Aspect Ratio

Jase Hanson has thrived in her first season of swimming
for her hometown Mavericks

Jace Hanson is happy she made the decision to swim collegiately in her hometown.

The sophomore, a Mankato West High School product, has helped the Mavericks post an almost perfect dual meet season in 2017-18 with the Mavericks sporting a 6-1 win-loss record.

At the mid-season Rochester Invitational in November, Hanson finished in the top 24 in the 100-yard backstroke with a 1:01.06 clocking. She also helped two of the Maverick relays place fifth (200-yard freestyle) and second (200-yard medley), respectively at the UW-Steven’s Point Invite.

"I really appreciate the way Coach Owens runs the team and each practice has meaning," said Hanson about her swimming for the Mavericks.

Nate Owens, who is his 14th season in charge of the Minnesota State women's swimming & diving program, said that Hanson's been a key member of the team.

“Jace has been a great addition to our sprint group this year. Although she’s been dealing with a torn labrum for the duration of the year, she’s battled and held up well throughout a very demanding training schedule. As a credit to her, she has continued to steadily improve every week. With her best events being sprint Freestyle and Backstroke, it will be exciting to see what kind of time drops she can post next week at the NSIC Championship meet. Along with the rest of our team, Jace has worked her tail off this year, it will be good to see all that hard work pay off.” 

Hanson has been swimming for eight years, but she has more than just one passion.  In addition to her ability on the pool, but she also has a passion for photography.

Looking through a camera lense, exploring different settings and editing techniques,"gives her a perspective on the the world in new in different ways," says Hanson.

She also feels that it's helped her be more open to the world around her and see each situation at different angles. It has helped her think of many solutions to problems by thinking creatively during her political science classes.

“It helps me to be more positive on a daily basis and to see the beauty in things many people wouldn’t think about looking at,” said Hanson. She also said that it has helped her meet many new and interesting people through their shared interest. She has curated a photography business for herself two years ago called JHanson Photography, with examples of her work available here.

An advocate for the empowerment of women of all ages, Hanson is featured on the website at sheofstrength.com, as a co-founder. “I believe young women are the foundation of a new outlook on life,” Hanson said when asked about why she wanted to join the site. She believes that in combining her love of photography, swimming and politics, she is an example of leadership and seeks inspire young women to find their passion and use it to change the world.


Hanson, who has worked at the Mankato YMCA as well as at Tourtellotte Park pool in the summer, where she is a head lifeguard at both pools and has been working there for three years. A six-year member of the Scarlet swim team at Mankato West as a high-schooler, she now serves as an assistant swim coach for the Scarlets.

With a dream job of working as a White House photographer, Hanson looks forward to continuing to pursue a political science degree and to grow her photography business.


                   Contributed by Morgan Seaton, Minnesota State Athletic Communications intern