Schools
Edina Swimmers Repeat as State Champions
The Hornets bring back another state title from Saturday's championships, including one record-breaking performance.
The Edina swimming and diving team entered Saturday’s Class AA state championships knowing a deep pool of talent would push them to the limit.
The Hornets didn’t back down, and for the second straight year they’re state champions.
Edina won the Class AA state meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, besting second-place Minnetonka by more than 100 points. The Hornets racked up 316 points, while the Skippers finished with 188 and third-place Stillwater finished with 171.
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The state title is Edina’s 12th in school history.
“The gals really swam fast today,” coach Jeff Mace said. “They dove well. Our goal was to win, try to be competitive in all three relays. Minnetonka and Wayzata pushed us, and we all really swam well as a result.”
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The Hornets’ 200 medley relay was the highlight of the night. Olivia Anderson, Emma Wittmer, Maryellen Campbell and Nikki Larson finished the race with a new Minnesota all-time state record. The relay finished in 1:34.40, besting Stillwater’s 1:38.80 mark set in 2008.
The relay win was one of six first-place finishes for the Hornets on Saturday. Two of those wins were by Nikki Larson, who individually won the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. The Hornets won all three relays at the meet, and Olivia Anderson won the 100 breaststroke.
“We just had a whole team performance,” Mace said. “We improved by 20 points off our seed, and that’s against some great competition in the state. It was a great day.”
EDINA INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
200 medley relay: 1. Madeleine Eden, Olivia Anderson, Paige Haller, Maryellen Campbell (1:45.65).
200 freestyle: 1. Nikki Larson (1:49.20), 16. Amelia Anderson (1:58.52).
200 IM: 2. Madeleine Eden (2:05.59), 4. Heather Laedke (2:06.39), 9. Maryellen Campbell (2:05.87), 10. Paige Haller (2:08.40).
50 freestyle: 9. Emma Wittmer (24.23).
Diving: 5. Yasmeen Almog (382.50), 14. Kim Larson (311.05).
100 butterfly: 1. Nikki Larson (55.09), 11. Paige Haller (58.43).
100 freestyle: 9. Emma Wittmer (52.57), 15. Amelia Anderson (53.96).
500 freestyle: 8. Madeleine Eden (5:25.08).
200 freestyle relay: 1. Olivia Anderson, Emma Wittmer, Maryellen Campbell, Nikki Larson (1:34.40).
100 breaststroke: 1.Olivia Anderson (1:02.89), 2. Maryellen Campbell (1:03.58), 3. Heather Laedke (1:03.89).
100 breaststroke: 14. Madison Preiss (1:07.47), 15. Anna Petty (1:07.74).
400 freestyle relay: 1. Emma Wittmer, Amelia Anderson, Madeleine Eden, Nikki Larson (3:28.60).
