Winter sports have started again, and Edina High School is in for a great season. Last year, Boys’ Hockey almost took home the prize with a third place finish at state, and many other teams advanced far into sections. Three sports to look out for this year include Boys’ Swim and Dive, Girls’ Hockey, and Gymnastics. These teams had great records last year and are looking like they’re in good shape for this upcoming season.
Firstly, at state last year, the Boys’ Swim and Dive team had multiple winners for many events, including a first place finish in the AA class. Most notably, senior Jiarui Xue won first place at state for Boys 100 Yard Freestyle. Even with the graduation of their all-star swimmer Xue, who now swims for Princeton, the swim team is still primed for success. Last year, the class of 2026 made up four of the top five ranks on the team in terms of points garnered for the state title. Xue was first, and juniors Patrick Curran, Joe Hemberger, William Thurk, and George Goepfrich made up the rest of the high rankers. These current seniors are going to be making a big splash in their upcoming season.
It doesn’t end there; some of these star swimmers have siblings continuing their legacy on the team. Jiarui’s younger brother and sophomore Jiawen Xue is also an important team member. Last year, he was ninth on the team in number of points held.
Aside from swimming, another team that had a strong season last year was Girls’ Hockey. They finished second in their bracket during state, losing only against Hill Murray in the final. Since six players have graduated, this year’s team has been filled with new sophomores and even one freshman, Josie Nelson.
Josie is the sister of Lorelai Nelson, a current senior and forward on the team. Lorelai Nelson was a key player last year, scoring 41 points over the course of the season, making her the highest scoring team member. Other top scoring players on the team last year included Cate McCoy and Audrey Davis, who have both returned. Lilly Horton, a junior defenseman, is another key player returning this season. Two other top performing players last year were goalies Nora Hannan and Reese McConnell, both 2025 graduates who left a big gap in the goalie position now filled by three junior goalies on the roster. Overall, we can expect a great record for Girls’ Hockey this season.
Finally, Gymnastics was a strong team last year. Although they have not won any state titles since 1982, individual competitors have advanced far into the section tournament. Adyson Hackel, a senior last year, placed on the leaderboard for uneven bars and the balance beam events during the 2025 Class AA State All-Around tournament. Another notable gymnast was last year’s ninth grader Ella Basile, who placed for vault at state. Unlike other teams, the Gymnastics team is unbalanced in terms of grade levels. There is only one senior, Eloise Anderson, and two juniors, which is a small number compared to the sixth, seventh, and eighth graders on the team. With all the new team members that have joined this year, the gymnastics team is aiming to reach the state title for the first time in decades.
Ultimately, EHS is shaping up to have a great winter sports season. Although last year’s seniors will be missed, lots of talented athletes have returned to the team for one last season, and the new additions are sure to impress. Other winter sports to keep track of are Girls’ and Boys’ Skiing, basketball, and wrestling. Go Hornets!
