FORT ATKINSON — The Monroe-New Glarus Cheese Knights competed in a triple-dual meet and came away with two victories, defeating Fort Atkinson 88-81 and Portage 103-55 on Sept. 22.

“At the halfway point, when the scores were announced, the girls kicked it into hyperdrive and finished the meet strong,” said head coach Rachel Root. “Every swimmer contributed and scored varsity points, making it a true team effort.”

The Cheese Knights had several first-place finishes throughout the meet. The 200 Medley Relay A team of Hadleigh Shunk, Lauryn Arnett, Lauren Zentner and Maggie Donohue took first place. Hadleigh also earned individual victories in the 200 IM and 100 Fly. Zentner won the 50 Free and 100 Free, to swim a season-best time in the 100 Free and break the one-minute mark. Kennedy Shunk had an outstanding swim in the 100 Back, earning first place with a lifetime-best time and dropping a full second. The 400 Free Relay A team of Kennedy Sysko, Hadleigh Shunk, Zentner and Arnett also finished first.

The team also had several strong second-place finishes. Arnett took second in the 500 Free after dropping three seconds from her season-best time and also finished second in the 100 Breaststroke, dropping another second from her season best. Chloe White earned second place in the 100 Back after swimming a season-best time and finishing with a strong final stretch.

The Cheese Knights added two third-place finishes: a relay, and Sysko in the 200 Free with a season-best time, finishing just one second off her lifetime best from the conference meet. The 200 Free Relay A team of Chloe White, Emma Funk, Donohue and Sysko also finished third.

There were plenty of additional highlights throughout the meet, Root said. Bella Houston dropped nine seconds from her season-best time in the 500 Free, while Anneliese Ramirez dropped 10 seconds in the 500 Free for a new lifetime best. Ramirez also dropped eight seconds from her lifetime-best time in the 200 IM.

“Kennedy Sysko had a great meet overall, including a one-second drop in her 100 Free,” Root said.

Audrey Collier competed in the 200 Free for the first time and scored varsity points. Funk dropped four seconds in her 100 Breaststroke, and Damaris Jimenez Lara dropped two seconds in the 50 Free to break the 40-second mark.

“It was a fantastic team effort ... with every swimmer contributing and helping the team finish the meet with energy, determination, and momentum,” Root said.