BRAINERD — For the first time since 2018, a Bemidji High School swimmer is headed to start.

Lumberjacks Finley Zothman, Kiera Strodtman, Elle Wille and Abby Daman finished second in the 200-yard freestyle relay Saturday (1:40.07), enough to qualify for state in that event. The group almost qualified for the 400-yard freestyle relay, coming in third with a time of 3:43.21.

It wasn't the only event Zothman qualified in, either. The freshman won the section championship in the 50-yard freestyle (24.67). She's the only BHS athlete going to state in an individual event. Zothman came within 0.13 seconds of qualifying for state in the 100-yard freestyle as well, finishing third (53.75).

Other swimmers had good results on the day. Wille finished fifth in the 200-yard freestyle (2:01.51) and thi

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