Swimming Season Previews
High school swimming teams and collegiate stars gear up for competitive new seasons.
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Key Points
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Century finished 8th at the Class 2A state meet last season with 85 points, and they boast a 53-athlete roster (48 swimmers, 5 divers). Top returners include Ally Pool (All-State; 4th in 200 free relay, 18th in 400 free relay), Kenzie Brockman (18th in 400 free relay), Karley Maley (18th in 400 free relay), Jia Yin Jian-Gross (9th in 200-yard medley relay), and Kendall Langenbrunner (16th in 1-meter dive).
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Mayo finished as runners-up at the Big Nine Conference last season and is led by 13 seniors under first-year head coach Jessica Koepp, who has been on the Spartans’ coaching staff for six years.
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Brainerd is reloading with a large freshman class and just two returning seniors on a four-senior roster; Aralyn Marcelo and Kaia Iske anchor the group, with Marcelo contributing to state-qualifying relays and posting strong section and state times (200 free relay 1:39.29 at state; 1:40.07 section title; 400 free relay 3:36.89 at state).
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Joel Nace posted 4:20.23 in the 500 free, 46.53 in the 100 fly, and 1:42.76 in the 200 fly at Big 12s (NCAA B cuts) and is Arizona’s best season time in the 500 free (4:20.23) and second-best in the 200 fly (1:42.61); he swam for Katy Aquatics and attended Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas.
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Ava Sutphin, a Cincinnati-native now at Arizona, is a two-time Big 12 finalist in the 1650 free and 500 free; she has a 500 free personal best of 4:50.67 at the Wolfpack Elite Invite and a 200 free best of 1:50.93 from the 2023 Minnesota Invite, with roots at Turpin High School in Cincinnati.
Three Minnesota high school swimming programs are primed for state title runs this season. Post Bulletin reported that Century returns 53 athletes and finished 8th at last year's Class 2A state meet with 85 points, while Mayo enters with 13 seniors under first-year head coach Jessica Koepp after a runner-up conference finish. Brainerd is reloading with a heavy freshman class but leans on two returning seniors, Aralyn Marcelo and Kaia Iske, who anchored state-qualifying relays last year.
Century Panthers Loaded With State Qualifiers
Century's 53-athlete roster (48 swimmers, 5 divers) features a strong mix of proven returners and newcomers under longtime co-head coaches Megan and Dale Magnuson. Post Bulletin highlighted that All-State swimmer Ally Pool finished 4th in the 200 free relay and 18th in the 400 free relay at state. Other key returners include Kenzie Brockman and Karley Maley, both 18th in the 400 free relay, plus Jia Yin Jian-Gross (9th in 200-yard medley relay) and diver Kendall Langenbrunner (16th in 1-meter dive).
Mayo Spartans Aim to Build on Conference Success
Mayo finished as runners-up in the Big Nine Conference last season and enters 2026 with 13 seniors under Post Bulletin reported first-year head coach Jessica Koepp. Koepp has been on the Spartans' coaching staff for six years, bringing deep familiarity with the program's culture and goals. The large senior class positions Mayo well for a state title push after last year's strong conference performance.
Brainerd Warriors Anchor Youth Movement With Proven Seniors
Brainerd Dispatch reported that the Warriors are aiming for a section 3-peat after graduating from last year's Central Lakes Conference and Section 8-2A champion squad. Brainerd is reloading with a large freshman class on a four-senior roster. Aralyn Marcelo and Kaia Iske anchor the group, with Marcelo posting strong state times: 1:39.29 in the 200 free relay and 3:36.89 in the 400 free relay at state.
Arizona Swimmers Joel Nace and Ava Sutphin Set NCAA Standards
Two former high school swimmers are thriving at the University of Arizona. Arizona Wildcats Athletics reported that Joel Nace, a three-time Big 12 Championship individual finalist, posted 4:20.23 in the 500 free, 46.53 in the 100 fly, and 1:42.76 in the 200 fly—all earning NCAA B cuts. Nace holds Arizona's best season time in the 500 free and second-best in the 200 fly (1:42.61).
Arizona Wildcats Athletics noted that Ava Sutphin is a two-time Big 12 Championship finalist in the 1650 free and 500 free. The Cincinnati native holds a 500 free personal best of 4:50.67 at the Wolfpack Elite Invite and a 200 free best of 1:50.93 from the 2023 Minnesota Invite, showcasing consistent improvement in distance events.
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