MONROE - The Green County Golden Gators swimming team took advantage of a home pool advantage to win the Toyland Invitational on Saturday.
The Gators won the championship in a landslide 1,354-591 over the YMCA of Dane County. The YMCA of Dodge County Sea Drago took third (223).
"It's our first home meet with everyone swimming together," Gators coach Brenda Ritschard said. "It's our big fundraiser."
Ritschard also pointed to the fact that athletes in other sports can benefit from swimming.
"Swimming is the best sport for all-around endurance," she said.
Eli Zimmerman, 8, of New Glarus, won four individual events in the 8 and younger division including the 25-meter backstroke (21.11 seconds), 25 butterfly (:20.31) and 25 freestyle (16.76) and 100 IM (1:42.5).
Zimmerman said his favorite stroke to swim is the freestyle.
"The freestyle is easier because that is what I learned on," Zimmerman said. "I wanted to try to beat my time in the 25 freestyle."
Grant Keith, 16, finished first in the boys open 100 butterfly (1:06.53) and he won the open 200 IM (2:34.18) and 100 breaststroke (1:27.47).
Kelvin Johnson, 17, took first in the 50 freestyle (:25.84) just ahead of Grant Keith who finished second (:25.98). Johnson also won the open 200 freestyle (2:14). Grant's brother, Mitch Keith, 14, finished second in the open 100 butterfly (1:17.41), second in the 200 freestyle (2:29.30), third in the 50 freestyle (:30.41) and third in the 100 backstroke (1:20.64).
Mitch Einbeck, 16, won the open 100 backstroke with a time of 1:19.36 and took second in the 100 breaststroke (1:31.32) and 100 freestyle (1:09.80).
Zach Meighan, 8, finished first in the 8 and younger 25 breaststroke (:29.98) and Mason Yaun was second (:30.18). Meighan took second in the 100 IM (2:00.89) and added third place finishes in the 25 freestyle (:20.23) and the 25 butterfly (:26.78). Jacob Piper, 7, took third in the 25 backstroke (:25.87).
Marissa Berg, 16, finished first in the girls open 100 breaststroke (1:21.60) and first in the open 50 freestyle (:28.29). Rachel Root, 17, won the girls open 200 IM (2:34.54) and the 100 butterfly (1:11.79). Anna Wolf won the girls open 200 freestyle (2:34.97) just ahead of teammate Angie Beaver who took second (2:41.18) and Lexie Eisch who was third (2:46.59). Wolf took second in the open 200 IM (2:56.65) and second in the 100 butterfly (1:21.35). Wolf teamed with Monica Sefcik, Eisch and Regan Andersen to win the open 200 medley relay with a time of 2:32.53. Wolf also added a third place in the 50 freestyle (:30.88).
The Gators swept the top three spots in the girls open 100 freestyle. Eisch won the 100 freestyle (1:10.81) just ahead of Skylar Lassen who took second (1:15.17). Anna Meritt took third (1:15.58). The Gators also swept the top three spots in the 100 backstroke. Sarah Kind won the 100 backstroke (1:17.82) and Beaver was second (1:21.29). Lassen finished third (1:25.82).
Sefcik finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:42.1) and Andersen took third in the breaststroke (1:42.29).
Morgan Erstad, 8, won the 8 and younger 100 IM with a time of 1:49.28 and she took second in the 25 freestyle (:18.62) and third in the 25 butterfly (:23.25).
Erstad was looking to add to her state cut times that already include the 100 IM, 25 backstroke and 50 butterfly.
"I just wanted to get another state cut," Erstad said.
Erstad said she enjoys the competition of swimming.
Ellie Eichelkraut, 8, won the 25 butterfly (:21.72) just ahead of teammate Samantha Schiro who took second (:22.67). Eichelkraut finished second in the 100 IM (1:50.40) and Schiro was third (2:02.78). Elsa Schaefer finished second in the 25 breaststroke (:26.62) and Eichelkraut was third (:26.82). Kelly Wetteland, 8, took second in the 25 backstroke (:24.38). Schaefer added third place finishes in the 25 backstroke (:24.91) and 25 freestyle (:21.16).
Schaefer teamed with Keeley Mulligan, Hailey Thompson and Eichelkraut to finish third in the 100 freestyle relay with a time of 1:46.92.
With an influx of young swimmers including 12 6-year-olds and three 5-year-olds, showcasing their talents in the pool to the home crowd was important.
