Edina Fall Sports 2024 | Page 11

John Dailey for the fall season .

“ The summer is tedious sometimes ,” said Karimi , who put in some four-hour practices this summer .

Edina ’ s diving captain noted the overall camaraderie of the team . “ We have breakfasts together and see each other at school dances ,” she said .

“ As captains , we have a great opportunity to help the team bond ,” Greeley said . “ We want to show the younger girls why we love our sport .”

The first week of practice features wall-to-wall teammates in each lane of the Downey pool .

“ It can be a little bit cramped , but it ’ s not too bad ,” Greeley said .

After the first week , the Hornets break into two groups and use another pool to avoid congestion .

Anja Nymo and her younger sister Siggy are two of the Hornets ’ key swimmers when it comes to competing for the state title .

Anja talked about her role as a captain : “ The main thing for me is to stay positive . Our approach to the season is one practice at a time , one meet at a time . I always look forward to the high school season because our coaches , Jeff Mace and Mellanie Pusateri , always make it fun .”

Edina is a deep team and a balanced team . Most years , there are a lot of girls capable of scoring points in Lake Conference dual meets . Head coach Mace wants to keep everyone involved and contributing to the team .

The Hornets have a number of key returnees from last year ’ s state team that outscored Minnetonka 331 to 303.5 to take the first-place trophy from the Minnesota State High School League .

Three members of the state-champion 200-yard medley relay return - Junior Libbi McCarthy and ninthgraders Bobbi Simmons and Siggy Nymo . All four girls on Edina ’ s statechampion 200-yard freestyle relay are back - McCarthy and Siggy Nymo , plus sophomore Macy Malinski and junior Audrey Peterson . In the 400 free relay , Edina has Malinski , Peterson , Simmons and Anja Nymo returning from a fifth-place finisher .

McCarthy had tremendous individual success in last season ’ s state meet with a gold medal in the 50 freestyle and a silver medal in the 100 freestyle .

Edina returns two place winners from the 200-yard individual medley - runner-up Siggy Nymo and seventhplace finisher junior Frances Muir . Siggy was also state runner-up in the 100 butterfly . Muir took state runnerup honors in the 500 freestyle . Simmons earned fourth place in the 100 backstroke . Malinski placed fourth in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 100 freestyle . Peterson brought home eighth place in the 200 freestyle .

Ellen McClees and Taylor Thompson are two other members of last year ’ s state team .

Zara Karimi finished third in state diving last season .

Eleanor Hughes , who placed in two state events last season , is the only member of Edina ’ s state team to graduate in 2024 . to Stillwater in the 2022 state semifinals . In the state title game last year , Edina held off a challenge from Lake Conference rival Wayzata 2-1 .

McGuire remembered the clock ticking down as the Hornets anticipated the victory over Wayzata . “ It was the longest 15 seconds of my life ,” she said . “ My heart was beating out of my chest .”

When it was over , McGuire saw the entire Edina team charging down the field to congratulate her . That kind of moment is something a goalkeeper never forgets .

McGuire said championship day was all about the “ confidence ” propelling her and her teammates .

As the new season begins , the confidence is still there . Katie Aafedt , Edina ’ s longtime head soccer coach , is retired now .

Coach Taylor Greathouse knows what Hornet soccer is about and promised her best effort in upholding the tradition . “ Katie did an incredible job of laying the foundation for the program ,” she said .

Edina ’ s biggest challenge this year will most likely be the Section 2AAA Tournament . Every year , it seems , the title game pits Edina against Minnetonka . There is no reason to think it won ’ t be the same this year .

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