MONROE — The Monroe-New Glarus swim team kicked off its Badger Conference slate with a rousing 105-65 victory over Monona Grove Aug. 27 in front of a full crowd at the Green County Family YMCA.

“They looked awesome. It was our first conference meet, so they really showed up when we needed them to,” said first-year coach Kendra Kalvin. “We’ve had great support. Rachel (Root) mentioned that this was the biggest crowd she had ever seen here.”

The Cheesemakers won eight of the 14 races, with Mekenzie Hammer winning two individual swims and helping win two relays. Hammer won the 200-yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:31.46 — nearly eight seconds faster than second-place Morgan Heilman of MG. Karley Michels of MNG was third in the race with a time of 2:55.36.

Hammer also won the 100-butterfly (1:08.96), with teammates Francesca and Samantha Schiro finishing second (1:15.02) and third (1:21.26). Hammer teamed with Michels, Alyssa Roelli and Morgan Erstad to win the 200-medley relay to open the night (2:09.05), and in the final race of the night, Hammer, Erstad, Roelli and Francesca Shiro won the 400-free relay (4:18.41) by over 17 seconds.

Michels won the 100-breaststroke (1:21.91), with teammate Anna Newcomer taking second (1:23.76). Erstad and Roelli finished second (1:10.43) and third (1:13.95) in the 100-backstroke, which was won by Heilman, a freshman.

Newcomer cruised to win the 400-freestyle (5:06.27), with teammate Taylor Rufer taking second (5:43.77) from Lane 1. 

Francesca Schiro won the 50-free (29.29), while teammate Kendra Wenger was third (30.38), just 2/100ths behind MGs Mary O’Malley.

Erstad took second in the 200-free (2:21.62) behind MG star Brianna Back (2:19.18). Kaitlyn Elgin of MNG was third (2:32.23). In the 100-free, Roelli (1:06.17) was second, with Wenger (1:07.27) third and Peyton Yaun (1:12.03) fourth, with Back winning the race (1:03.21).

MNG’s 200-free relay team of Elgin, Wenger, Michels and Francesca Schiro was second (2:02.12), less than three seconds behind MG (1:59.35).

“Elsa Schaefer pulled off some close races in the 200 IM and 100-breast. Laurel Houston helped her team by delivering fast swims in her legs of the 200-free and 200-medley relay. Overall it was a great meet,” Kalvin said. “I think tonight just showed our depth as a team. We have a lot of strong swimmers, but overall, we have an excellent team. You could even just see from the sidelines just how much they enjoy the sport and enjoy and support each other.” 

Kalvin and assistant Root, a Monroe graduate, took over the team this fall from longtime coach Linda Moser, who retired after last season. Kalvin said the team has been happy and willing to adjust to the change.

“They were extremely open to us. They were sad to see Linda (Moser) go after having her for such a long time, but I think we weren’t able to ask for a better response. They are willing to do anything we ask of them, even when we have asked a lot,” Kalvin said.

The team is still practicing outside, but Kalvin said the progression of the squad is right where her and Root want them to be.

“I think they are where we want them to be and where we planned for them to be,” Kalvin said.

The team has also opened the season swimming several events different from where they would expect to compete from. Hammer, for instance, went to state in each of the past two years in the backstroke. Against MG, Hammer used her backstroke skills in the medley races, but swam the butterfly instead.

“We’ve kind of changed it up a little bit and we have them swimming their normal events — they are swimming some of their off-events. I think that just also shows our depth,” Kalvin said. “We’ll focus in more on strokes in the next couple of meets, but right now we’re focusing on the team and showing our depth.”