Coach Ben Hanson’s Mound Westonka/Holy Family (MWHF) girls swim and dive team earned a sixth-place finish at the MSHSL Class A State Tournament Nov. 16-18 at the University of Minnesota Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.  

All Class A swimmers with state qualifying times from section meets compete in preliminary races on the first day of state tournament competition. Those finishing in the Top 16 qualify to return for state finals on day two of competition. The top 8 qualifiers from preliminary races compete for the championship and places 9-16 compete in the consolation round.  

Senior captain Catherine Dueck from Holy Family had a standout performance at the tournament. In addition to contributing to sixth-place finishes in both the medley and 400 freestyle relays, Dueck earned All-American consideration times and won the state championship in both the 200 IM (1:02.99) and the 100 Breast (2:03.22).

Dueck was the top seed in both of her individual events after Friday’s preliminary races and improved in both events during the championships on Saturday. In a sport where athletes are often separated by hundredths of seconds, Dueck won her state titles handily, finishing the 200 IM more than three seconds ahead of second place and over one second ahead of the nearest competitor in the 100-yard breast stroke.    

“I have amazing teammates and we all support each other,” said Dueck. “I’ve loved representing Holy Family the past four years and it’s hard to see it come to an end. But I’m looking forward to continuing to swim next fall at University of San Diego.”

Junior captain Annemarie Johnson also qualified for two individual events and qualified for state finals in both. She finished sixth in the 500-yard freestyle championship heat and, with a ninth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle, was consolation heat champion.

Junior Camille Ness, ninth grader Jaylan Juras and junior captain Onna Sullivan joined Dueck on the podium for the sixth-place finish in the 200 Yard Medley Relay and the team of junior Grace Warden, Johnson, ninth grader Laney Hendrickson and Dueck finished sixth in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. Ness, Warden, Johnson and Sullivan finished the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay in ninth place, making them consolation champions.  

Diver Erica Johnson was Section 3A champion and advanced from state tournament preliminary dive rounds to compete in Saturday’s championship, where she finished in 11th place.

Senior captain Abigail Ries and junior Peyton Schmidt were MWHF state team alternates.  

Forty high schools were represented at the tournament and, for the 10th consecutive year, Visitation is the state champion. Orono, Monticello, Breck and Delano finished in second through fifth places, respectively. MWHF’s sixth-place finish along with St. Cloud Tech, Blake, Mankato West and Cretin-Derham Hall completed the Top 10.

Congratulations to the MWHF 2023 girls swim and dive team on a great season!