 200 IM (3rd Sections), 100 Back (1st Sections)
• Kelsie Kilgard (Foley) – 200 Free (7th Sections), 100 Fly (3rd Sections)
• Sydney Hanks (Foley) – 100 Back (3rd Sections)
• Laila Cook (Becker) – 100 Fly (8th Sections), 100 Back (7th Sections)
• Karli Kirk (Becker) – Diving (5th Sections)
• Lillian Bonsante (Becker) – Diving (7th Sections)
• Taylar Bockoven (Milaca) – Diving (4th Sections)
• Allyson Strandberg (Princeton) – 500 Free (6th Sections)

Section 5A graduates a strong group of contributors, led by Monticello’s Ella Vagle, who took 2nd in the 50 Free at sections and added a pair of top-six finishes at the Class A state meet. Foley Falcons lose section backstroke champion Liz Thorsten along with fellow seniors Kelsie Kilgard and Sydney Hanks, thinning a team that finished third. Even so, the section returns its biggest name and a deep field of scorers behind defending state champion Monticello.

Section Outlook

Monticello returns the heart of a state championship team and stands as the overwhelming favorite to repeat as section champion. Senior Adalynn Biegler is the headliner and one of the best swimmers in the state, winning the 200 Free and 100 Fly at sections and then taking three individual state titles—the 200 Free (in a state record), the 50 Free, and the 100 Fly. Senior Scarlet Urick is a star in her own right, taking 2nd in both the 200 IM and 100 Fly and placing 7th and 5th in those events at state, while senior Elsie Farnsworth won the 100 Free and took 3rd in the 200 Free at sections, then added a pair of 6th-place finishes at state. Senior Chloe Schwietering gives the Magic a championship diver, winning the section title and placing 3rd at state, with senior Addie Zigan right behind her (2nd Sections, 8th State). The depth runs deep: freshman Emerson Borgschatz (5th 200 IM, 4th 100 Breast), senior Grace Moll (6th 200 IM, 5th 100 Back), junior Brooke Johnson (8th 200 IM, 4th 100 Back), junior Phoebe Figenshau (4th 500 Free, 7th 100 Breast), senior Piper Holmstrom (5th 100 Breast), junior Esther Vagle (7th 50 Free), and freshman Nadia Schwietering (8th Diving) all return. Monticello looks untouchable in 5A.

Becker returns a talented young core and looks to hold its spot as the section’s top challenger. Junior Grace Mork is the standout, winning the 500 Free at sections and taking 2nd at state, while also placing 2nd in the 200 Free. Freshman Izza Mork is a rising force, sweeping the 200 IM and 100 Breast at sections and reaching the state meet in both events. Freshman Mia Suelter is a distance threat, scoring in both the 200 Free (6th) and 500 Free (3rd), and freshman Kandell Hagen added points in the 200 IM (7th) and 100 Free (7th). Junior Maggie Graning gives the Bulldogs a strong returning diver after a 3rd-place section finish. With this much young talent back, Becker should remain firmly in the section’s upper tier.

Foley lose three key seniors but return a promising group. Sophomore Claire Kilgard is the centerpiece, scoring in both sprints with a 3rd in the 50 Free and 3rd in the 100 Free and reaching the state meet in both. Senior Braelyn Rudolph added sprint depth with a 4th in the 50 Free and 4th in the 100 Free, senior Katie Mazacek placed 8th in the 100 Free, sophomore Teegan Loehrer scored 6th on the boards, and junior Gretchen Fair contributed an 8th in the 500 Free. With Kilgard and Rudolph leading the sprints, the Falcons have a foundation to stay competitive.

Chisago Lakes brings back a strong group across multiple events. Junior Eloise Arntson is the leader, taking 2nd in the 500 Free and 4th in the 200 Free and qualifying for state in the distance events. Senior Ingrid Olson scored in both sprints (6th 50 Free, 6th 100 Free), junior Annika Coleman placed in the 50 Free (7th) and 100 Fly (4th), and sophomore Brooke Lind is a versatile young swimmer who scored in the 200 IM (4th) and 100 Back (6th). Junior Olivia Cunningham (6th 100 Breast) and senior Avery MacIver (8th 100 Back) add depth. The Wildcats return enough to remain a top-four section team.

Milaca returns sophomore Azalea Tesch, the section’s top returning sprinter, who won the 50 Free, took 2nd in the 100 Free, and reached the state meet in both events. Junior Anna Tye added a scoring finish in the 100 Breast (8th). With Tesch leading the way, the Wolves have a genuine difference-maker to build around.

