BARABOO - The Monroe swimming team turned in a record setting day as four girls qualified for the state meet in five events and one relay after the WIAA Division 2 sectional in Baraboo Saturday.
Monroe freshman Rachel Root finished third in the 100 backstroke (:59.99) to break Alanna Bader's school record of 1 minute, .50 seconds set in 2006, and qualified for state. Root also qualified for state in the 200 individual medley by finishing third (2:17.84).
Monroe senior Jessica Weeden broke her own record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:58.75 to qualify for state. Weeden also made the state meet after finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly with a personal record of 1:01.96.
Monroe finished seventh as a team at the 13-team sectional and set personal records in 18 of its 21 swims.
Although Monroe didn't earn any automatic bids to state, the Cheesemakers state qualifiers received great news Sunday when the WIAA released its 12 fastest Division 2 times in each event; being in the top 12 allowed the swimmers to advance.
"It was a day full of excitement and tears of joy as the girls swam their hearts out," Monroe coach Linda Moser said. "They set out and accomplished what they had worked a whole season for. The smiles on their faces when they saw the clock was priceless. The unfortunate part is there is also that lingering sadness knowing that for some they just swam their last meet of the their high school career, yet going out with a PR is something to be very proud of."
The Cheesemakers had two of the sectional's top 200 individual medley swimmers as junior Leanna Schwartzlow qualified for state with a fourth-place finish in (2:17.89). Schwartzlow added a fifth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and qualified for state with a PR of 1:11.75.
The Cheesemakers' 200 medley relay team of senior Randi Robertson, Schwartzlow, Root and Weeden finished sixth with a PR of 1:55.81 to qualify for state.
Monroe senior Kendell Niffenegger teamed with Root, Schwartzlow and Weeden to take sixth in the 200 freestyle with a PR of 1:44.68.
Robertson took seventh in the 100 backstroke with a PR of 1:03.99. Jess Moehn finished 16th (1:09.42) and Jolene DeNure, 20th (1:13.01) also swam personal best times in the backstroke.
The Cheesemakers' 400 freestyle relay team of Sara Heitkamp, Cat Weeden, Robertson and Niffenegger finished ninth with a PR of 4:01.35.
Three other Cheesemaker swimmers swam personal bests in the 100 butterfly including Niffenegger, 13th (1:06.33), Heitkamp, 15th (1:06.85) and DeNure, 18th (1:10.19).
Nichole Lattin finished 18th in the 200 freestyle with a PR of 2:16.05 and Niffenegger took 19th in the 50 freestyle in a personal best 27.01 seconds.
In the 500 freestyle, Cat Weeden finished 13th with a PR of 5:58.62 and Sarah Kind took 32nd in the 100 freestyle (1:03.91).
Monroe freshman Rachel Root finished third in the 100 backstroke (:59.99) to break Alanna Bader's school record of 1 minute, .50 seconds set in 2006, and qualified for state. Root also qualified for state in the 200 individual medley by finishing third (2:17.84).
Monroe senior Jessica Weeden broke her own record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:58.75 to qualify for state. Weeden also made the state meet after finishing fourth in the 100 butterfly with a personal record of 1:01.96.
Monroe finished seventh as a team at the 13-team sectional and set personal records in 18 of its 21 swims.
Although Monroe didn't earn any automatic bids to state, the Cheesemakers state qualifiers received great news Sunday when the WIAA released its 12 fastest Division 2 times in each event; being in the top 12 allowed the swimmers to advance.
"It was a day full of excitement and tears of joy as the girls swam their hearts out," Monroe coach Linda Moser said. "They set out and accomplished what they had worked a whole season for. The smiles on their faces when they saw the clock was priceless. The unfortunate part is there is also that lingering sadness knowing that for some they just swam their last meet of the their high school career, yet going out with a PR is something to be very proud of."
The Cheesemakers had two of the sectional's top 200 individual medley swimmers as junior Leanna Schwartzlow qualified for state with a fourth-place finish in (2:17.89). Schwartzlow added a fifth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and qualified for state with a PR of 1:11.75.
The Cheesemakers' 200 medley relay team of senior Randi Robertson, Schwartzlow, Root and Weeden finished sixth with a PR of 1:55.81 to qualify for state.
Monroe senior Kendell Niffenegger teamed with Root, Schwartzlow and Weeden to take sixth in the 200 freestyle with a PR of 1:44.68.
Robertson took seventh in the 100 backstroke with a PR of 1:03.99. Jess Moehn finished 16th (1:09.42) and Jolene DeNure, 20th (1:13.01) also swam personal best times in the backstroke.
The Cheesemakers' 400 freestyle relay team of Sara Heitkamp, Cat Weeden, Robertson and Niffenegger finished ninth with a PR of 4:01.35.
Three other Cheesemaker swimmers swam personal bests in the 100 butterfly including Niffenegger, 13th (1:06.33), Heitkamp, 15th (1:06.85) and DeNure, 18th (1:10.19).
Nichole Lattin finished 18th in the 200 freestyle with a PR of 2:16.05 and Niffenegger took 19th in the 50 freestyle in a personal best 27.01 seconds.
In the 500 freestyle, Cat Weeden finished 13th with a PR of 5:58.62 and Sarah Kind took 32nd in the 100 freestyle (1:03.91).
