MONROE - The Monroe Area Swim Team, in a dominating performance, opened its season with a 592-296 win over Jefferson Saturday at the municipal pool at Rec Park.
There were 11 MAST swimmers who won two or more individual events.
"It gave us competition against a real team so we can get the feel," MAST coach Kendell Niffenegger said.
Monroe's Spencer Keith won four individual events and had a hand in winning six events. Spencer Keith the open 200-meter freestyle (2 minutes, 46.50 seconds), the 50 backstroke (:38.69), the 50 butterfly (:32.21) and the 100 freestyle (1:13.09).
Brother Grant Keith also had a hand in winning six open events. He finished first in the 200 individual medley (3:02.2), 50 butterfly (:46.83) and in the 50 breaststroke (:46.57). Grant Keith teamed with Taylor Teasdale and brothers Mitch and Spencer Keith to win the open 200 medley relay with a time of 2:37.80.
The same quartet teamed to take first in the 200 freestyle relay (2:15.42).
"They are both very good swimmers," Niffenegger said of Spencer and Grant Keith. "They are starting out the season well. They will both get better throughout the season."
Teasdale finished first in the open 50 freestyle (:32.72) and he took second in the 50 breaststroke (:51.59) and the 50 backstroke (:43.17). Monroe's Leanna Schwartzlow finished first in the open 200 freestyle (2:35.22) and in the 50 backstroke (:36.64).
In the girls open competition, Nichole Lattin won the 50 freestyle (:34.38) and the 100 freestyle (1:16.65). Lattin teamed with Sarah Tomasiewicz, Schwartzlow and Marissa Berg to take first in the open 200 medley relay (2:40.19). Lattin teamed with Tomasiewicz, Grace Moehn and Alyssa Sinkule to win the 200 freestyle relay (2:29.94).
Berg in the girls 13-14-year-old division finished first in the 50 freestyle (:29.27), 50 butterfly (:32.39) and 50 breaststroke (:39.65). In the 11-2 girls age group, Anna Meritt won the 50 freestyle (:35.16), 50 butterfly (:48.68) and 50 breaststroke (53.0).
Savannah Grenoble in the girls 11-12 group took first in the 50 backstroke (:46.82) and in the 100 freestyle (1:30.51). Monroe's 200 medley relay team including Samantha Ellefson, Kaylea Bear, Anna Meritt and Skylar Lassen finished first with a time of 3:26.35. The same quartet won the 200 freestyle relay (2:52.84). Ellefson finished second in the 50 freestyle (:35.56) and second in the 50 breaststroke (:59.25). Lassen took second in the 50 backstroke (:49.67) and in the 100 freestyle (1:37.14).
"The focus was to see where everyone is at and see what we can do to improve," Niffenegger said. "There are a lot of swimmers who put in a lot of time."
Mitch Keith, 12, finished second in the boys open 200 IM (3:25.31) and second in the 100 freestyle (1:21.32).
In the boys 9-10 age group, Dean DeVoe took first in the 50 backstroke (:59.96) and in the 100 freestyle (1:53.72). Payton Stauffacher finished first in the 50 freestyle (:52.05) and in the 50 breaststroke (1:18.55). Newcomer and DeVoe teamed with Joseph Wyss and Ethan Towne to win the 10 and under 200 medley relay with a time of 5:38.91. In the 200 freestyle relay, DeVoe teamed with Towne, Ian Shaw and Wyss to take first with a time of 5:36.67. Wyss added second place finishes in the 50 backstroke (1:10.12) and in the 100 freestyle (2:04.02).
Grace Keith in the girls 9-10 division won the 50 freestyle (:40.08) and the 50 butterfly (:46.83). Emily Meritt won the 100 freestyle (1:40.41) and Hannah Swenson took first in the 50 breaststroke (:59.46).
Nicholas Newcomer in the boys 8 and under division won the 25 freestyle (:28.07) and the 25 backstroke (:37.54). Rudi Sulejmani took first in the 25 breaststroke (:45.89). Anika Einback in the girls 8 and under age group finished first in the 25 breaststroke (:30.76).
Niffenegger said the meet against Jefferson was a chance for swimmers to get back into the routine of swimming in a meet again and an opportunity to gain confidence.
"There were a few nerves for some of the younger ones," she said. "There were a couple of kids who didn't feel like they had the endurance," she said. "They are starting to get their endurance back."
Monroe will swim at New Glarus on Saturday.
