MONROE - The Sugar River swimming team won its second straight Dr. Stiles Invitational swim meet in dominating fashion this weekend.
Sugar River Rapids rolled to the title 2,385-1,186 over the Milton Marlins. The Monroe Area Swim Team finished third (800) of seven teams at the 59th annual Dr. Stiles Invite Saturday, July 13 at Recreation Park.
"It was a goal to try to come down here and keep the title," Sugar River coach Kayla Zimmerman said. "There is a huge pool of talent throughout the team."
The Sugar River swimming team has grown from eight swimmers in its first year in 1997 to 106 on the roster this summer. Swimming is still not the top summer sport in Zimmerman's eyes in New Glarus, but there is a growing number of participants.
"Little League and summer camp are still No. 1," Zimmerman said. "This just happened to be a lucky day when we had a lot of kids (50 total) who wanted to come to this meet. Unfortunately, sometimes numbers alone can help you win the meet."
Sugar River had four events where they swept the top three spots and three where they swept the top five spots. There were seven swimmers for the Rapids who won at least two individual events.
Sugar River's Eli Zimmerman, 9, won five individual races including the 200-meter individual medley (3 minutes, 54.95 seconds), the 100 freestyle (1:36.21), the 50 backstroke (53.0), the 50 freestyle (41.26) and the 50 butterfly (50.58).
Zimmerman said the Dr. Stiles Invite had a lot of competition.
"It felt good," he said. "I was surprised. I just like my coaches cheering for me."
Zimmerman isn't afraid of a challenge.
"My favorite stroke is the butterfly," he said. "I just think it's fun and it's a harder stroke people don't usually like."
Mason Yaun, 7, won five individual events in the 8 and younger boys division including the 100 IM (2:10.96), 50 freestyle (50.95), the 25 freestyle (22.70), 25 butterfly (27.68) and 25 breaststroke (29.31).
Sugar River's Amanda George won three individual events including the 50 freestyle (42.30), 50 backstroke (49.81), 50 butterfly (50.09). George won the 50 freestyle just ahead of Monroe's Anna Newcomer who took second (43.62). Sugar River's Morgan Erstad, 9, won the 9-10 year-old 200 IM (4:06.46) and finished second in the 50 backstroke (53.96).
Newcomer took second in the 100 freestyle (1:44.53). Sugar River's Karley Michels took first in the 50 breaststroke (54.96) and teammate Francesca Schiro was second (57.67). George and Erstad teamed with Michels and Ellie Eichelkraut won the 200 freestyle relay (3:08.40).
Mason Thompson, 10, of Sugar River, took second in the 100 freestyle (1:44.88), second in the 50 freestyle (43.89) and second in the 50 butterfly (59.24). Zachary Meighan, 9, of Monroe, finished second in the 9-10 year-old boys backstroke (59.07). Sugar River's Darris Schuett, 10, won the 50 breaststroke (1:06.29) edged teammate Austin Leibundgut, who took second. The Rapids' 200 medley relay team of Silas Leuthner, Schuett, Zimmerman and Thompson teamed up to win the 200 medley relay (3:50.37).
Sugar River's Hailey Thompson, 7, won the 8 and younger 25 freestyle (27.48) just ahead of teammate Jenna Krantz who was second (27.99). Krantz finished first in the 25 butterfly (31.84) and took second in the 100 IM (2:39.51), second in the 50 freestyle (1:04.58), second in the 25 freestyle (27.99) and second in the 25 backstroke (32.94). Thompson added a second-place finish in the 25 butterfly (33.07). The highlight for Monroe's younger swimmers was Norma Parr, 8, winning the 25 backstroke (32.36) and taking second in the 25 breaststroke (40.98).
The Rapids' 100 freestyle relay team of Leslie Krantz, Ruby Righter, Jenna Krantz and Emma Martinson finished first (2:27.82). George and Michels teamed with Alexa Siegenthaler and Kendra Wenger to win the 200 medley relay (3:51.16). The best relay finish for MAST came from the 8 and younger 100 freestyle relay team of Mya Scace, Prue Strauch, Amdie Sulejmani and Parr, which finished second (2:35.15).
In the boys 8 and younger competition, Sugar River's Jacob Piper, 8, won the 25 backstroke (31.37) and finished second in the 25 butterfly (34.26). Teammate Breckyn Thompson took second in the 25 backstroke (32.40). Yaun and Piper teamed with D.J. Donnell and Drew Schuett to win the 200 freestyle relay (2:05.34).
