MONROE - Marissa Berg turned in a riveting performance in winning three individual races and breaking the 100-meter freestyle record at the 55th annual Dr. Stiles Invitational on Saturday.
Berg, 12, of Monroe broke Elyse Radke's nine-year-old record to win the 11-12 year-old 100 freestyle swim with a time of 1 minute, 7.20 seconds. She also won the 50 freestyle (:29.74) and 50 backstroke (:38.51) to help Monroe swim to a third-place finish. The Platteville Swim Club surged to the Dr. Stiles championship by outdistancing South Central, 1,451-1,163.5.
"It feels good to break a nine-year old record," Berg said. "I knew I could get it if I really tried hard."
Berg said she wants to get strong for the upcoming Gator season and is trying to get back down to her 50 freestyle time of 24 seconds she had with the Gators this past season.
Berg teamed with Allie Coplien, Elizabeth Dale and Angie Beaver to win the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:39.44. The same quartet combined to finish first in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 2:16.37.
Alyssa Dale finished second in the 11-12 competition in the 50 butterfly (:37.41). Elizabeth Dale took second in three individual events in the 13-14 division including 50 freestyle (:32.98), 100 freestyle (1:13.65) and in the 50 backstroke (:38.51).
Anna Merritt, 10, Monroe, also had an amazing meet as she won three individual races in the 9-10 division, the 50 freestyle (:38.73), 100 freestyle (1:25.20) and the 50 butterfly (:46.15).
Merritt outdistanced Sugar River's Reagan Anderson by more than three seconds to win the 50 butterfly.
Anderson won the 50 breaststroke (:50.8). Merritt is in her fourth year swimming for MAST.
Merritt said the 50 butterfly is her best stroke.
"I like getting to hang out with my friends and winning awards when I do really good," she said.
Leanna Schwartzlow, who will be a junior at Monroe High School, took first in the 50 breaststroke (:39.45) and in the 200 individual medley (2:52.48). She added a second place finish in the 200 freestyle where Lake Geneva's Terrin Seaver won the race and broke Abby Mayer's record, set in 1998.
Monroe Area Swim Team took the top two spots in the 15-18 breaststroke as Nichole Lattin finished second with a time of :43.75.
Rachel Root in the 13-14 year-old division won three individual races including the 50 butterfly (:33.89), 100 freestyle (1:09.54) and 200 individual medley (2:53.70).
Root teamed with Schwartzlow, Lisa Lang and Emma Fenner to win the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:28.06. Lang added a second place finish in the 15-18 year-old 50 butterfly (:36.98).
Grace Keith won the 8 and under 50 freestyle (:44.78) and the 25 butterfly (:20.58). She finished second in the 25 breaststroke (:30.92).
Schwartzlow, who coaches the second level of the 8-and-under MAST swimmers, has a long-term goal in mind.
"I want them to get better throughout the year and probably move up to the next level next year," Schwartzlow said.
The 8-and-under swimmers have been working to fine tune techniques in the freestyle in practice.
"They like to chop a lot," Schwartzlow said is a tendency of younger swimmers. "They don't like to stretch out their arms because they are so excited to get to the other end."
Mitch Keith, 11, Monroe, didn't have any problems stretching out to win the boys 11-12 year-old 50 butterfly (:41.57). He took second in the 100 freestyle (1:21.32).
Mitch Keith has swam three years for MAST and will be entering his third year swimming for the YMCA Gators.
Keith said his favorite event is the 50 free.
"I just like that because it's my best stroke," he said.
Grant Keith in the boys 13-14 division finished second in the 50 butterfly (:36.7) and third in the 50 freestyle (:31.42).
Monroe's 11-12 division 200 medley relay team of Peyton Stauffacher, Joel Faith, Niven Tomasiewicz and Jack Rogerson took second with a time of 4:49.38.
Rogerson finished second in the 8-and-under 25 butterfly (:36.48), third in the 25 freestyle (:26.55) and fourth in the 25 backstroke (:30.68).
Sugar River's Noah Zimmerman won the 9-10 division of the 50 butterfly (:54.82) and the 50 breaststroke (:56.59). He added a second place finish in the 50 freestyle (:40.79).
