MONROE - The members of the Monroe-New Glarus girls swim team did something they have been waiting more than one year to accomplish - win a Badger South Conference dual meet.
The Cheesemakers won eight of 11 events to knock off Monona Grove 92-78 Tuesday at the Green County Family YMCA.
"It was outstanding," Monroe-New Glarus coach Linda Moser said. "They swam really hard. They knew it would be tough going into this. They put it all together. It's our first conference dual win in over one year. It means a lot. They were ecstatic. I have these girls that need to know now that they can compete with the Badger South teams."
Monroe-New Glarus improves to 2-0 in dual meets with another test coming up at Fort Atkinson Aug. 29.
"We have a lot of work to do," Moser said. "Hopefully they can keep this (two dual meet wins) in the back of their minds and that will make the work easier because we have already won two. I hope they can take that same mindset into Fort Atkinson."
Monroe-New Glarus senior Maddie Hammer won the 200-meter freestyle (2 minutes, 16.11 seconds) and the 100 freestyle (1:01.10). Maddie's sister, freshman Mekenzie Hammer, won the 200 individual medley (2:35.57) and the 100 breaststroke (1:22.48).
Monroe junior Cammi Ganshert won the 50 freestyle (31.04). The Cheesemakers swept the top two spots in the 200 IM and the 100 freestyle.
Monroe freshman Anna Newcomer finished second in the 200 IM (2:52.07), and freshman Francesca Schiro placed second in the 200 IM (1:32.06). Monroe senior Grace Keith finished second in the 100 butterfly (1:14.02).
The Cheesemakers' 200 medley relay team of Mekenzie Hammer, Maddie Hammer, Grace Keith and Nina Schiro won in 2:11.04, which was about 2.4 seconds away from Monroe's pool record time set in 2000 (2:08.45).
Moser said she thinks the Cheesemakers could break the 200 medley pool record this season.
"Some of these girls have looked at those records, and they have those records in their sights," Moser said. "It really gives them something to shoot for. They may break the record this year, but it may not be the same four swimmers. They don't care who swims it. They just want to win and work together."
Keith teamed with Ganshert, Francesca Schiro and Mekenzie Hammer to win the 200 freestyle relay (2:00.78). The Cheesemakers' other 200 freestyle relay team of Laurel Houston, Kayleigh Nesbitt, Kendra Wenger and Emily Meritt placed third (2:12.59). Maddie Hammer and Keith teamed up with Meritt and Nina Schiro to win the 400 freestyle relay (4:30.37). The Cheesemakers' other 400 freestyle relay team of Newcomer, Megan Benzschawel, Francesca Schiro and Ganshert took third (4:39.58).
Nina Schiro took second in the 400 freestyle (5:23.35) and placed second in the 100 backstroke (1:15.55). Benzschawel added a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle (1:11.80).
"The girls are so versatile," Moser said. "I have more simmers this year who can swim all the strokes well."
The Cheesemakers won eight of 11 events to knock off Monona Grove 92-78 Tuesday at the Green County Family YMCA.
"It was outstanding," Monroe-New Glarus coach Linda Moser said. "They swam really hard. They knew it would be tough going into this. They put it all together. It's our first conference dual win in over one year. It means a lot. They were ecstatic. I have these girls that need to know now that they can compete with the Badger South teams."
Monroe-New Glarus improves to 2-0 in dual meets with another test coming up at Fort Atkinson Aug. 29.
"We have a lot of work to do," Moser said. "Hopefully they can keep this (two dual meet wins) in the back of their minds and that will make the work easier because we have already won two. I hope they can take that same mindset into Fort Atkinson."
Monroe-New Glarus senior Maddie Hammer won the 200-meter freestyle (2 minutes, 16.11 seconds) and the 100 freestyle (1:01.10). Maddie's sister, freshman Mekenzie Hammer, won the 200 individual medley (2:35.57) and the 100 breaststroke (1:22.48).
Monroe junior Cammi Ganshert won the 50 freestyle (31.04). The Cheesemakers swept the top two spots in the 200 IM and the 100 freestyle.
Monroe freshman Anna Newcomer finished second in the 200 IM (2:52.07), and freshman Francesca Schiro placed second in the 200 IM (1:32.06). Monroe senior Grace Keith finished second in the 100 butterfly (1:14.02).
The Cheesemakers' 200 medley relay team of Mekenzie Hammer, Maddie Hammer, Grace Keith and Nina Schiro won in 2:11.04, which was about 2.4 seconds away from Monroe's pool record time set in 2000 (2:08.45).
Moser said she thinks the Cheesemakers could break the 200 medley pool record this season.
"Some of these girls have looked at those records, and they have those records in their sights," Moser said. "It really gives them something to shoot for. They may break the record this year, but it may not be the same four swimmers. They don't care who swims it. They just want to win and work together."
Keith teamed with Ganshert, Francesca Schiro and Mekenzie Hammer to win the 200 freestyle relay (2:00.78). The Cheesemakers' other 200 freestyle relay team of Laurel Houston, Kayleigh Nesbitt, Kendra Wenger and Emily Meritt placed third (2:12.59). Maddie Hammer and Keith teamed up with Meritt and Nina Schiro to win the 400 freestyle relay (4:30.37). The Cheesemakers' other 400 freestyle relay team of Newcomer, Megan Benzschawel, Francesca Schiro and Ganshert took third (4:39.58).
Nina Schiro took second in the 400 freestyle (5:23.35) and placed second in the 100 backstroke (1:15.55). Benzschawel added a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle (1:11.80).
"The girls are so versatile," Moser said. "I have more simmers this year who can swim all the strokes well."