Princeton brings back junior Cora Zerwas, the team’s standout, who took 2nd in the 100 Breast and 7th in the 100 Fly and reached the state meet in the breaststroke. Senior Lydia Thompson added a strong 2nd-place finish in the 100 Back, and junior Emersyn Monroe scored in the 500 Free (7th). With Zerwas and Thompson leading the way, the Tigers have a solid returning core.

Big Lake returns a balanced group led by senior Emily Edlund, who scored in both the 50 Free (5th) and 100 Fly (5th), and senior Abigail Fridgen, who placed 6th in the 100 Fly. With its scorers returning, Big Lake will look to climb in 2026.

Ogilvie Mora Swim Team 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.

Lakes International competed primarily in the B heats and will look to continue developing its young program in 2026.

Teams in the Section

Cretin-Derham Hall, Hastings, Hill-Murray, Humboldt/Washington/Owl, Math & Science Academy, Mahtomedi, Mounds Park Academy St Croix, Simley, South St Paul-Minnehaha-Cristo, St Paul Como Park, Visitation

2025 Section Champion: Visitation – 487 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Mahtomedi – 359 pts

Notable Graduates

• Alaina Biebl (Mounds Park Academy St Croix) – 200 IM (1st Sections/3rd State), 100 Back (1st Sections/1st State)
• Aleia Lueck (St Paul Como Park) – 50 Free (1st Sections/1st State), 100 Free (1st Sections/2nd State)
• Lucy Metz (Hill-Murray) – 50 Free (3rd Sections), 100 Free (3rd Sections)
• Mollee Ditzler (Visitation) – 200 IM (7th Sections), 100 Fly (4th Sections)
• Ellen Kovats (Cretin-Derham Hall) – 50 Free (8th Sections)
• Lauren Kahley (Visitation) – Diving (5th Sections)
• Lauren O’Donnell (Cretin-Derham Hall) – Diving (7th Sections)
• Alexa Jones (Mounds Park Academy St Croix) – 100 Breast (7th Sections)

Section 4A loses a pair of state champions to graduation. Mounds Park Academy’s Alaina Biebl won the 100 Backstroke at the Class A state meet and added a 3rd in the 200 IM, while St Paul Como Park’s Aleia Lueck claimed the state 50 Free title and took 2nd in the 100. Both swept their individual events at sections, and their exits remove two of the section’s marquee names—though the section still returns a deep field of scorers led by champion Visitation.

Section Outlook

Visitation returns the bulk of a dominant section-winning lineup and looks like the clear favorite to repeat. Senior Merry Miller is the headliner and one of the best swimmers in Class A, winning the 200 IM and 100 Breast at sections before claiming the state IM title and a runner-up finish in the breaststroke. Sophomore Iris Povolny is a rising star, sweeping the 200 and 500 Free at sections and placing 3rd and 4th in those events at state. Senior Anna Cierzan scored in the sprints and backstroke, taking 2nd in both the 50 Free and 100 Back and reaching the state meet in the backstroke, while senior Reeve Wolf added distance points with a 3rd in the 200 Free and 3rd in the 500 Free. Junior Maddie Mullen (2nd 100 Fly, 4th 50 Free), freshman Kate Mechtel (5th 200 Free, 4th 500 Free), junior Ava Decker (3rd 100 Breast), junior Laurel Audette (5th 100 Breast), and sophomore Vivian Kohler (8th 100 Breast) give the Blazers overwhelming depth. With this much firepower back, Visitation should be the team to beat.

Mahtomedi returns a strong group and looks to hold its spot near the top. Senior Abigail Wright leads the way, taking 2nd in both the 200 Free and 100 Free, while freshman Aria Armstrong is one of the section’s brightest young swimmers, scoring in the 200 IM (4th) and 100 Fly (6th) and reaching the state meet in both. Senior Delaney Dumermuth added sprint points with a 5th in the 50 Free, sophomore Adalyn Miller scored in both sprints (7th 50 Free, 5th 100 Free), and junior Riley Parizek contributed in the 500 Free (8th) and 100 Back (6th). Junior Dani Baker (6th 200 Free), junior Maddy Ritter (7th 100 Fly), junior Shaela Murphy (2nd Diving), and freshman Ruby Roitsch (8th 100 Fly) round out a deep, young roster that should keep the Zephyrs in the section’s top tier.