Nina Schiro, 12, of Sugar River, won the 50 freestyle in the girls 11-12 division with a time of 38.41 and she took the top spot in the 50 backstroke (45.22). Schiro finished second in the 50 butterfly (45.60).
"On my 50 back, I was really expecting it," Schiro said of winning the race. "I looked at the heat sheet and my time was a little better. My backstroke is more my stroke."
Schiro had the same mindset she has every meet.
"We just always try our best every meet," she said. "We didn't really talk before the meet about winning it again."
Sugar River's Christopher George, 12, won the 11-12 boys 50 freestyle (35.36) and the 50 butterfly (41.34). Teammate Connor Siegenthaler, 11, won the 100 freestyle (1:37.33) and took second in the 11-12 year-old 200 IM (4:11.73). Christopher George teamed with Logan Leuthner, Noah Zimmerman and Jacob Tetner to win the 200 medley relay (3:20.19).
Monroe's Anna Meritt finished first in the girls 13-14 year-old 100 freestyle (1:19.77) edging out Belleville's Grace Przybl by about one second. Monroe's Savannah Brandt, 13, won the 50 butterfly (40.16) and finished second in the 200 IM (3:40.2).
"It felt amazing," Meritt said of winning the 100 freestyle. "I haven't tried that hard in a long time. At the end, I was dying but I was like, 'Oh, no I have to win this.'"
Meritt will be a sophomore on the Monroe High School girls swim team in the fall. She's using her time with MAST this summer as a good training opportunity.
"It's more about getting ready," Meritt said of swimming in the summer to prepare for the high school season. "I want to get better at breath control in the longer freestyle and work on my technique in the fly."
Sugar River's Noah Zimmerman, 13, won the 13-14 year-old boys 200 IM (3:41.82) and the 50 butterfly (46.14). Noah Zimmerman finished second in the 100 freestyle (1:23.39) and was just 0.4 seconds away from champion Nick Demaree of Platteville. He also added a second-place finishes in the 50 freestyle (38.07) and 50 breaststroke (51.82).
Marissa Berg, who started swimming when she was 6 with Sugar River, returned to swim with the Rapids where she is helping coach younger swimmers. Berg won the 50 freestyle (32.36), 50 butterfly (35.0) and 50 breaststroke (41.14). She won the 50 freestyle ahead of teammate Haley Reeson, 15, who took second (37.16). Berg teamed with Briana Donnell, Reagan Andersen and Reeson to take first in the 200 freestyle relay (2:28.54).
The city pool is about 27 meters and Berg was happy with her results even though the 50 freestyle is more like a 54 freestyle.
"Everything felt good," Berg said. "That is all you have to go off of because you can't look at time. It just felt good to be with my old team."
Berg is also swimming for the Green County Golden Gators this summer and is helping coach younger swimmers for Sugar River. She plans to swim in college and has visited the University of Wisconsin, Iowa and UW-Milwaukee. She's also gearing up for the USA state meet in Milwaukee in August.
Berg has enjoyed coaching some of the younger swimmers and said she still has time and doesn't have a timetable on which college she will select to attend for swimming.
"I love doing that," she said of coaching. "It brings you back to the basics. That is always good."
Sugar River Rapids rolled to the title 2,385-1,186 over the Milton Marlins. The Monroe Area Swim Team finished third (800) of seven teams at the 59th annual Dr. Stiles Invite Saturday, July 13 at Recreation Park.
"It was a goal to try to come down here and keep the title," Sugar River coach Kayla Zimmerman said. "There is a huge pool of talent throughout the team."
The Sugar River swimming team has grown from eight swimmers in its first year in 1997 to 106 on the roster this summer. Swimming is still not the top summer sport in Zimmerman's eyes in New Glarus, but there is a growing number of participants.
"Little League and summer camp are still No. 1," Zimmerman said. "This just happened to be a lucky day when we had a lot of kids (50 total) who wanted to come to this meet. Unfortunately, sometimes numbers alone can help you win the meet."
Sugar River had four events where they swept the top three spots and three where they swept the top five spots. There were seven swimmers for the Rapids who won at least two individual events.
Sugar River's Eli Zimmerman, 9, won five individual races including the 200-meter individual medley (3 minutes, 54.95 seconds), the 100 freestyle (1:36.21), the 50 backstroke (53.0), the 50 freestyle (41.26) and the 50 butterfly (50.58).
Zimmerman said the Dr. Stiles Invite had a lot of competition.
"It felt good," he said. "I was surprised. I just like my coaches cheering for me."
Zimmerman isn't afraid of a challenge.
