FARGO – The 2024 NDHSAA Girls Swim & Dive State Tournament took place Friday, November 15, and Saturday, November 16, and senior Majette Haley Conklin broke the state record- set by her last year at the same meet- for the state title in the 1-meter diving.

The Majettes spent the meet neck-and-neck with Bismarck Century and Bismarck Legacy chasing the first, second and third place rankings for the meet. In the end, Century took first place with 265 points while Minot High was second with 250 points. Legacy was third at 244 points for the top three teams.

We had a heck of a second day and had a close 2nd place finish. We knew it was going to be a close meet,” said Minot High head coach Emily Jensen. “Century, Legacy and Shanley all have talented athletes and when we are all together we have some intense competition. It was sure fun to watch our girls rise to the occasion and swim and dive well on Saturday!”

Conklin posted a total score of 513.95 at the state meet for the win while breaking the state record for the second time in as many years. Majettes sophomore Gracyn Bergan recorded a 384.75 at the meet for second place.

“Haley Conklin went undefeated the entire season and broke the state record that she previously broke last year at state. She is simply an amazing athlete,” said Jensen. “She is beautiful to watch and we are so proud to have been able to have her share her talents with the team the last six years. Gracyn came onto the team just last year and has quickly shown her talents, taking second this year behind Haley. Training next to Haley is obviously a huge benefit to her. She’s got a bright future in diving.”

The Majettes posted a second place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of senior Ava Williamson, senior Haili Metzger, junior Sam VanBokern and sophomore Emily Dunstan posted a time of 1:53.69, just .26 second ahead of Legacy at third and .89 second behind Shanley in first place.

“As a team we had a great second day,” said Jensen. “Our 200 free relay was incredible. Three of the four athletes didn’t make it back for individuals the second day. They had a lot of pressure on their shoulders and far exceeded our expectations with a 4th place finish. I think the whole crowd was going crazy! That was sure a fun one to watch.”

The 200 freestyle team of senior Boston Edwards, eighth grader Madisyn Racine, junior Hailee Valdez and junior Sophia VanBokern posted a 1:42.45 finals time for fourth place and 30 points needed for the move into second place. The finals time for the team was nearly four seconds better than the preliminary seeding time.

Sam VanBokern claimed second place in the 100 butterfly with a 57.08- just .09 seconds off the top time. She also posted a 1:54.87 for third place in the 200 freestyle finals.

“Sam is an incredibly talented girl, and had a great season. She stepped up big for us on the relays and pulled in a second place and third place finish in her individuals,” said Jensen. “The growth she has had in the last year has been big. She has some big dreams and the work ethic to get there. She will continue to do big things for Minot High in the future.”

Dunstan swam to a fourth place finish in the 100 freestyle finals with a 55.06 time for the Majettes. Williamson was fourth in the 200 individual medley with a 2:13.64 and was 11th in the 100 butterfly with a 1:01.48 time.

“Ava Williamson, who was a state champ in 2022, and runner up in 2023 was in an extensive car accident three weekends ago,” said Jensen. “She had been essentially out of the water since the accident on October 25. We were filled with gratitude she was even able to compete and be there. Things looked very different for her three weeks ago, so it was hard not to watch her swim without tears in my eyes.”

Senior Caelin Flaten was sixth in the 500 freestyle finals with a 5:28.75 time. Edwards, junior Zoe Bahr and Metzger all three made the 100 breaststroke and finished in 10th, 12th and 13th respectively. Freshman Kirby Quam posted a 2:03.88 for 13th in the 200 freestyle as well.

These ten seniors will forever be special to the coaching staff, the team and the program in general. They have brought a drive and determination that the younger athletes hopefully can continue for years to come,” said Jensen of her senior athletes. “Minot High swimming has a long tradition of being a respected sport in the community and around the state. The way this state team handled themselves on the pool deck, their sportsmanship with other teams, their big hearts for each other..it will forever be something I remember about each of them.”

That is high praise coming from the 2024 NDHSAA Girls Swim & Dive Coach of the Year.