This past weekend the Sartell swim and dive team made a splash in the pool and won the section 6A title! This team has had a rich winning culture for the past 20 years even despite a hard rebuilding year after the loss of a huge graduating class. This season the team moved back down to section 6A after being in section 8A for the past few years, they had to adjust to a new section environment; new teams, new pools, etc. and they still came out on top taking home a section title!
This year’s team motto was “Believe, Earn, Belong,” which shone throughout the whole season especially at the section meet. “A section title was the goal all year long for the team,” says Kaylee Meester when talking about team goals for the 2025 season. The Sabres always strive for the section title; last year they came in 2nd and the season before won the section 8A title.
Many amazing swims were swam at the section meet at their home pool. To start off the meet strong at prelims, 15 of the 19 swimmers made the finals cut where the team qualified 8 individuals to swim at the state meet. Kaylee Meester, Marni Koosman, Aki Rebeck, Zoe Marushin, Tori Carlson, Tess Hovda, Mckenna Searcy, and Addison St. Sauver will all be representing Sartell at the state meet. The relay alternates, Leah Morris, Mara Segura, and Kiera Meemken as well as manager, Paige Francois will join the state team!
For swim and dive, winning the section meet does not mean your team gets to go to state. Only individuals and relays are able to qualify for state by either placing 1st or 2nd at section finals, or getting the state cut time, which is determined by the MSHSL, on finals day. This makes it difficult to advance to state, so it is very impressive that Sartell will have a team of eight swimmers and four alternates at the state meet!
The team also had lots of phenomenal races with top eight podium finishes which contributed to the overall team score a lot.
It’s safe to say the past weekend was one for the books for Sartell girls swim and dive, and it was great to see all of the hard work from taper and the rest of season pay-off!