Hastings brings back a loaded group, headlined by one of the section’s biggest stars. Senior Chloe Aarness is the centerpiece, winning the section diving title and going on to claim the Class A state diving championship. Senior Sofia Kovalenko is a versatile force, placing 3rd in the 200 IM and 3rd in the 100 Fly before earning a 4th in the IM and 8th in the fly at state. Junior Emma Dehmlow scored in the 200 IM (6th) and 100 Back (5th) and reached state in the backstroke, and senior Lila Salzman added sprint depth with a 6th in the 50 Free and 4th in the 100 Free. Senior Greta Larson (3rd Diving), sophomore Kira Fuechtmann (4th Diving), senior Mari Hall (6th Diving), and junior Maddy Ritter (7th 100 Fly, 6th 100 Breast) give Hastings real strength in the water and on the boards.

Mounds Park Academy St Croix loses state champion Alaina Biebl but returns a talented senior class. Senior Julia Anderson is the standout, winning the 100 Fly at sections and placing 3rd in the event at state, while also scoring in the 200 IM (5th). Senior Isabella Muyres is a strong breaststroke and fly threat, taking 2nd in the 100 Breast and 5th in the 100 Fly and reaching the state meet in the breaststroke. Senior Josie MacDonald is a distance scorer who placed 2nd in the 500 Free and 5th at state, and senior Peyton Pettipiece added points in the 200 Free (7th) and 500 Free (5th). With its core of seniors returning, the Panthers should stay near the top of the section.

Cretin-Derham Hall returns a balanced group led by senior Cora Moore, who scored in both the 200 Free (4th) and 100 Free (8th). Sophomore Hannah French is a promising young swimmer, placing 8th in the 200 Free and contributing to the team’s relays. With Moore and a developing group returning, the Raiders have a solid foundation in the middle of the section.

Hill-Murray brings back senior Talia Simons, the team’s top returning scorer, who placed 4th in the 100 Breast, and junior Alexis Roehrich, who scored in both the 200 IM (8th) and 500 Free (6th). With Simons and Roehrich leading the way, the Pioneers will look to build on a solid section showing.

Simley returns sophomore Mia Doolittle, one of the section’s brightest young talents, who placed 3rd in the 100 Back and 7th in the 100 Free before earning a 4th-place finish in the backstroke at state. Junior Lauren Oswald added a 7th in the 100 Back. With Doolittle leading the way, the Spartans have a genuine difference-maker to build around.

St Paul Como Park graduates state champion Aleia Lueck and returns junior Adeline Hanson, who contributed in the freestyle events and on the team’s relays. The Cougars will look to their younger swimmers to rebuild scoring depth in 2026.

South St Paul-Minnehaha-Cristo did not return an individual top-8 finisher and will lean on its younger swimmers to build scoring depth in the seasons ahead.

Math & Science Academy returns a developing roster and will lean on its underclassmen as it works to build scoring depth in 2026.

Humboldt/Washington/Owl returns Amelia Keenan, who placed 7th in the 500 Free, as the program continues to develop around its swimmers in the years ahead.

Teams in the Section

Dassel-Cokato, Delano, Hutchinson, Litchfield, Marshall, Montevideo, Orono, Watertown-Mayer, Westonka/Holy Family, Willmar

2025 Section Champion: Orono – 510 pts
2025 Section Runner-up: Westonka/Holy Family – 426.5 pts

Notable Graduates

• Graycin Andreen (Orono) – 200 Free (1st Sections/2nd State), 100 Fly (1st Sections/2nd State)
• Lola Schottler (Orono) – 200 Free (3rd Sections/5th State), 500 Free (2nd Sections/6th State)
• Celia Howard (Orono) – 200 IM (5th Sections), 100 Breast (3rd Sections)
• Sofie Dyvik (Orono) – 50 Free (4th Sections), 100 Free (7th Sections) Kaleigh Francis (Orono) – Diving (5th Sections)
• Kaia Georges (Delano) – 50 Free (1st Sections), 100 Free (1st Sections)
• Mylie Pinoniemi (Delano) – Diving (4th Sections) Katelyn Daluge (Delano) – 100 Breast (8th Sections)
• Erica Johnson (Westonka/Holy Family) – Diving (2nd Sections/4th State)
• Izzy Starr (Westonka/Holy Family) – 100 Back (6th Sections)
• Autumn Deutz (Marshall) – 50 Free (6th Sections), Diving (8th Sections)
• Elizabeth O’Malley (Montevideo) – Diving (3rd Sections), 100 Breast (6th Sections)

Section 3A graduates one of its most decorated classes in years, led by Orono’s Graycin Andreen, who swept the 200 Free and 100 Fly at sections and earned a pair of runner-up finishes at the Class A state meet. The Spartans lose a deep senior group around her, and Delano says goodbye to double section champion Kaia Georges, who won both freestyle sprints. Their departures leave the top of the section open.

