Edina girls' swimming struts stuff, and makes history

Depth and star power. Some teams are fortunate to have just one of those elements. Edina strutted an impressive combination of both at the Class 2A state swimming and diving meet Saturday night as it collected its 11th championship with ease.

Edina came into the weekend as the heavy favorite, with 22 entrants qualifying for the weekend's festivities at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. They capitalized with a whopping 316 points. The Hornets scored 17 times in the nine individual events, with three championships to show for it.

The Hornets also captured all three relay titles, a first in Class 2A state history.

"Our team goal was to be really competitive in all three relays and try to win them -- and they pulled it off," head coach Jeff Mace said. "It was a good day for Edina. They wanted to try and make a little history, and they did."

Minnetonka finished second with 188 points. Stillwater, Eden Prairie and Rochester John Marshall rounded out the top five.

Edina's 200-yard freestyle relay team of Olivia Anderson, Emma Wittmer, Maryellen Campbell and Nikki Larson broke Minnesota's all-time record with a 1:34.40 mark.

"Records happen because of the competition, and Minnetonka really pushed our girls today," Mace said.

Mace's team was so deep, it managed to squeeze 48 points out of an event it didn't even win. Rochester John Marshall sophomore Taylor Bass claimed the 200 individual medley. Edina's Madeleine Eden and Heather Laedtke finished second and fourth in the championship heat, while seniors Campbell and Paige Haller placed 1-2 in the consolation race. Divers Yasmeen Almog and Kim Larson added to the party.

If that wasn't enough, Anderson, Campbell and Laedtke swept the top three spots in the 100 breaststroke, locking up another 53 points during Edina's championship night.

"We came to compete," Mace said.

Chanhassen freshman Kaia Grobe won her first 50 and 100 freestyle titles with automatic All-America times of 23.15 and 50.18, respectively.

Forest Lake senior Jessie Ramberg won the 1-meter diving championship with a final score of 472.05. Ramberg leapfrogged last year's champion, Jenna Karrow, and runner-up Emily Bonfig.

Minnetonka's Isabel Wyer finished second in the 100 and 200 freestyles. Amelia Schilling also earned the Skippers points in the 200 freestyle. Jenny Einhorn and Carolyn Kane added points in the 50 and 100 freestyles to keep the Skippers atop the rest of the pack.

Class 1AMarisa Wood and Ellen Bloom each won two individual titles and helped lead three Sabres relay teams as Sartell-St. Stephen cruised to its second Class 1A swimming and diving state championship.

With Wood and Bloom at coach David Olson's disposal, it was the Sabres' meet to lose.

"With their amount of experience and ability, they just amplify our team," Olson said of his two juniors.

With 238 points, the Sabres won by 65 points over runner-up Northfield. Hutchinson, Visitation and Monticello rounded out the top five.

Wood topped her own Class 1A state meet record in the 200 freestyle. She swam a 1:49.32 in Friday's preliminaries, then clocked 1:48.46 Saturday afternoon for her third consecutive title in that event. Wood also anchored the first-place 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Tarin Anding, a senior, placed fifth in the 50 freestyle while aiding in the Sabres' 200 medley relay and 100 freestyle. Senior Maddie Bearson added a fifth-place finish in 1-meter diving.

Bloom and incumbent record-holder Caley Oquist from Monticello went toe-to-toe in the 200 individual medley. Bloom posted the faster preliminary time Friday and edged out Oquist for the gold in the final Saturday. Bloom also stole the 100 backstroke crown from Oquist with a 55.88 time.

Aside from the four individual titles and two relay titles they earned, Wood and Bloom's presence and willingness to teach resonates with the rest of the team.

"It's like having two head coaches on deck," Olson said.