MONROE - With the Fourth of July celebration around the corner, the Monroe Area Swim team continues to compete and develop various strokes.
The team defeated Milton 576-309 Tuesday in a dual meet at Recreation Park.
"I just want them all to get better," said Jessica Wells, MAST coach. "It's just with every meet, I want them to swim faster times. Our team is run with a do-your-best motto."
Leanna Schwartzlow, 17, had a hand in winning five events and Allie Coplien, 14, helped win four events. Schwartzlow won the girls open 50-meter freestyle (:31.33), open breaststroke (:40.82) and the open 50 butterfly (:35.23).
Coplien finished first in the 13- to 14-year-old 50 freestyle (:36.78), the 50 backstroke (:43.67) and the 50 breaststroke (:48.56). Coplien and Schwartzlow teamed with Jenny Meritt and Nichole Lattin to win the girls open 200 medley relay with a time of 2:52.26.
Lattin took first in the 100 freestyle (1 minute, 18.31 seconds). The girls open 200 freestyle relay team of Veronica Andraski, Lattin, Zoey Benish and Schwartzlow took first with a time of 2:38.43.
Spencer Keith, 16, won two individual boys open events including the 50 freestyle (:33.62) and the 50 backstroke (:45.45).
Megan Benzschawel finished first in the 8-and-under 25 freestyle (:26.56) and 25 backstroke (:28.21). Hannah Swenson, 8, won the 50 freestyle (:48.13) and the 25 breaststroke (:30.93). Swenson finished just ahead of teammate Grace Mathiason.
Grace Keith took first in the 9- to 10-year old 50 freestyle (:45.40) and second in the 50 backstroke (:47.59). Samantha Ellefson, 10, won the 50 butterfly (:54.32) just ahead of Keith (:54.58).
Ellefson teamed with Emily Meritt, Swenson and Keith to win the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 3:13.56.
Christopher Andraski, 7, won three individual events in the boys 8-and-under division - the 25 freestyle (:22.37), 50 freestyle (:53.28) and the 25 backstroke (:26.63). Teammate Joseph Wyss won the 25 butterfly (:31.46) and he took second in both the 25 freestyle (:24.59) and the 50 freestyle (:57.32).
Many of the swimming coaches are experienced high school and college swimmers, so young and developing swimmers get a chance to work with some of the area's best.
"It's nice because we all have a knowledge of swimming that we can pass on to them," Wells said.
Anna Meritt, 11, won the 11- to 12-year-old 50 freestyle with a time of 37.02 seconds, which was ahead of Monroe's Skylar Lassen. Mercedes Szabelski won the 50 backstroke (:48.37). Monroe's 200 medley relay team of Szabelski, Kaylea Bear, Anna Meritt and Lassen finished first with a time of 3:29.78. Brooke Rowe added a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle (1:37.70).
Mitch Keith, 12, finished first in the boys 11- to 12-year-old 50 freestyle (:36.70) and in the 50 breaststroke (1:02.71). He added a second-place finish in the 50 backstroke (:48.41). Hogan Edwards took first in the 100 freestyle (2:28.74).
Grant Keith, 14, won three individual events in the boys 13- to 14-year-old division including the 100 freestyle (1:08.60), 50 backstroke (:37.66) and the 50 butterfly (:33.91).
Grant and Mitch Keith teamed with Wyss and Edwards to win the 13- to 14-year-old division 200 medley relay with a time of 3:49.99. The same quartet of swimmers won the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 3:16.07.
"Whether you have been on the team before or not, there is always something that you can learn," Wells said.
The team defeated Milton 576-309 Tuesday in a dual meet at Recreation Park.
"I just want them all to get better," said Jessica Wells, MAST coach. "It's just with every meet, I want them to swim faster times. Our team is run with a do-your-best motto."
Leanna Schwartzlow, 17, had a hand in winning five events and Allie Coplien, 14, helped win four events. Schwartzlow won the girls open 50-meter freestyle (:31.33), open breaststroke (:40.82) and the open 50 butterfly (:35.23).
Coplien finished first in the 13- to 14-year-old 50 freestyle (:36.78), the 50 backstroke (:43.67) and the 50 breaststroke (:48.56). Coplien and Schwartzlow teamed with Jenny Meritt and Nichole Lattin to win the girls open 200 medley relay with a time of 2:52.26.
Lattin took first in the 100 freestyle (1 minute, 18.31 seconds). The girls open 200 freestyle relay team of Veronica Andraski, Lattin, Zoey Benish and Schwartzlow took first with a time of 2:38.43.
Spencer Keith, 16, won two individual boys open events including the 50 freestyle (:33.62) and the 50 backstroke (:45.45).
Megan Benzschawel finished first in the 8-and-under 25 freestyle (:26.56) and 25 backstroke (:28.21). Hannah Swenson, 8, won the 50 freestyle (:48.13) and the 25 breaststroke (:30.93). Swenson finished just ahead of teammate Grace Mathiason.
Grace Keith took first in the 9- to 10-year old 50 freestyle (:45.40) and second in the 50 backstroke (:47.59). Samantha Ellefson, 10, won the 50 butterfly (:54.32) just ahead of Keith (:54.58).
Ellefson teamed with Emily Meritt, Swenson and Keith to win the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 3:13.56.
Christopher Andraski, 7, won three individual events in the boys 8-and-under division - the 25 freestyle (:22.37), 50 freestyle (:53.28) and the 25 backstroke (:26.63). Teammate Joseph Wyss won the 25 butterfly (:31.46) and he took second in both the 25 freestyle (:24.59) and the 50 freestyle (:57.32).
Many of the swimming coaches are experienced high school and college swimmers, so young and developing swimmers get a chance to work with some of the area's best.
"It's nice because we all have a knowledge of swimming that we can pass on to them," Wells said.
Anna Meritt, 11, won the 11- to 12-year-old 50 freestyle with a time of 37.02 seconds, which was ahead of Monroe's Skylar Lassen. Mercedes Szabelski won the 50 backstroke (:48.37). Monroe's 200 medley relay team of Szabelski, Kaylea Bear, Anna Meritt and Lassen finished first with a time of 3:29.78. Brooke Rowe added a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle (1:37.70).
Mitch Keith, 12, finished first in the boys 11- to 12-year-old 50 freestyle (:36.70) and in the 50 breaststroke (1:02.71). He added a second-place finish in the 50 backstroke (:48.41). Hogan Edwards took first in the 100 freestyle (2:28.74).
Grant Keith, 14, won three individual events in the boys 13- to 14-year-old division including the 100 freestyle (1:08.60), 50 backstroke (:37.66) and the 50 butterfly (:33.91).
Grant and Mitch Keith teamed with Wyss and Edwards to win the 13- to 14-year-old division 200 medley relay with a time of 3:49.99. The same quartet of swimmers won the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 3:16.07.
"Whether you have been on the team before or not, there is always something that you can learn," Wells said.
