The Minnesota State High School girls swim and dive meet started on Thursday, and the Northland is well represented in both Class A and Class AA.

For Duluth East senior Elise Westbrook, she’ll be making her first-ever state meet appearance. It’s a dream come true years in the making.

“It’s amazing. I remember being in my freshman year, and we haven’t had many people go down to state the last few years, but it was a dream of mine in freshman year just to go down to state. Even competing in one event. So, this is really awesome to be able to be part of this relay and part of this amazing team to go down,” said Westbrook.

Westbrook will be competing in not just one event, but two: the 200-meter relay and 400-meter relay. Alongside her will be sophomore teammate Kendra Kush, in the 200 and 400-meter free relay, as well as the 100 and 200 meter free.

“I think it’s a really supportive group honestly. I think that we all have our strengths and together we make a really amazing team,” Kush said.

Minnesota State Diving preliminary rounds began on Thursday, and Swimming preliminary rounds will take place Friday at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. Swimming and Diving Finals will take place on Saturday, November 16th.

Click here to view the full State tournament schedule. For results and heat sheets, click here.

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