MONROE - Swimming against the state's No. 2 ranked team on Senior Night brought out the best in Monroe's Rachel Root Tuesday night at the Green County YMCA.
Milton, ranked second in the Wisconsin Swim Coaches Association Division 2 poll, outdistanced the Cheesemakers 118-52 to win the dual meet. However, Root set two school records. She won the 200-meter individual medley with a school record time of 2 minutes, 27.41 seconds. Root's performance broke the previous record set by Abby Mayer in 2000. Root won the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:05.59, which set a school record and was eight hundredths of a second away from a pool record. The previous school record was held by Alana Bader.
"I'm really excited especially since it's Senior Night," Root said. "It's my last home meet, and I wanted to do well. This has been one of the most fun years with the girls on the team. We work hard and are like a big family."
The Red Hawks set two pool records, in the 200 freestyle relay (1:52.42) and in the 400 freestyle relay (4:07.22).
Monroe coach Linda Moser was pleased with how her team performed against the strong Milton squad.
"I was a little afraid coming in because I didn't want them to feel defeated before they got in the pool and that didn't happen," Moser said. "I didn't feel like they gave up. They (Milton) are definitely going to state and will be a contender for first place."
The Cheesemakers' 400 freestyle relay team of Anika Nelson, Briana Katzenberger, Sarah Kind and Root finished second with a time of 4:35.40.
"They did an outstanding job," Moser said. "They out-touched (Milton) by a finger."
Root also teamed with Angie Beaver, Katzenberger and Kind to take second in the 200 medley relay (2:15.43), and Katzenberger added a third place finish in the 50 freestyle (30.85).
"I think that was an amazing race," Moser said of Katzenberger's 50 free. "She showed determination in her stroke."
Root plans to swim in college, but she is still undecided where she will go. She said it would probably be a school in the Midwest, within six hours of Monroe.
Moser has a strong feeling that Root will become a four-time state qualifier.
"I'm very confident that Rachel will make it to state," Moser said. "She has the work ethic, want and ability to get there."
Milton, ranked second in the Wisconsin Swim Coaches Association Division 2 poll, outdistanced the Cheesemakers 118-52 to win the dual meet. However, Root set two school records. She won the 200-meter individual medley with a school record time of 2 minutes, 27.41 seconds. Root's performance broke the previous record set by Abby Mayer in 2000. Root won the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:05.59, which set a school record and was eight hundredths of a second away from a pool record. The previous school record was held by Alana Bader.
"I'm really excited especially since it's Senior Night," Root said. "It's my last home meet, and I wanted to do well. This has been one of the most fun years with the girls on the team. We work hard and are like a big family."
The Red Hawks set two pool records, in the 200 freestyle relay (1:52.42) and in the 400 freestyle relay (4:07.22).
Monroe coach Linda Moser was pleased with how her team performed against the strong Milton squad.
"I was a little afraid coming in because I didn't want them to feel defeated before they got in the pool and that didn't happen," Moser said. "I didn't feel like they gave up. They (Milton) are definitely going to state and will be a contender for first place."
The Cheesemakers' 400 freestyle relay team of Anika Nelson, Briana Katzenberger, Sarah Kind and Root finished second with a time of 4:35.40.
"They did an outstanding job," Moser said. "They out-touched (Milton) by a finger."
Root also teamed with Angie Beaver, Katzenberger and Kind to take second in the 200 medley relay (2:15.43), and Katzenberger added a third place finish in the 50 freestyle (30.85).
"I think that was an amazing race," Moser said of Katzenberger's 50 free. "She showed determination in her stroke."
Root plans to swim in college, but she is still undecided where she will go. She said it would probably be a school in the Midwest, within six hours of Monroe.
Moser has a strong feeling that Root will become a four-time state qualifier.
"I'm very confident that Rachel will make it to state," Moser said. "She has the work ethic, want and ability to get there."
