MONROE — The Cheesemakers have just 13 swimmers on this year’s roster, which isn’t helpful in head-to-head dual meets. However, the smaller lineup just means the girls can come together a little bit more.

“This year is different, but exciting — 8 of our 13 girls are freshmen,” said Monroe-New Glarus co-coach Rachel Root after their 107-63 loss to Oregon in the home opener Sept. 8. “The team dynamic is really great this year with how they support one another. And they definitely work hard at practice and push each other.”

Fellow co-coach Haley Kaiser said the freshmen have transitioned well from club swimming to varsity. 

“There’s obviously a lot of differences, but they just kind of jumped in and ran with it,” Kaiser said. “I think our upperclassmen have done a great job at being leaders. You don’t really see a difference in age — they have all really meshed well together.”

Two days later, the Cheesemakers participated in the Lodi Invitational, narrowly finishing second out of five teams.

“During the season, during the dual meets, they are going to be tired, because we’re going to be pushing them in the starts, the turns and all of that. But if you want to be able to rest at the end of the season for their endurance, you have to push really hard during the season,” Root said. “The end of the season meets are the more important ones.”

Against Oregon, MNG swimmers won just two of the 11 events. In the invitational, the Cheesemakers won eight events and placed second three times.

Against Oregon, Anna Zentner won the 200-meter Individual Medley with a time of 2:42.80, while Megan Chapman was champion of the 400-freestyle at 4:54.60.

Top finishers at the Lodi Invitational:

●  200-yard Freestyle: Delaney Lynch, 2:07.75

●  50-yard Freestyle: Megan Chapman, 26.27

●  100-yard Butterfly: Anna Zentner, 1:05.61

●  100-yard Freestyle: Megan Chapman, :57.27

●  500-yard Freestyle: Riley Hoesly, 5:52.63

●  200-yard Frestyle Relay, 1:51.98: Megan Chapman, Riley Hoesly, Anna Zentner, Delaney Lynch

●  100-yard Backstroke: Anna Zentner, 1:09.01

●  400-yard Freestyle, 3:55.89: Anna Zentner, Riley Hoesly, Delaney Lynch, Megan Chapman

Second place:

●  200-yard medley relay, 2:13.06: Amelia Geib, Danika Doll, Piper Faber and Kristina Foley

●  200-yard IM: Riley Hoesly, 2:27.08

●  100-yard Butterfly: Delaney Lynch, 1:06.60