Berg, 12, of Monroe broke Elyse Radke's nine-year-old record to win the 11-12 year-old 100 freestyle swim with a time of 1 minute, 7.20 seconds. She also won the 50 freestyle (:29.74) and 50 backstroke (:38.51) to help Monroe swim to a third-place finish. The Platteville Swim Club surged to the Dr. Stiles championship by outdistancing South Central, 1,451-1,163.5.
"It feels good to break a nine-year old record," Berg said. "I knew I could get it if I really tried hard."
Berg said she wants to get strong for the upcoming Gator season and is trying to get back down to her 50 freestyle time of 24 seconds she had with the Gators this past season.
Berg teamed with Allie Coplien, Elizabeth Dale and Angie Beaver to win the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:39.44. The same quartet combined to finish first in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 2:16.37.
Alyssa Dale finished second in the 11-12 competition in the 50 butterfly (:37.41). Elizabeth Dale took second in three individual events in the 13-14 division including 50 freestyle (:32.98), 100 freestyle (1:13.65) and in the 50 backstroke (:38.51).
Anna Merritt, 10, Monroe, also had an amazing meet as she won three individual races in the 9-10 division, the 50 freestyle (:38.73), 100 freestyle (1:25.20) and the 50 butterfly (:46.15).
Merritt outdistanced Sugar River's Reagan Anderson by more than three seconds to win the 50 butterfly.
Anderson won the 50 breaststroke (:50.8). Merritt is in her fourth year swimming for MAST.
Merritt said the 50 butterfly is her best stroke.
"I like getting to hang out with my friends and winning awards when I do really good," she said.
Leanna Schwartzlow, who will be a junior at Monroe High School, took first in the 50 breaststroke (:39.45) and in the 200 individual medley (2:52.48). She added a second place finish in the 200 freestyle where Lake Geneva's Terrin Seaver won the race and broke Abby Mayer's record, set in 1998.
Monroe Area Swim Team took the top two spots in the 15-18 breaststroke as Nichole Lattin finished second with a time of :43.75.
Rachel Root in the 13-14 year-old division won three individual races including the 50 butterfly (:33.89), 100 freestyle (1:09.54) and 200 individual medley (2:53.70).
Root teamed with Schwartzlow, Lisa Lang and Emma Fenner to win the 200 medley relay with a time of 2:28.06. Lang added a second place finish in the 15-18 year-old 50 butterfly (:36.98).
Grace Keith won the 8 and under 50 freestyle (:44.78) and the 25 butterfly (:20.58). She finished second in the 25 breaststroke (:30.92).
Schwartzlow, who coaches the second level of the 8-and-under MAST swimmers, has a long-term goal in mind.
"I want them to get better throughout the year and probably move up to the next level next year," Schwartzlow said.
The 8-and-under swimmers have been working to fine tune techniques in the freestyle in practice.
"They like to chop a lot," Schwartzlow said is a tendency of younger swimmers. "They don't like to stretch out their arms because they are so excited to get to the other end."
Mitch Keith, 11, Monroe, didn't have any problems stretching out to win the boys 11-12 year-old 50 butterfly (:41.57). He took second in the 100 freestyle (1:21.32).
Mitch Keith has swam three years for MAST and will be entering his third year swimming for the YMCA Gators.
Keith said his favorite event is the 50 free.
"I just like that because it's my best stroke," he said.
Grant Keith in the boys 13-14 division finished second in the 50 butterfly (:36.7) and third in the 50 freestyle (:31.42).
Monroe's 11-12 division 200 medley relay team of Peyton Stauffacher, Joel Faith, Niven Tomasiewicz and Jack Rogerson took second with a time of 4:49.38.
Rogerson finished second in the 8-and-under 25 butterfly (:36.48), third in the 25 freestyle (:26.55) and fourth in the 25 backstroke (:30.68).
Sugar River's Noah Zimmerman won the 9-10 division of the 50 butterfly (:54.82) and the 50 breaststroke (:56.59). He added a second place finish in the 50 freestyle (:40.79).
