MONROE — The Monroe-New Glarus swim team went 2-2 in the Alternative Fall season this past winter and hope that this season will be even better. Nine varsity swimmers return, and there are a couple of young newcomers that have the program sitting optimistic with their chances this fall.

“Our team goal is to improve our conference standings and overall record,” said Rachel Root, co-head coach of the squad this year. “We would like to have the girls make personal records (PRs) and have individual events and relays make it to state.”

The last time the Cheesemakers co-op went to state was in 2019, but only two of those swimmers are back: Morgan Erstad and Karley Michels. Erstad, a junior, is one of three captains on the team this fall, along with Taylor Rufer and Elsa Schaefer. Co-head coach Haley Kaiser said Rufer and Schaefer have a strong work ethic and are natural-born leaders in and out of the pool.

“(They) display strong leadership skills as team captains,” Kaiser said. “An area we want to see improvement on this season is to increase positive mindsets during meets and at practice, making it enjoyable for the girls.”

Also back this year is Sammie Schiro, Peyton Yaun, Keeley Mulligan, Danica Doll and Riley Hoesly. Entering the varsity lineup will be Delaney Lynch, a year-round swimmer, and Mazie Paradis, a swimmer who, according to Root, “brings a lot of versatility to the team, strong in every stroke, big contributor for relays, great work ethic, and will be a leader for the team at practices and at meets.”

The versatility from the top to the bottom of the lineup is something the coaches are excited about. While each swimmer has their own event or two they excel at, each swimmer is also more than capable of stepping into another race for the betterment of the team.

“Our swimmers have the ability to be versatile in different events,” Kaiser said. 

Root said Edgewood will be the top team in the conference again, which isn’t much different from every other year in recent history. The Crusaders have won the state title the past six seasons.

“They have very strong and versatile swimmers that practice competitively year-round. They won state last year (Alternate Fall) when it was Division 1 and 2 combined,” Root said.

Last year Monroe-New Glarus defeated Monona Grove and Stoughton, but lost to Edgewood and DeForest. This season, the Cheesemakers open with a quad meet Aug. 31 at Edgewood which also features Oregon and McFarland. The first home meet is against Edgewood Sept. 14 at the Green County Family YMCA. Other home competitions include Sept. 28 against Portage, Oct. 12 against McFarland and Oct. 19 against Baraboo.