2025 Girls Section Preview: Section 8

Now we are getting into the meat of the off season babble - the section previews!

The things we hope to touch on during these previews:

1. Teams in section, 2024 section seed & 2024 record

2. What happened last year

3. Notable players

4. Projected items of interest

5. 2025 Preseason Rankings

Let’s go!

Teams In Section, 2024 Section Seed & 2024 Record

11 Teams Listed in Section 8. Listed in seeding they finished from the MSHSL website.

1. Elk River/Zimmerman (14-5)

2. Buffalo (9-7)

3. Moorehead (8-6)

4. STMA (2-12…yes, thats correct)

5. Monticello (8-7)

6. St. Cloud Area (9-5)

7. Brainerd (9-6)

8. Becker (4-9)

9. Big Lake (4-10)

10. Rocori (2-12)

11. Sartel/Sauk Rapids (0-13)

What Happened Last Year

Compared to the gong show that was Section 7, Section 8 went almost totally chalk:

• Semifinal 1: #1 Elk River/Zimmerman beat #5 Monitcello, 10-6

• Semifinal #2: #Buffalo beat #3 Moorhead, 13-5

• Section Final: #1 Elk River/Zimmerman beat #2 Buffalo, 12-5

Notable Players

Elk River/Zimmerman

2025 Lillian Osterman (ERZ) - Committed to Colorado Mesa - D2

Mega stats all over the field. 65g/29a/94 points, 100 GB/16 CT/98 DC. Can those numbers go up with Kaite Wozney’s graduation…or will defenses be able to key on her more?

2026 Emily Brummer (ERZ)

Really showed pout in the state tournament…but had a good overall sophomore campaign: 56g/12a/68 points, 47 GB/8 CT/63 DC

2026 Kylah Holte (ERZ) - Committed to Concordia St. Paul - D2

A great compliment that should really fill in some of the scoring gaps left open by Wozney and Peterson’s departure. 33 points.

Buffalo

2025 Hattie Tousaint (Buffalo) Committed to Stetson - D1

Lead team in points on the squad…43g/15a/58 points

2025 Bailey Mischke (Buffalo)

Not a shabby runner up…31g/15a/46 points

2026 Rory Meyer (Buffalo) - Committed to CSB - D3

Had a very solid All State game performance. 8.68 GAA/53.8%

Moorhead

2025 Sydney Martinson (Moorhead) - Committed to Niagara - D1

Another of the MN contingent going to Niagara…she brings 44g/16a/60 points, 23 GB/17 CT/128 DC to Upstate NY.

2027 Lake Parr (Moorhead)

Already has 2 full years under her belt as a soph…9.62 GAA & 48.6%

STMA

2027 Piper Peterson (STMA)

Pretty solid start having your #1 playing heading into her Sophomore season. 51g/6a/57 points, 83 GB/34 CT/80 DC…assist totals make sense looking at the goal outputs.

2025 Kat Rice (STMA) - Committed to Hamline - D3

Building on a returner in goal is great.

2025 Josie Brill (STMA) - Committed to Akron - D1 & 2025 Kylie Voss (STMA) - Committed to Akron - D1

So…no positions for STMA in MLH and we aren’t super great STMA minds…they are committed per sources to Akron, but their stats don’t jump out. Worth noting.

Monticello

2025 Addison Kiphuth (Monticello) - Committed to Wentworth Institute of Technology - D3

Leading point scorer, that prefers to dish the ball then score the ball…15g/27a/42 points.

St. Cloud Area

2025 Claire Staudinger (St. Cloud)

Leading scorer returns! 28g/15a/41 points.

Brainerd

2027 Ellen Germundson (Brainerd)

Despite losing 16 seniors…their leading scorer is coming back.

Projected Items of Interest

Brainerd is losing 16 2024s…that is a lot of to replace…major producer or not.

Having 4 college commits, Monticello, might continue to out pace some of their other section opponents. Worth watching the Magic show.

STMA. 2-12 last year, despite having (2) D1 commits and likely a third after this summer. They should be way better and were given a HUGE benefit of the doubt getting seeded better then Monti. They beat Monti early in the season (only to lose to them in sections) and Sauk Rapids. They had a tougher schedule, but honestly should have had more wins. Honestly…expecting way more from this squad.

ERZ. The many time defending section champ…how much reloading will this squad have to support Osterman and Brummer?

Big Lake - lost (7) 2024s, have only (1) 2025 and have (15) 2027s on the roster…file that away for a years or two.

2025 Preseason Rankings

Let’s close out the the preview on a high note!

1. Elk River/Zimmerman

2. Buffalo

3. STMA

4. Monticello

5. Moorhead

6. Big Lake

7. St. Cloud Area

8. Becker

9. Brainerd

10. Rocori

11. Sartel/Sauk Rapids