BARABOO - The Monroe girls swimming team had to wait until Sunday to see if they would have any state qualifiers after taking ninth place out of 14 teams at the WIAA Division 2 Baraboo sectional on Saturday.
Monroe junior Rachel Root qualified for state for the third straight year after finishing fourth in both the 100-yard backstroke and the 100 butterfly. She is seeded fifth at state in the backstroke with a personal record time of 59 seconds and is seeded ninth in the butterfly with a PR of 1 minute, 0.40 seconds.
"Even though we didn't qualify a relay, every swimmer PR'd with their best time for the season," Monroe coach Linda Moser said.
The Cheesemakers' 200-yard medley relay team of Root, Cat Weeden, Sarah Kind and Briana Katzenberger finished eighth with a PR time of 1:58.31 and was about two seconds away from making the cut of the top 16 state qualifying teams. The 16th qualifying spot had a time of 1:56.50.
"I was pretty sure we would have to swim a 1:56 to make state, and I was right," Moser said.
The Cheesemakers' 400 freestyle relay team of Kind, Angie Beaver, Katzenberger and Root took eighth with a time of 3:55.34.
"Our 400 free relay swam the best time I have seen in several years, but it wasn't enough for a state cut," Moser said.
Anika Nelson cut 10 seconds off her season best time in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:13.59. She also set a PR in the 50-freestyle with a time of 28.91 seconds. Lizzy Dale set a season best time in the breaststroke (1:18.55), which was a four-second improvement. Weeden also set a PR in the breaststroke with a time of 1:18.40.
Moser credited seniors Rachel Wellnitz, Weeden and Jenni Sefcik for their dedication.
"Sectionals is always hard, not only because it is your one and only shot for one of the 16 spots at state, but because we watch our varsity seniors swim their very last race," she said. "I couldn't be more proud of them and what they gave to this team that will enrich our team for years to come."
Monroe junior Rachel Root qualified for state for the third straight year after finishing fourth in both the 100-yard backstroke and the 100 butterfly. She is seeded fifth at state in the backstroke with a personal record time of 59 seconds and is seeded ninth in the butterfly with a PR of 1 minute, 0.40 seconds.
"Even though we didn't qualify a relay, every swimmer PR'd with their best time for the season," Monroe coach Linda Moser said.
The Cheesemakers' 200-yard medley relay team of Root, Cat Weeden, Sarah Kind and Briana Katzenberger finished eighth with a PR time of 1:58.31 and was about two seconds away from making the cut of the top 16 state qualifying teams. The 16th qualifying spot had a time of 1:56.50.
"I was pretty sure we would have to swim a 1:56 to make state, and I was right," Moser said.
The Cheesemakers' 400 freestyle relay team of Kind, Angie Beaver, Katzenberger and Root took eighth with a time of 3:55.34.
"Our 400 free relay swam the best time I have seen in several years, but it wasn't enough for a state cut," Moser said.
Anika Nelson cut 10 seconds off her season best time in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:13.59. She also set a PR in the 50-freestyle with a time of 28.91 seconds. Lizzy Dale set a season best time in the breaststroke (1:18.55), which was a four-second improvement. Weeden also set a PR in the breaststroke with a time of 1:18.40.
Moser credited seniors Rachel Wellnitz, Weeden and Jenni Sefcik for their dedication.
"Sectionals is always hard, not only because it is your one and only shot for one of the 16 spots at state, but because we watch our varsity seniors swim their very last race," she said. "I couldn't be more proud of them and what they gave to this team that will enrich our team for years to come."