Section Outlook

Orono loses a celebrated senior class but still returns enough talent to defend its section title. Junior Sophie Berg is the headliner, winning the 200 IM, taking 2nd in the 100 Fly, and reaching the state meet in the IM with a 6th-place finish. Junior Ainsley Francis is right there with her, winning the 100 Back and placing 4th in the 200 Free before earning an 8th-place finish in the backstroke at state. Sophomore Audrey Crawford announced herself with a 2nd in the 100 Free and 3rd in the 100 Back, qualifying for state as one of the section’s brightest young swimmers. Junior Shelby Sloneker scored in both the 200 IM (4th) and 100 Back (5th), junior Ileana Berg added sprint and fly points (5th in the 50 Free, 4th in the 100 Fly), and senior Hope Smith (7th 50 Free) and senior Sutton Williams (8th 100 Fly) round out a deep returning group. Even with heavy graduation, the Spartans have the returning talent to stay near the top of the section.

Westonka/Holy Family returns nearly its entire scoring lineup and looks like the favorite to take the section crown in 2026. Senior Laney Hendrickson is the centerpiece, taking 2nd in the 200 Free and winning the 500 Free, then placing 4th and 3rd respectively in those events at state. Junior Mia Dongoske is a versatile force, winning the 100 Breast and taking 2nd in the 200 IM before reaching the state meet in the breaststroke. Senior Bailey Monette gives the team a championship piece on the boards, winning the section diving title and finishing 2nd at state. Senior Rachel Betts scored in both the 100 Free (5th) and 100 Breast (2nd), senior Jaylen Juras added points in the 100 Fly (3rd) and 100 Back (4th), and senior Chella Patterson (7th 200 IM), senior Charlotte Lake (8th 200 Free, 3rd 500 Free), and junior Ava Dominguez (6th 500 Free) deepen an already loaded roster. With this much firepower returning against a graduation-hit Orono, the Wolves look ready to take the top spot.

Delano brings back a strong group despite losing two-time champion Kaia Georges. Junior Emma Ristau leads the returners as a top sprinter, taking 2nd in the 50 Free, 3rd in the 100 Free, and reaching the state meet in the 50. Junior Sadie Rosenow scored in both the 200 IM (3rd) and 100 Fly (6th), and freshman Maddy Mays was a standout in the distance events, placing 7th in the 200 Free, 4th in the 500 Free, and qualifying for state in the 500. Freshman Tilly Tordeur added a 5th in the 100 Breast. The Tigers have the young talent to remain in the section’s top tier.

Hutchinson returns a promising young core. Freshman Julia Rudebusch is the swimmer to build around, scoring in both the 200 Free (5th) and 100 Free (6th) as one of the section’s top underclassmen. Junior Makaila Wakefield placed 2nd in the 100 Back, and sophomore Marsha Martig is a dual threat, taking 4th in the 100 Breast and 7th on the boards. With its scorers all returning, the Tigers are positioned to climb.

Watertown-Mayer brings back a balanced group led by senior Julia Cone, who placed 6th in the 200 Free and 4th in the 100 Free. Junior Allyson Grossinger is a steady scorer in multiple events, finishing 6th in the 200 IM and 7th in the 500 Free, and senior Sophia Danielson added sprint depth with a 3rd in the 50 Free. The group returns largely intact, giving Watertown-Mayer a solid foundation in the middle of the section.

Marshall returns sophomore Finley Pelz, the team’s standout, who scored in both the 100 Fly (5th) and 500 Free (5th) as one of the section’s promising young swimmers. With Pelz leading the way, the Tigers have a building block to develop around in 2026.

Dassel-Cokato brings back junior Dayna Dahlman, who placed 6th on the boards, along with sophomore Mya Klaers (7th 100 Breast) and freshman Quinn Smieja (8th 100 Back). The Chargers return their scoring depth and will look to build on a solid section finish.

Montevideo returns senior Lauren Dove, the team’s top returning scorer, who placed 8th in the 200 IM and 7th in the 100 Back. With Dove leading a young group, the Thunder Hawks will look to build their program in the seasons ahead.

Willmar did not return an individual top-8 finisher and will lean on its younger swimmers as it works to rebuild scoring depth in 2026.

Litchfield returns sophomore Rachel Morkrid, who placed 7th in the 100 Fly, as the program continues to develop around its underclassmen.