MONROE - The Monroe-New Glarus girls swim team has closed the gap with Badger South Conference power Madison Edgewood, but the Crusaders proved why they are the top-ranked team in the state Tuesday.
Madison Edgewood won 10 of the 11 events to hand Monroe-New Glarus its first dual meet loss 104-66 at the Green County Family YMCA. With the loss, the Cheesemakers drop to 6-1 overall and 4-1 Badger South in dual meets.
"We wanted it to be as close as we could make it," said Monroe-New Glarus senior Maddie Hammer, who won the 100-meter freestyle. "We came in knowing they are really strong and are the top team in the state. I just didn't want us to have a mindset that we were going to lose. I wanted us to come in and do our total best."
Edgewood has seven individual swimmers ranked in the top five in the state in 13 events, led by senior Kelly Rodriguez, who has the top times in the 200 freestyle (1:54.84) and 500 freestyle (5:08.28). Edgewood sophomore Jenna Silvestri has the best times in the state in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.10) and 200 individual medley (2:00.70). The Crusaders also have the state's top relay times in the 200-yard medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle.
"Not all of our swimmers were in their best events because we wanted to mix it up," Monroe-New Glarus coach Linda Moser said. "It's so they don't get stuck in a rut and because we are nursing some injuries. I think they swam very well. They were much more competitive this year than last year when we lost by 55 points. It's a step in the right direction. I know going in they were hoping to stay within 20 points. That would have been phenomenal."
The one race the Cheesemakers won came from Hammer in the 100 freestyle where she finished with a time of 1 minute, 1.37 seconds. The Crusaders won all three relays and swept the top two spots in the 100 butterfly and 400 freestyle.
"I knew they didn't have all of their best swimmers in that event," Hammer said of the 100 freestyle. "I wanted to come back from the 200 freestyle and know that I did my best."
Hammer took second in the 200 freestyle (2:19.07), which was about eight seconds behind Edgewood sophomore DeeDee Walker who won the race.
"Maddie was disappointed with her race in the 200 freestyle," Moser said. "I just told her to forget about it and move on. The 100 is Maddie's race. She came back in the 100 freestyle and was the first one off the block."
Monroe-New Glarus freshman Mekenzie Hammer finished second in the 50 freestyle (29.73), which was just behind Rodriguez who won the race (27.14). Rodriguez also won the 100 breaststroke (1:17.83) and was part of the Crusaders' winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. Mekenzie Hammer added a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:22.93).
A showdown between Mekenzie Hammer, ranked second in the state in the 100 backstroke (59.3 seconds), and Edgewood's Kaitlyn Barth didn't happen. Barth won the 100 backstroke (1:09.76), but Mekenzie Hammer didn't swim in the race because she's battling a shoulder injury.
"We don't want her hurt at the end of the season," Moser said. "That is why we rested her and wanted to take care of it now."
Mekenzie and Maddie Hammer teamed with senior Grace Keith and junior Cammi Ganshert to take second in the 200 medley relay (2:09.74). The Cheesemakers' 200 freestyle relay team of Keith, junior Emily Meritt, freshman Megan Benzschawel and Ganshert took second (2:06.22).
Monroe-New Glarus sophomore Francesca Schiro finished second in the 200 IM (2:47.24), which was about 12 seconds behind Edgewood junior Issy Petersen, who took first (2:35.33). Nina Schiro placed second in the 100 backstroke (1:12.58).
The Schiro and Hammer sisters combined to finish second in the 400 freestyle relay (4:24.67). The Crusaders' state-best time in the 400-yard freestyle relay this season is 3:38.65.
Madison Edgewood won 10 of the 11 events to hand Monroe-New Glarus its first dual meet loss 104-66 at the Green County Family YMCA. With the loss, the Cheesemakers drop to 6-1 overall and 4-1 Badger South in dual meets.
"We wanted it to be as close as we could make it," said Monroe-New Glarus senior Maddie Hammer, who won the 100-meter freestyle. "We came in knowing they are really strong and are the top team in the state. I just didn't want us to have a mindset that we were going to lose. I wanted us to come in and do our total best."
Edgewood has seven individual swimmers ranked in the top five in the state in 13 events, led by senior Kelly Rodriguez, who has the top times in the 200 freestyle (1:54.84) and 500 freestyle (5:08.28). Edgewood sophomore Jenna Silvestri has the best times in the state in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.10) and 200 individual medley (2:00.70). The Crusaders also have the state's top relay times in the 200-yard medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle.
"Not all of our swimmers were in their best events because we wanted to mix it up," Monroe-New Glarus coach Linda Moser said. "It's so they don't get stuck in a rut and because we are nursing some injuries. I think they swam very well. They were much more competitive this year than last year when we lost by 55 points. It's a step in the right direction. I know going in they were hoping to stay within 20 points. That would have been phenomenal."
The one race the Cheesemakers won came from Hammer in the 100 freestyle where she finished with a time of 1 minute, 1.37 seconds. The Crusaders won all three relays and swept the top two spots in the 100 butterfly and 400 freestyle.
"I knew they didn't have all of their best swimmers in that event," Hammer said of the 100 freestyle. "I wanted to come back from the 200 freestyle and know that I did my best."
Hammer took second in the 200 freestyle (2:19.07), which was about eight seconds behind Edgewood sophomore DeeDee Walker who won the race.
"Maddie was disappointed with her race in the 200 freestyle," Moser said. "I just told her to forget about it and move on. The 100 is Maddie's race. She came back in the 100 freestyle and was the first one off the block."
Monroe-New Glarus freshman Mekenzie Hammer finished second in the 50 freestyle (29.73), which was just behind Rodriguez who won the race (27.14). Rodriguez also won the 100 breaststroke (1:17.83) and was part of the Crusaders' winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. Mekenzie Hammer added a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:22.93).
A showdown between Mekenzie Hammer, ranked second in the state in the 100 backstroke (59.3 seconds), and Edgewood's Kaitlyn Barth didn't happen. Barth won the 100 backstroke (1:09.76), but Mekenzie Hammer didn't swim in the race because she's battling a shoulder injury.
"We don't want her hurt at the end of the season," Moser said. "That is why we rested her and wanted to take care of it now."
Mekenzie and Maddie Hammer teamed with senior Grace Keith and junior Cammi Ganshert to take second in the 200 medley relay (2:09.74). The Cheesemakers' 200 freestyle relay team of Keith, junior Emily Meritt, freshman Megan Benzschawel and Ganshert took second (2:06.22).
Monroe-New Glarus sophomore Francesca Schiro finished second in the 200 IM (2:47.24), which was about 12 seconds behind Edgewood junior Issy Petersen, who took first (2:35.33). Nina Schiro placed second in the 100 backstroke (1:12.58).
The Schiro and Hammer sisters combined to finish second in the 400 freestyle relay (4:24.67). The Crusaders' state-best time in the 400-yard freestyle relay this season is 3:38.65.
