MONROE - Zachary Meighan has big dreams swimming in the summer for the Monroe Area Swim Team.
"I want to be like Michael Phelps," 9-year-old Meighan, of Monroe, said of the American Olympic legend.
Meighan did his part, winning three events in a dual meet against Evansville Tuesday, July 23. Meighan won the 100-meter freestyle (1 minute, 50.27 seconds), the 50 freestyle (51.76) and the 50 breaststroke (1:24.87).
Evansville defeated MAST in the final home dual meet this summer 1,203.5-706.5. Meighan, who is in his third year swimming for MAST, enjoys shooting for a personal-best time every time he swims.
"I like the freestyle because you don't have to take breaths a lot," he said.
Monroe's Emily Meritt, 12, had a hand in winning four events in the girls 11- to 12-year-old division. Meritt won three individual events including the 100 freestyle (1:36.9), the 50 backstroke (53.48) and the 50 butterfly (53.45). She teamed with Grace Mathiason, Kayleigh Nesbitt and Kayla Ferguson to win the 200 medley relay (3:40.60).
"I just do my best," Meritt said. "I was surprised to win."
Meritt said she enjoys swimming in the summer, adding "I like being with my friends and not sitting at home and doing nothing."
Hannah Swenson, 11, finished first in the 50 freestyle (43.82), which was just ahead of Nesbitt, who took second (45.19). Monroe's Karlie Dale, 12, won the 50 breaststroke (57.1) just ahead of Mathiason, who took second (59.15). Dale also took second in the 50 backstroke (58.68). Ferguson and Nesbitt teamed with Breanne Wilhite and Linnea Tabaka to win the 200 freestyle relay (2:53.88). Nesbitt added a second-place finish in the 50 butterfly (59.20).
Landon Knobel, 11, won the boys' 50 backstroke (1:03.57) and took second in the 50 butterfly (1:16.99).
Anna Newcomer, 10, won the girls 9- to 10-year-old 100 IM (1:53.66) and she finished first in both the 50 freestyle (45.76) and 50 breaststroke (59.34).
Megan Benzschawel, 10, also had a hand in winning four events. Individually, she won the 100 freestyle (1:33.63) and the 50 backstroke (54.91). Benzschawel and Newcomer teamed with Ellie Yates and Kalista Dale to win the 200 medley relay (4:20.87). Benzschawel and Newcomer teamed with Emma Holland and Elsa Schaefer to win the 200 freestyle (3:13.6). Benzschawel also added a second-place finish in the 50 breaststroke (1:00.88).
Holland took second in the 50 freestyle (52.21) and second in the 50 breaststroke (1:06.82). Savannah Brandt, 13, won the girls 13- to 14-year-old 50 freestyle (37.07), the 50 breaststroke (56.74) and the 50 backstroke (48.40).
"The water was easy to swim through," said Brandt, who will be a seventh-grader in the fall.
Brandt swims for the Green County Golden Gators YMCA swim team in the winter and MAST in the summer.
"It's not as competitive as the winter," Brandt said of MAST. "You get to have fun with everyone. My goal is to beat my time and do better each time."
Anna Meritt, 15, of Monroe, finished first in the girls 15- to 18-year-old 50 freestyle (37.88) and she took first in the 50 backstroke (45.32). Teammate Alyssa Sinkule, 15, won the 50 butterfly (55.73) and took second in the 50 freestyle (44.32).
In the 8 and younger girls' division, Monroe's Norma Parr, 8, won the 25 backstroke (29.81) and 25 breaststroke (42.68), which was just 0.5 seconds ahead of teammate Addison Yates, who finished second (42.73). Teammate Helen Marty won the 50 freestyle (55.90) and 25 butterfly (38.29). Monroe's 100 medley relay team of Helen Marty, Addison Yates, Ruth Marty and Mya Scace won with a time of 2:34.4. The same quartet teamed up to win the 100 freestyle relay (2:24.92). Ruth Marty took second in the 25 freestyle (31.40). Dayne Garwell, 8, took first in the boys' 8 and younger 25 backstroke (44.41).
