MN high school girls swimming

ROCHESTER – It would be easy for Sophie Blixt, Madeline Gau and Julia Ogren to get caught up in an intra-city rivalry. After all, they suit up for three different high schools only minutes apart. The juniors are also considered to be some of Minnesota’s individual championship favorites heading into next month’s high school state tournament.

But for Blixt, Gau and Ogren, any competition they have with each other is superseded by a tight-knit bond forged by spending countless hours in the same pool during the offseason. The time spent training together has translated into a support system that has propelled the three swimmers to the top of their sport.

“People call us crosstown rivals,” Blixt said. “I don’t believe in that. We support each other no matter what.”

For more on Blixt, Gau and Ogren, click here to read this story on startribune.com.