State titles, sports records, and banners are familiar territory in Edina when it comes to sports. Every year the standard for excellence continues to grow for each team as Edina High School athletics continuously dominate the playing field. With the fall season underway, many coaches are in the midst of organizing and preparing their new rosters for the pressures and hardships of the season ahead. As the foundation of a winning team, EHS coaches continue to push their athletes to new levels with goals of leading their teams to a successful season. 

The Edina Girls’ Soccer team has been a dominant program in recent years. With a state title in 2023, the team displayed immense talent and ultimately proved themselves as the top in the state. Former Head Coach Katie Aafedt announced her retirement shortly after their state title win. The position was soon offered to Taylor Greathouse. With high ambitions, Greathouse took the new position with great excitement, hoping to continue the program’s legacy. “Katie did a tremendous job establishing a foundation, developing relationships, engaging in the community, and it shows as a reflection of the processes already in place and just who some of these young women are,” Greathouse said. As a new coach to Edina, Greathouse hopes to use her previous coaching experiences to continue to advance the success of the program. “I’ve coached high school before, and I just came from the college environment, so this was kind of the perfect task or challenge for me,” she said. Ultimately, Greathouse hopes to continue to push her athletes this season while also maintaining a healthy team environment. “I hope to keep supporting [the players] and hope they enjoy their experience while ensuring that they feel good at the end of the day with the work that we’re doing,” she said. 

This year, the Edina Girls’ Tennis team is continuing to push for success. With her fourth season underway, Head Coach Jamie Gaard Chapman knows exactly how to prepare her team for the season ahead. As a former Edina tennis player herself, Gaard Chapman has always known the standard of EHS athletics. This upcoming season she hopes to push her team to their best, hoping to make another appearance at the Minnesota State High School League state tournament. “We want to maximize our competitive ability as a team and hopefully make our way back to the state tourney,” Gaard Chapman said. As a young coach, Gaard Chapman makes it her top priority to connect with all her players, giving them her full support. “I want to always make connections with each of the athletes. I want them to know that they’re an important person on a team and I want to support them on and off the court,” Gaard Chapman said. This season, however, differs from the others as the team is filled with upperclassmen. “11 of our 15 girls on the team are seniors, so you can definitely tell there is maturity, confidence, and experience in this team,” Gaard Chapman said. With high levels of experience on the team, Gaard Chapman ensures that many of her players will have opportunities for leadership on the team. “Our coaches are trying to lean into a really player-led season, letting our girls with the experience kind of take the leadership role and steer us in the right direction,” Gaard Chapman said. 

Edina Girls’ Swim and Dive team has kicked off the season with a strong leg. Last fall, the team was able to achieve a state title while defeating powerhouse Minnetonka who took the second place title. This year the team returns with immense talent, hoping to capture another title. “We just have great leaders and great workers,” Assistant Coach Mellanie Pusateri said. As a former swimmer of St. Catherine University, Pusateri has always had a passion for the sport. “I swam in high school and college, and I love being a part of the Edina Swim and Dive program. I’m very passionate about swimming and I love helping the kids achieve their goal,” she said. This fall, Pusateri hopes for nothing but success with her athletes as she helps them to keep developing throughout their high school careers. “I would like for all swimmers and divers at the end of the season to have their best meet. So if it’s the JV conference meet, if it’s the section meet, if it’s the state meet, I want all divers to be able to get their highest scores, and I want the swimmers to be in their best events, to be as fast as they’ve ever been,” Pusateri said. 

This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on September 26, 2024 and revised on October 2, 2024