Without a season in the spring of 2020 and starting up two weeks later than usual this past March, the Stillwater synchronized swimming team opened practice with 34 athletes, a bit lower than previous years, reflecting a pattern that touched many schools and teams amid the pandemic.
Late start, perfect finish: Stillwater synchronized swimming is Star Tribune All-Metro Team Champion
The perennially strong program, after not being able to compete a year ago, won its first state championship since 2003.
July 15, 2021 at 5:16AM
By the time it ended, however, Stillwater did something it hadn't done since 2003: Win a state championship.
The team won all six of its conference meets and claimed a section championship, qualifying in 20 of its 22 routines into the state meet. In the state meet held at Edina, all 20 routines placed in the top seven. The team placed first in eight of the 12 meet events.
For its efforts Stillwater earned recognition as a Star Tribune All-Metro Sports Award Team Champion.
The team included seniors Rubie Ballantyne, Kya Hodgdon and Grace Sneden; juniors Bella Chau, Avery Hoge, Ellie Kill, Leigha Kraft, Luci Miller, Sierra Penning, Julianna Silva and Maddie Stricker; sophomores Hannah Bliss, Sophia Chau, Lauren Guinee, Maylin Kennedy, Chloe Knuteson and Olivia Kuslich.
Ninth-graders Nina Djukelic, Isana Downing, Bella Formico, Annie Gritters, Kate Jentink, Megan Johnson, Jillian Kulzer and Paige Schmit; eighth-graders Gabbi Chau, Emily Dicks, Rhiannon Fay, Ava Fox and Olivia Nelson, and seventh-graders Kaelynn Grecian, Elaina Lokken, Hailey Schmit and Hanna Wiese.
Head coach is Kathy Henderson, with assistants Juliet Schmit, Kellei St. Martin, Morgan Judkins, Angie Lewandowski, Grace Zimmer, Greta Bliss, Claire Rutscher and Sophie Ogaard.
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
