current. mnsun. com Edina Falls Sports Preview • Thursday, September 3, 2026 Page 7
State swim place winners return for AA champs
JOHN SHERMAN john. sherman @ apgecm. com
There were positive vibes at the Art Downey Aquatics Center the first week of practice as the Edina girls swimmers began churning out the mileage in preparation for the season.
The Hornets were state Class AA champions last season, edging Lake Conference rival Minnetonka by 10 points in the battle for the crown.
Edina has eight swimmers and diver returning, who all scored in the State Class AA Meet last season and the leader of that group is junior captain Bobbi Simmons.
Simmons made five trips to the awards stand at state in November of 2025. Her medals included a silver in the 200-yard individual medal and gold medals in the 100 backstroke, the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Then there was the best prize of all – Her state team championship gold medal.
Returning along with Simmons from the goldmedal 200 medley relay team are senior Amira Nguyen-Ingalsbe and sophomore Sophie Katz. Senior captain Macy Malinski is the other returnee from the 400 freestyle foursome.
Malinski won a silver medal for second place in the 200-yard freestyle and added a bronze medal for third place in the 500 freestyle. Her other state medal was a silver in the 200 freestyle relay.
Nguyen-Ingalsbe and Kaya Ygona, a junior this
( SUN PHOTO BY JOHN SHERMAN)
Captains of the Edina High girls aquatics team for the 2026 season are, from left to right: Grace Hauck, Ellen McClees, Macy Malinski, Maddie Brinkman and Bobbi Simmons.
season, were also on the state runner-up 200 freestyle relay.
Nguyen-Ingalsbe finished fifth in the 100 breaststroke for additional team points. Sophie Katz picked up ninth place in the 200 freestyle and returns as a sophomore this year.
Junior Gwenyth Maclachlan finished 12th in the 100 butterfly and 11th in the 200 individual medley at the 2025 state meet.
Diver Cat Muir, now a senior, placed fifth at state.
Edina has five captains, all of whom earned their rank with dedication through years in the program. Their optimism for the season is running high.“ I see a lot of new talent on the team,” Simmons said prior to a recent practice.“ I am excited to see what the new girls bring.” Simmons has the versatility to swim all events.
( SUN PHOTO BY JOHN SHERMAN)
Amira Nguyen-Ingalsbe of the Edina girls aquatics team swims a leg of breaststroke during practice at the Art Downey Aquatic Center.
“ I will figure out, with the coaches, what my best events are,” she said.“ I am excited to try some new events this season.”
Malinski was pleased when her teammates elected her as one of the team captains.“ It has been super fun,” she said.“ I watched how the captains before me led the team.”
Grace Hauck, another new Hornet captain, said,“ Our team is close-knit. Everyone helps each other.”
“ It is totally an honor to be one of the captains,” Ellen McClees said.
The other new captain, Maddie Brinkman, said,“ One of our goals is to create a close-knit community.”
Head coach Jeff Mace is a leader who believes in the team concept.“ We’ re all in this together,” he told the group before practice.“ It is our community.”
Coach Mace talked about responsibility to one’ s teammates.“ We expect you to be dedicated to your teammates and be here every single day [ for practice ],” he said.
Assistant coach Mellanie Pusateri, like coach Mace, a member of the Edina High Boosters Athletic Hall of Fame, defined the community approach she is looking for:“ Ask yourself, how can I be the best teammate? How can I be a good friend to others? Look within yourself.”
As the team practiced last week, every one of the eight lanes moved swiftly. The girls in the pool realized that commitment is the foundation for achieving team and individual goals at the end of the season.
It should be another very competitive year among the Lake Conference girls aquatics team. Minnetonka has a strong crew of state swimmers returning. The Hornets’ margin over the Skippers last season at state was 342-332. That kind of score doesn’ t leave much margin for error. Wayzata finished fourth at state in 2025 while two other Lake teams were in the top 25 – Eden Prairie in 15th place and Maple Grove in 21st place.
Edina will have one dual meet against each of its seven Lake Conference rivals. The team with the best record will be crowned Lake champion.