Girls Swimming & Diving
Co-op Hosted At Highland Park
2023 Highlights
Girls’ Swimming and Diving had Section 6AA competitions the week of November 6, 2023. In the prelims, our relay team was seeded 9th as the underdogs. In a thrilling performance, the underrated group finished with a PR at 2:08 and advanced to the Section Finals.
Four SPA individuals also advanced to the section finals. Adele Gjerde ‘25 and Audrey Peltier ‘27 competed in the 100-yard freestyle finishing tenth and twelfth. Claire Kim ‘24 and Anja Seifert ‘24 swam the 100-yard breaststroke finishing eighth and eleventh respectively.
All-Conference: Avital Coleman ’27, Adele Gjerde ’25, and Claire Kim ’24
All-Conference Honorable Mention: Ayla Rivers ’24
MSHSL Swim & Dive Academic Excellence Honors: Melina Kannankutty ’24, Clara Ann Bagnoli ’24, Claire Kim ’24, Anja Seifert ’24, and Amalia Laguna ’24
- Varsity Head Coach: Max Rowland
- Highland Park Athletics Schedule
- Instagram: sparksswimdive
For more complete team details, the SPARKS website can be found using: SPARKS Website
In the varsity diving conference finals on October 24th, 2022, the Sparks captured the top three spots on the podium finishing first, second, and third. Elena Sjaastad ’23 was crowned champion with a diving score of 298.9 and Avi Coleman ’27 and Bella Moet ’27 finished second (283.15) and third (202.50), respectively.
At the varsity swimming conference meet on October 25, the Sparks were crowned St. Paul City Conference Champions, edging Central by one point.
At the Section Diving finals on Thursday, November 10, Elena Sjaastad ’23 and Avi Coleman ’27 both medaled, finishing sixth and seventh. In the Section swim finals on Friday, November 11, 2022, SPA swimmers had a strong showing. Most notabely, the relay race of Linnea Cooley ’23, Claire Kim ’24, Audrey Peltier ’27, and Ayla Rivers ’23 finished third in the 200 Freestyle Relay. Cooley and Peltier were also a part of the 400 Freestyle Relay team that finished fourth.
2022 Captains: Elena Sjaastad ’23 and Linnea Cooley ’23
Girls' Swimming & Diving Crowned St. Paul City Conference Champions; Sjaastad '23 Crowned Diving Champion
On October 25, the Sparks girls’ swimming and diving team, a co-op between Highland Park and SPA, competed in the St. Paul City Conference meet and captured the Championship title. The Sparks finished in first place with 557 points, edging Central by one point.
In the varsity diving conference finals on October 24, the Sparks captured the top three spots on the podium finishing first, second, and third. Elena Sjaastad ’23 was crowned champion with a diving score of 298.9 and Avi Coleman ’27 and Bella Moet ’27 finished second (283.15) and third (202.50), respectively.
See the full results below:
- 200 Yard Medley Relay
- Claudia Hanson, Claire Kim ’24 (SPA), Lillian Thuente, and Ava Griffin | 5th place, 2:17.04
- Morgan Johnson, Clara Ann Bagnoli ’24 (SPA), Hazel Thrasher, and Natalia Gercheva | 6th place, 2:21.40
- 200 Yard Individual Medley
- Clara Ann Bagnoli ’24 | 7th place, 2:44.54
- 50 Yard Freestyle
- Audrey Peltier ’27 | 6th place, 28.22
- Ayla Rivers ’24 | 8th place, 29.00
- Claire Kim ’24 | 9th place, 29.45
- 1 Meter Diving
- Elena Sjaastad ’23 | 1st place, 298.90
- Avi Coleman ’27 | 2nd place, 283.15
- Bella Moet ’27 | 3rd place, 202.50
- 100 Yard Freestyle
- Audrey Peltier ’27 | 3rd place, 1:01.38
- Ayla Rivers ’24 | 8th place, 1:03.96
- 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
- Mia David, Audrey Peltier ’27 (SPA), Abby Hanson, and Quinn Harvey | 1st place, 1:49.16
- Clara Ann Bagnoli ’24 (SPA), Claire Kim ’24 (SPA), Austin Bailey-Zimmerman, and Ayla Rivers ’24 (SPA) | 3rd place, 1:58.39
- 100 Yard Breaststroke
- Claire Kim ’24 | 1st place, 1:18.22
- Clara Ann Bagnoli ’24 | 3rd place, 1:25.07
- 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
- Mia David, Audrey Peltier ’27 (SPA), Abby Hanson, and Quinn Harvey | 2nd place, 3:56.71
- Austin Bailey-Zimmerman, Irene Cohen, Ayla Rivers ’24 (SPA), and Claudia Hanson | 6th place, 4:22.64
Congratulations to all our Spark swimmers and divers!