"We wanted them to swim well because they have all been working really hard," Ritschard said.
The Gators won the championship in a landslide 1,354-591 over the YMCA of Dane County. The YMCA of Dodge County Sea Drago took third (223).
"It's our first home meet with everyone swimming together," Gators coach Brenda Ritschard said. "It's our big fundraiser."
Ritschard also pointed to the fact that athletes in other sports can benefit from swimming.
"Swimming is the best sport for all-around endurance," she said.
Eli Zimmerman, 8, of New Glarus, won four individual events in the 8 and younger division including the 25-meter backstroke (21.11 seconds), 25 butterfly (:20.31) and 25 freestyle (16.76) and 100 IM (1:42.5).
Zimmerman said his favorite stroke to swim is the freestyle.
"The freestyle is easier because that is what I learned on," Zimmerman said. "I wanted to try to beat my time in the 25 freestyle."
Grant Keith, 16, finished first in the boys open 100 butterfly (1:06.53) and he won the open 200 IM (2:34.18) and 100 breaststroke (1:27.47).
Kelvin Johnson, 17, took first in the 50 freestyle (:25.84) just ahead of Grant Keith who finished second (:25.98). Johnson also won the open 200 freestyle (2:14). Grant's brother, Mitch Keith, 14, finished second in the open 100 butterfly (1:17.41), second in the 200 freestyle (2:29.30), third in the 50 freestyle (:30.41) and third in the 100 backstroke (1:20.64).
Mitch Einbeck, 16, won the open 100 backstroke with a time of 1:19.36 and took second in the 100 breaststroke (1:31.32) and 100 freestyle (1:09.80).
Zach Meighan, 8, finished first in the 8 and younger 25 breaststroke (:29.98) and Mason Yaun was second (:30.18). Meighan took second in the 100 IM (2:00.89) and added third place finishes in the 25 freestyle (:20.23) and the 25 butterfly (:26.78). Jacob Piper, 7, took third in the 25 backstroke (:25.87).
Marissa Berg, 16, finished first in the girls open 100 breaststroke (1:21.60) and first in the open 50 freestyle (:28.29). Rachel Root, 17, won the girls open 200 IM (2:34.54) and the 100 butterfly (1:11.79). Anna Wolf won the girls open 200 freestyle (2:34.97) just ahead of teammate Angie Beaver who took second (2:41.18) and Lexie Eisch who was third (2:46.59). Wolf took second in the open 200 IM (2:56.65) and second in the 100 butterfly (1:21.35). Wolf teamed with Monica Sefcik, Eisch and Regan Andersen to win the open 200 medley relay with a time of 2:32.53. Wolf also added a third place in the 50 freestyle (:30.88).
The Gators swept the top three spots in the girls open 100 freestyle. Eisch won the 100 freestyle (1:10.81) just ahead of Skylar Lassen who took second (1:15.17). Anna Meritt took third (1:15.58). The Gators also swept the top three spots in the 100 backstroke. Sarah Kind won the 100 backstroke (1:17.82) and Beaver was second (1:21.29). Lassen finished third (1:25.82).
Sefcik finished second in the 100 breaststroke (1:42.1) and Andersen took third in the breaststroke (1:42.29).
Morgan Erstad, 8, won the 8 and younger 100 IM with a time of 1:49.28 and she took second in the 25 freestyle (:18.62) and third in the 25 butterfly (:23.25).
Erstad was looking to add to her state cut times that already include the 100 IM, 25 backstroke and 50 butterfly.
"I just wanted to get another state cut," Erstad said.
Erstad said she enjoys the competition of swimming.
Ellie Eichelkraut, 8, won the 25 butterfly (:21.72) just ahead of teammate Samantha Schiro who took second (:22.67). Eichelkraut finished second in the 100 IM (1:50.40) and Schiro was third (2:02.78). Elsa Schaefer finished second in the 25 breaststroke (:26.62) and Eichelkraut was third (:26.82). Kelly Wetteland, 8, took second in the 25 backstroke (:24.38). Schaefer added third place finishes in the 25 backstroke (:24.91) and 25 freestyle (:21.16).
Schaefer teamed with Keeley Mulligan, Hailey Thompson and Eichelkraut to finish third in the 100 freestyle relay with a time of 1:46.92.
With an influx of young swimmers including 12 6-year-olds and three 5-year-olds, showcasing their talents in the pool to the home crowd was important.
"We wanted them to swim well because they have all been working really hard," Ritschard said.
