MADISON - New Glarus junior Maddie Hammer picked up a medal after tying for sixth-place in the 100-yard freestyle at the WIAA Division 2 state meet Friday at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium.
Grafton senior Mallory Fox won the state title in the 100 freestyle with a time of 50.46 seconds. Hammer and Wauwatosa West sophomore Julia Larson tied for sixth with a time of 53.70 seconds. It marked Hammer's season-best time.
"It was unbelievable," Monroe-New Glarus coach Linda Moser said. "She's worked so hard. To be able to cut time at the sectional and cut more time at state and get up on the podium is unbelievable. Words can't describe it. It was a great moment."
The Monroe-New Glarus girls swim team had four at state, the most since 2009. The Cheesemakers finished 20th at state with 26.5 points. Madison Edgewood repeated as Division 2 state champions, racking up 337 points and McFarland (224) was the state runner-up for the second straight year.
Hammer teamed with Monroe senior Skylar Lassen, Monroe sophomore Emily Meritt and sophomore Nina Schiro in the 400-yard freestyle relay to take 12th with a personal-record time of 3 minutes, 45.49 seconds, which broke the previous school record set in 2003 by .02 seconds.
"They all swam amazing splits," Moser said. "It was their best 100 splits ever. What more can you ask for? This is amazing."
The quartet of swimmers tapered for the Baraboo sectional, but tried to stay rested and ready for the state meet.
"I was surprised," Moser said. "They were all tapered for the sectional. We tried to hold the taper this week. They were feeling really good in practice last night. They were not tired and sore."
Schiro finished 14th in the 100 backstroke (1:02.77) and took 16th in the 500 freestyle (5:37.13).
"She (Schiro) was incredibly nervous," Moser said. "She was disappointed in herself that she didn't do better. She just needed to get that (state meet) under her belt. The first time is really nerve-wracking. If she did it all over again, I think she would have done better. Everyone has to have a first time and this was hers."
The Crusaders got a state titles from senior Ginger Lingard in diving, junior Kelly Rodriguez in the 200 freestyle (1:49.41), the 200 freestyle relay (1:36.30) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:27.97, which is a new state record. Edgewood had three of the top seven finishers in the 50- freestyle. Edgewood sophomore Kaitlyn Barth took third (24.03), sophomore teammate Issy Petersen finished fourth (24.07) and freshman Maeve O'Driscoll placed seventh (24.73). The Crusaders' 200 medley relay team finished third.
McFarland sophomore Alexandara Moderski repeated her state title in the 50 freestyle (23.09) and was the state runner-up in the 100 freestyle (50.58).
Three of the Monroe-New Glarus swimmers who were at state will be back next year.
"We are in the toughest sectional," Moser said. "I think that helps push them to be better."
Grafton senior Mallory Fox won the state title in the 100 freestyle with a time of 50.46 seconds. Hammer and Wauwatosa West sophomore Julia Larson tied for sixth with a time of 53.70 seconds. It marked Hammer's season-best time.
"It was unbelievable," Monroe-New Glarus coach Linda Moser said. "She's worked so hard. To be able to cut time at the sectional and cut more time at state and get up on the podium is unbelievable. Words can't describe it. It was a great moment."
The Monroe-New Glarus girls swim team had four at state, the most since 2009. The Cheesemakers finished 20th at state with 26.5 points. Madison Edgewood repeated as Division 2 state champions, racking up 337 points and McFarland (224) was the state runner-up for the second straight year.
Hammer teamed with Monroe senior Skylar Lassen, Monroe sophomore Emily Meritt and sophomore Nina Schiro in the 400-yard freestyle relay to take 12th with a personal-record time of 3 minutes, 45.49 seconds, which broke the previous school record set in 2003 by .02 seconds.
"They all swam amazing splits," Moser said. "It was their best 100 splits ever. What more can you ask for? This is amazing."
The quartet of swimmers tapered for the Baraboo sectional, but tried to stay rested and ready for the state meet.
"I was surprised," Moser said. "They were all tapered for the sectional. We tried to hold the taper this week. They were feeling really good in practice last night. They were not tired and sore."
Schiro finished 14th in the 100 backstroke (1:02.77) and took 16th in the 500 freestyle (5:37.13).
"She (Schiro) was incredibly nervous," Moser said. "She was disappointed in herself that she didn't do better. She just needed to get that (state meet) under her belt. The first time is really nerve-wracking. If she did it all over again, I think she would have done better. Everyone has to have a first time and this was hers."
The Crusaders got a state titles from senior Ginger Lingard in diving, junior Kelly Rodriguez in the 200 freestyle (1:49.41), the 200 freestyle relay (1:36.30) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:27.97, which is a new state record. Edgewood had three of the top seven finishers in the 50- freestyle. Edgewood sophomore Kaitlyn Barth took third (24.03), sophomore teammate Issy Petersen finished fourth (24.07) and freshman Maeve O'Driscoll placed seventh (24.73). The Crusaders' 200 medley relay team finished third.
McFarland sophomore Alexandara Moderski repeated her state title in the 50 freestyle (23.09) and was the state runner-up in the 100 freestyle (50.58).
Three of the Monroe-New Glarus swimmers who were at state will be back next year.
"We are in the toughest sectional," Moser said. "I think that helps push them to be better."
