Rochester Teams Surge into State Finals at Girls Swimming Meet

UPDATE: Rochester’s top girls swimming teams are making waves at the Class 2A state finals, set for 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. The competition is heating up as teams from Rochester Century, Mayo, and John Marshall showcase their talents against the best in the state.

Mayo’s impressive 200-yard medley relay team, featuring Elise Weingarten, Corrina Tonn, Madeline Gau, and Penelope Hauser, clinched a spot in the championship finals by finishing eighth in the preliminaries with a time of 1:48.53. This marks a significant achievement as only the top eight teams advance.

Century’s relay team of JiaYin Jian-Gross, Sophie Blixt, Chloe Magnuson, and Sarah Homme narrowly missed the finals, placing ninth at 1:49.10. They will compete in the consolation finals alongside JM’s team, which finished twelfth with a time of 1:49.98.

In individual events, JM’s Julia Ogren shone brightly, winning the preliminary heat for the 100-yard butterfly with an outstanding time of 53.88. Ogren will be vying for a state title on Saturday, joined by Mayo’s Blixt, who placed second at 55.70, and Gau, who finished sixth at 56.86.

Ogren is also set to compete in the 100-yard freestyle championship after securing the sixth position in prelims with a time of 51.95. Meanwhile, Magnuson tied for sixteenth in the same event, leading to a swim-off that she narrowly lost.

The relay teams are generating excitement as Century’s group of Magnuson, Homme, Ally Pool, and Blixt finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay at 1:38.05, while JM’s Tri, Pettengill, Madilyn Keller, and Ogren followed closely in fifth at 1:38.32. Both teams will swim in the championship finals, amplifying the stakes for Rochester’s swimmers.

Weingarten’s performance has also been noteworthy; she will compete in the finals for the 100-yard backstroke after finishing eighth with a time of 57.83. Gau, who finished tenth at 57.95, will swim in the consolation final.

Blixt, the state runner-up from last year, is poised to reclaim her title as she finished second in the prelims for the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.37. She will face stiff competition from East Ridge’s Logan Havermann, who won prelims in 1:03.91.

The excitement doesn’t end there. Mayo’s 400-yard freestyle relay team, consisting of Weingarten, Halle Yuan, Penelope Hauser, and Gau, secured a spot in the consolation final with a time of 3:42.33.

In Class 1A, the competition is also fierce, with the championships kicking off at noon. Notably, Austin’s Gracie Greenman is heading for a state title in the 100-yard backstroke after finishing third in prelims with 57.97. Winona’s Abby Williams is also set for the finals in the 100-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 1:06.54.

As the clock counts down to the state finals, all eyes will be on Rochester’s talented swimmers, who are proving themselves on this significant stage. Fans and families are gearing up for an exhilarating day of competition, with championship glory on the line.

Stay tuned as we bring you live updates from the Freeman Aquatic Center, where Rochester’s finest are ready to make a splash!