A Season of Red Knight Pride

Written by Marketing & Communications EPIC interns  Audrey Broglio '27, Grace Soderling '26, Madeline Yacoub '27, Jae Benham '26, Daniela Espinosa '28, Antonella Vargas '28, Addy Brown '28, Elle Lindstrom '26, and Grier Julkowski '27. 

The Winter 2026 athletics and activities season at Benilde-St. Margaret's has come to a close. With successful seasons across the board, our Red Knights have shined this winter!

Alpine Ski 

The Alpine Ski Team had an incredible season this year. The girls’ team brought home the conference championship, marking our 10th consecutive title, and we’re proud to have sent two athletes to states, Mackenzie Gleason ‘27 and Rainier Gilliss ‘26. Throughout the season, our team showed tremendous growth in both skill and determination. With many new racers joining, it was amazing to see how much everyone improved and stepped up as the season went on. More importantly, we grew closer as a team through practices and bonding events, building a connection that truly feels like family. “The season had a rocky start with so many new racers, but overall I’m really proud of how we performed and where we placed.” Addy Brown ‘28.

French Club

This year, members have had a blast in the French Club. Meeting once a month, they participate in activities surrounding French culture. Members explore different holidays in both France and Canada, learning more about traditions and customs. Students taking French also earn extra credit by joining and being involved in the French Club. French club leader, Esmé Bell ‘26, said, “Everyone should join if they are looking for a community to be a part of.” This group is welcoming to all students and encourages everyone to join, even if they don’t speak/take French. It provides a great opportunity to meet new people and learn about new cultures from around the world.

Boys' Hockey

The BSM boys’ hockey team had a wonderful season on and off the ice. The team built strong connections and showed great chemistry throughout the year. Despite the ups and downs, they stayed committed and continued to give their best effort every day. “This season, we had a lot of ups and downs. Everyone still showed up to practice and gave it their all. Overall, it was very fun, and we all bonded as a team,” said Tyler Kirschner ‘27.

Girls' Hockey

The BSM girls' hockey team had a great season. Although the team had a majority of players new to the program, they quickly connected and built strong bonds, making the team feel like a family. “We had a tight-knit group, and that made playing on the ice much easier because we trusted each other and knew everyone would do their job to help the team succeed,” said Grace Bendickson ‘26. Throughout the year, the team brought consistent energy and worked hard together, which played a big role in their success. “I think this season was a learning experience for everyone,” Bendickson added.

Dance Team

Our wonderful Knightettes had an awesome season this winter. For the third consecutive time, the girls took first place in AA Jazz at the Minnesota High School League State Tournament, making it the first time of three titles in a row in program history. The team also took third place in AA Kick. The Knightettes put in hard work every single day to get to where they were. Stella Blackwood ‘27 described that she is most proud of how “The team put in so much hard work and showed up to practice every day with dedication and perseverance.” The Knightettes are excited for another wildly successful season next year and a chance to take first for the fourth year in a row. As Luella Curry ‘27 describes, “I’m really looking forward to having some new dancers on the team and seeing what they bring.”  These girls showed what it means to be a Red Knight in their talent, teamwork, and attitude throughout the winter season.

Wrestling

The Red Knights wrestling team built on last year’s momentum with a stronger, more determined season, highlighted by a standout performance at sections. Senior Levi Sattler went undefeated to take first place, while senior captain Will Krusemark earned second, sending both to the state tournament and nearly adding a third qualifier. The team also saw key contributions across weight classes, including podium finishes from Anthony Berns ‘27 and solid efforts from Damien Alcantara ‘28 and Henry Nystrom ‘28. As Joseph Lichtenberger '26 noted, a major highlight was “sending two, almost three people to state,” especially after coming up short the year before. Despite the physical demands of the sport, the team pushed through the “mental battle to keep going,” showing resilience, growth, and strong team unity throughout the 2025-2026 season.

Boys' Basketball

The boys' basketball team had a great season! Led by coach Damian Johnson, the boys put in a lot of hard work on and off the court to be leaders of the school. The coach wrote about the slow start to the season, but the team really bonded over their victory in Alexandria, where they conquered the court. “The way the players and students rushed the court to celebrate with him is something I will cherish forever,” Coach Johnson said.

Crochet Club 

Crochet Club is a year-round club that provides students with the space and resources for yarn-based crafting. Every Wednesday, students meet in room 153 to teach or learn about the different forms of knitting, crocheting, and looming.  “I always look forward to Wednesdays because I get to go to the crochet club and see all the cool projects everyone is working on. It’s a great way to socialize and exercise my creative side after a long school day,” club captain Eli Reinberg ‘26 said.

Model UN

Model United Nations is an educational simulation in which students role-play as diplomats representing countries in the United Nations. After extensive research into their assigned country, delegates meet at summits to debate, negotiate, and resolve global issues. This year, over twenty BSM students will be participating in the YMCA Model United Nations three-day summit at the Marriott conference center in Minneapolis. “This is my sixth year in MUN and my first year as club president. MUN has given me opportunities to develop my leadership and public speaking skills, and I’ve also been able to forge lasting friendships with students outside of BSM,” Senior Kaitlyn Cape said.

Speech

The Speech Team performed on Saturdays throughout the winter competing at different schools around the state. Every member will choose a category and work on making the best possible speeches throughout the season. Captions, Colton Hilger ‘26 said, “The Speech season has gone really well! I’ve really enjoyed the humorous interpretation category over the past two years, and this season I’ve been working on a really funny duo interpretation”. The team has bonded throughout the year through bus rides, group warmups, and even posing for pictures for their Instagram page. Colton goes on to say, “It’s been a joy improving every week at tournament, and also seeing my teammates excel makes me very proud.” The team to be able to continue their season and send some of their members to state this year.

Nordic Ski

The Benilde-St. Margaret’s Nordic ski team wrapped up a season marked by hard work, growth, and a strong sense of team. From early practices to the final races, the Red Knights showed up ready to push themselves and support one another along the way. Their season came to a close at the Section meet, where they competed with determination against a deep and talented field. Aiden Casey and Angela Cassleman led the way for BSM, each earning 13th place in the pursuit races with strong, steady performances. While the team didn’t advance to state, the season was full of meaningful progress and moments to be proud of. With a solid foundation in place and valuable experience gained, the Red Knights are already looking ahead, ready to keep building and come back even stronger next winter.

Boys' Swim and Dive

The Benilde-St. Margaret’s boys swim and dive team put together a strong and memorable season, built on growth, depth, and a lot of hard work. The Red Knights showed their competitiveness early, finishing fourth at the Section 2A meet and sending a talented group of swimmers and relays on to state. At the MSHSL State Meet, BSM placed ninth with 97 points, marking the program’s third straight Top 10 finish. Sophomore Josh Peters had a standout meet, earning All-State honors in both the 200 IM and 500 freestyle, setting a new school record, and qualifying for USA Swimming Junior Nationals. Fellow sophomores August Wolf and Frank Rokala also delivered big performances, each earning All-State recognition. The 400 freestyle relay team closed out the meet with an All-State finish and one of the fastest times in school history. With a young roster and strong contributions across the lineup, the Red Knights built a foundation that points to even more success ahead.

Girls' Basketball

Red Knight’s Girls Basketball had an incredibly successful season, making history with their 4-peat State Championship. They made history as the first team to complete a 4-year streak of winning the 3A State Championship. “This season was super special, and growing closer with the entire team for one last year together made every moment unforgettable,” Said senior Captain Harper Stevenson-Shimek. Congratulations once again to the BSM Girls Basketball team!