Page 6 Stillwater Ponies Fall Sports Preview • Friday , September 6 , 2024 stillwatergazette . com
GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING
Seniors for the Stillwater girls swimming and diving team include , front row , from left , Maysen Puhrmann , Margaret Reed , Jayla Petersen , Alison Poole , Sofia Omann , Zoe Dorgan , Adelaide Bielke , Jayden Kemp and Samantha Betts . Second row , Olivia Nelson , Rhiannon Fay , Lily Kidwell , Gabbi Chau , Annika Beck , Ava Fox , Emily Dicks , Hannah Drexel and Alex Kruse .
Stillwater looking to build on winning tradition
Head coach — Brian Luke ( 50th year ). Assistant coaches — Carrie Madline ,
Torie Buberl and Stewart Rivall ( volunteer ). Last season — 9-0 ( 9-0 SEC , 1st place ).
2024 captains — Annika Beck , Gabbi Chau , Maysen Puhrmann , Jayla Petersen and Margaret Reed .
Who ’ s gone — It wasn ’ t a large number , but there were some significant contributors among last year ’ s seniors for the Stillwater girls swimming and diving team , which won conference and section titles before placing third at the MSHSL state meet .
Maddie Reed is the schoolrecord holder and the reigning individual state champion in the 100 breastroke who earned all-state honors in four events . Norah Naatjes was also all-state in four events and , like Reed , an All-American in two events . She delivered a memorable anchor leg that helped the Ponies claim the state championship in the 400 freestyle relay .
Annie Gritters was an allconference performer and state qualifier who joined Reed ,
Sophomore Lucy Paczosa , above , joins senior Jayla Petersen in returning from Stillwater ’ s 400 freestyle relay team that won the state championship a year ago .
Naatjes , Leah Cody and Paige Schmit in serving as captains .
Who ’ s back — Senior Jayla Petersen and sophomore Lucy Paczosa are back for the Ponies after contributing to that state championship 400 free relay team .
They will help pace a deep and talented returning lineup that also includes Claire Christianson , an all-state honoree who was the only seventh-grader in the entire state meet to score points a year ago . Hannah Drexel is another returning state qualifier for the Ponies , who matched the team ’ s top showing at state since also placing third in 2021 , 2011 and 2010 .
Others — The Ponies placed second in the True Team state meet and most of the athlete who contributed to those efforts also return this season . Hailey Schmit , Audrey Serres , Reese
Bilot , Rhiannon Fay and Alex Kruse each earned all-conference honors a year ago .
The team — bolstered by an 18-member senior class — should also benefit from a promising group of younger swimmers who will strengthen the existing depth .
Conference — Stillwater has put together a remarkable run in the Suburban East Conference with 21 consecutive championships , but the Ponies have more than just history on their side with a strong returning cast .
East Ridge , Woodbury and Mounds View have been the most persistent challengers for the Ponies and that is expected to be the case again this year . East Ridge and Woodbury combined to give the SEC three teams in the top six at True Team state a year ago .
“ We are the defending conference champions and we always want to maintain our streak ,” Ponies coach Brian Luke said . “ I would say , at this time , East Ridge , Woodbury and Mounds View should be the main competition in the conference .”
Section — Section 4AA features the same primary contenders as the SEC , with East Ridge , Woodbury and Mounds View also in the mix .
The Ponies have won 22 straight section championships , but Section 4AA became stronger a year ago with the addition
See Swimming , Page 7