"It's another meet at the beginning of the season where we still want to see improvement," Niffenegger said. "We are hoping a lot of kids improve their times."
There were 11 MAST swimmers who won two or more individual events.
"It gave us competition against a real team so we can get the feel," MAST coach Kendell Niffenegger said.
Monroe's Spencer Keith won four individual events and had a hand in winning six events. Spencer Keith the open 200-meter freestyle (2 minutes, 46.50 seconds), the 50 backstroke (:38.69), the 50 butterfly (:32.21) and the 100 freestyle (1:13.09).
Brother Grant Keith also had a hand in winning six open events. He finished first in the 200 individual medley (3:02.2), 50 butterfly (:46.83) and in the 50 breaststroke (:46.57). Grant Keith teamed with Taylor Teasdale and brothers Mitch and Spencer Keith to win the open 200 medley relay with a time of 2:37.80.
The same quartet teamed to take first in the 200 freestyle relay (2:15.42).
"They are both very good swimmers," Niffenegger said of Spencer and Grant Keith. "They are starting out the season well. They will both get better throughout the season."
Teasdale finished first in the open 50 freestyle (:32.72) and he took second in the 50 breaststroke (:51.59) and the 50 backstroke (:43.17). Monroe's Leanna Schwartzlow finished first in the open 200 freestyle (2:35.22) and in the 50 backstroke (:36.64).
In the girls open competition, Nichole Lattin won the 50 freestyle (:34.38) and the 100 freestyle (1:16.65). Lattin teamed with Sarah Tomasiewicz, Schwartzlow and Marissa Berg to take first in the open 200 medley relay (2:40.19). Lattin teamed with Tomasiewicz, Grace Moehn and Alyssa Sinkule to win the 200 freestyle relay (2:29.94).
Berg in the girls 13-14-year-old division finished first in the 50 freestyle (:29.27), 50 butterfly (:32.39) and 50 breaststroke (:39.65). In the 11-2 girls age group, Anna Meritt won the 50 freestyle (:35.16), 50 butterfly (:48.68) and 50 breaststroke (53.0).
Savannah Grenoble in the girls 11-12 group took first in the 50 backstroke (:46.82) and in the 100 freestyle (1:30.51). Monroe's 200 medley relay team including Samantha Ellefson, Kaylea Bear, Anna Meritt and Skylar Lassen finished first with a time of 3:26.35. The same quartet won the 200 freestyle relay (2:52.84). Ellefson finished second in the 50 freestyle (:35.56) and second in the 50 breaststroke (:59.25). Lassen took second in the 50 backstroke (:49.67) and in the 100 freestyle (1:37.14).
"The focus was to see where everyone is at and see what we can do to improve," Niffenegger said. "There are a lot of swimmers who put in a lot of time."
Mitch Keith, 12, finished second in the boys open 200 IM (3:25.31) and second in the 100 freestyle (1:21.32).
In the boys 9-10 age group, Dean DeVoe took first in the 50 backstroke (:59.96) and in the 100 freestyle (1:53.72). Payton Stauffacher finished first in the 50 freestyle (:52.05) and in the 50 breaststroke (1:18.55). Newcomer and DeVoe teamed with Joseph Wyss and Ethan Towne to win the 10 and under 200 medley relay with a time of 5:38.91. In the 200 freestyle relay, DeVoe teamed with Towne, Ian Shaw and Wyss to take first with a time of 5:36.67. Wyss added second place finishes in the 50 backstroke (1:10.12) and in the 100 freestyle (2:04.02).
Grace Keith in the girls 9-10 division won the 50 freestyle (:40.08) and the 50 butterfly (:46.83). Emily Meritt won the 100 freestyle (1:40.41) and Hannah Swenson took first in the 50 breaststroke (:59.46).
Nicholas Newcomer in the boys 8 and under division won the 25 freestyle (:28.07) and the 25 backstroke (:37.54). Rudi Sulejmani took first in the 25 breaststroke (:45.89). Anika Einback in the girls 8 and under age group finished first in the 25 breaststroke (:30.76).
Niffenegger said the meet against Jefferson was a chance for swimmers to get back into the routine of swimming in a meet again and an opportunity to gain confidence.
"There were a few nerves for some of the younger ones," she said. "There were a couple of kids who didn't feel like they had the endurance," she said. "They are starting to get their endurance back."
Monroe will swim at New Glarus on Saturday.
"It's another meet at the beginning of the season where we still want to see improvement," Niffenegger said. "We are hoping a lot of kids improve their times."