"I want to be like Michael Phelps," 9-year-old Meighan, of Monroe, said of the American Olympic legend.
Meighan did his part, winning three events in a dual meet against Evansville Tuesday, July 23. Meighan won the 100-meter freestyle (1 minute, 50.27 seconds), the 50 freestyle (51.76) and the 50 breaststroke (1:24.87).
Evansville defeated MAST in the final home dual meet this summer 1,203.5-706.5. Meighan, who is in his third year swimming for MAST, enjoys shooting for a personal-best time every time he swims.
"I like the freestyle because you don't have to take breaths a lot," he said.
Monroe's Emily Meritt, 12, had a hand in winning four events in the girls 11- to 12-year-old division. Meritt won three individual events including the 100 freestyle (1:36.9), the 50 backstroke (53.48) and the 50 butterfly (53.45). She teamed with Grace Mathiason, Kayleigh Nesbitt and Kayla Ferguson to win the 200 medley relay (3:40.60).
"I just do my best," Meritt said. "I was surprised to win."
Meritt said she enjoys swimming in the summer, adding "I like being with my friends and not sitting at home and doing nothing."
Hannah Swenson, 11, finished first in the 50 freestyle (43.82), which was just ahead of Nesbitt, who took second (45.19). Monroe's Karlie Dale, 12, won the 50 breaststroke (57.1) just ahead of Mathiason, who took second (59.15). Dale also took second in the 50 backstroke (58.68). Ferguson and Nesbitt teamed with Breanne Wilhite and Linnea Tabaka to win the 200 freestyle relay (2:53.88). Nesbitt added a second-place finish in the 50 butterfly (59.20).
Landon Knobel, 11, won the boys' 50 backstroke (1:03.57) and took second in the 50 butterfly (1:16.99).
Anna Newcomer, 10, won the girls 9- to 10-year-old 100 IM (1:53.66) and she finished first in both the 50 freestyle (45.76) and 50 breaststroke (59.34).
Megan Benzschawel, 10, also had a hand in winning four events. Individually, she won the 100 freestyle (1:33.63) and the 50 backstroke (54.91). Benzschawel and Newcomer teamed with Ellie Yates and Kalista Dale to win the 200 medley relay (4:20.87). Benzschawel and Newcomer teamed with Emma Holland and Elsa Schaefer to win the 200 freestyle (3:13.6). Benzschawel also added a second-place finish in the 50 breaststroke (1:00.88).
Holland took second in the 50 freestyle (52.21) and second in the 50 breaststroke (1:06.82). Savannah Brandt, 13, won the girls 13- to 14-year-old 50 freestyle (37.07), the 50 breaststroke (56.74) and the 50 backstroke (48.40).
"The water was easy to swim through," said Brandt, who will be a seventh-grader in the fall.
Brandt swims for the Green County Golden Gators YMCA swim team in the winter and MAST in the summer.
"It's not as competitive as the winter," Brandt said of MAST. "You get to have fun with everyone. My goal is to beat my time and do better each time."
Anna Meritt, 15, of Monroe, finished first in the girls 15- to 18-year-old 50 freestyle (37.88) and she took first in the 50 backstroke (45.32). Teammate Alyssa Sinkule, 15, won the 50 butterfly (55.73) and took second in the 50 freestyle (44.32).
In the 8 and younger girls' division, Monroe's Norma Parr, 8, won the 25 backstroke (29.81) and 25 breaststroke (42.68), which was just 0.5 seconds ahead of teammate Addison Yates, who finished second (42.73). Teammate Helen Marty won the 50 freestyle (55.90) and 25 butterfly (38.29). Monroe's 100 medley relay team of Helen Marty, Addison Yates, Ruth Marty and Mya Scace won with a time of 2:34.4. The same quartet teamed up to win the 100 freestyle relay (2:24.92). Ruth Marty took second in the 25 freestyle (31.40). Dayne Garwell, 8, took first in the boys' 8 and younger 25 backstroke (44.41).