"My favorite stroke is the butterfly," he said. "I just think it's fun and it's a harder stroke people don't usually like."
Mason Yaun, 7, won five individual events in the 8 and younger boys division including the 100 IM (2:10.96), 50 freestyle (50.95), the 25 freestyle (22.70), 25 butterfly (27.68) and 25 breaststroke (29.31).
Sugar River's Amanda George won three individual events including the 50 freestyle (42.30), 50 backstroke (49.81), 50 butterfly (50.09). George won the 50 freestyle just ahead of Monroe's Anna Newcomer who took second (43.62). Sugar River's Morgan Erstad, 9, won the 9-10 year-old 200 IM (4:06.46) and finished second in the 50 backstroke (53.96).
Newcomer took second in the 100 freestyle (1:44.53). Sugar River's Karley Michels took first in the 50 breaststroke (54.96) and teammate Francesca Schiro was second (57.67). George and Erstad teamed with Michels and Ellie Eichelkraut won the 200 freestyle relay (3:08.40).
Mason Thompson, 10, of Sugar River, took second in the 100 freestyle (1:44.88), second in the 50 freestyle (43.89) and second in the 50 butterfly (59.24). Zachary Meighan, 9, of Monroe, finished second in the 9-10 year-old boys backstroke (59.07). Sugar River's Darris Schuett, 10, won the 50 breaststroke (1:06.29) edged teammate Austin Leibundgut, who took second. The Rapids' 200 medley relay team of Silas Leuthner, Schuett, Zimmerman and Thompson teamed up to win the 200 medley relay (3:50.37).
Sugar River's Hailey Thompson, 7, won the 8 and younger 25 freestyle (27.48) just ahead of teammate Jenna Krantz who was second (27.99). Krantz finished first in the 25 butterfly (31.84) and took second in the 100 IM (2:39.51), second in the 50 freestyle (1:04.58), second in the 25 freestyle (27.99) and second in the 25 backstroke (32.94). Thompson added a second-place finish in the 25 butterfly (33.07). The highlight for Monroe's younger swimmers was Norma Parr, 8, winning the 25 backstroke (32.36) and taking second in the 25 breaststroke (40.98).
The Rapids' 100 freestyle relay team of Leslie Krantz, Ruby Righter, Jenna Krantz and Emma Martinson finished first (2:27.82). George and Michels teamed with Alexa Siegenthaler and Kendra Wenger to win the 200 medley relay (3:51.16). The best relay finish for MAST came from the 8 and younger 100 freestyle relay team of Mya Scace, Prue Strauch, Amdie Sulejmani and Parr, which finished second (2:35.15).
In the boys 8 and younger competition, Sugar River's Jacob Piper, 8, won the 25 backstroke (31.37) and finished second in the 25 butterfly (34.26). Teammate Breckyn Thompson took second in the 25 backstroke (32.40). Yaun and Piper teamed with D.J. Donnell and Drew Schuett to win the 200 freestyle relay (2:05.34).
Nina Schiro, 12, of Sugar River, won the 50 freestyle in the girls 11-12 division with a time of 38.41 and she took the top spot in the 50 backstroke (45.22). Schiro finished second in the 50 butterfly (45.60).
"On my 50 back, I was really expecting it," Schiro said of winning the race. "I looked at the heat sheet and my time was a little better. My backstroke is more my stroke."
Schiro had the same mindset she has every meet.
"We just always try our best every meet," she said. "We didn't really talk before the meet about winning it again."
Sugar River's Christopher George, 12, won the 11-12 boys 50 freestyle (35.36) and the 50 butterfly (41.34). Teammate Connor Siegenthaler, 11, won the 100 freestyle (1:37.33) and took second in the 11-12 year-old 200 IM (4:11.73). Christopher George teamed with Logan Leuthner, Noah Zimmerman and Jacob Tetner to win the 200 medley relay (3:20.19).
Monroe's Anna Meritt finished first in the girls 13-14 year-old 100 freestyle (1:19.77) edging out Belleville's Grace Przybl by about one second. Monroe's Savannah Brandt, 13, won the 50 butterfly (40.16) and finished second in the 200 IM (3:40.2).
"It felt amazing," Meritt said of winning the 100 freestyle. "I haven't tried that hard in a long time. At the end, I was dying but I was like, 'Oh, no I have to win this.'"
Meritt will be a sophomore on the Monroe High School girls swim team in the fall. She's using her time with MAST this summer as a good training opportunity.
"It's more about getting ready," Meritt said of swimming in the summer to prepare for the high school season. "I want to get better at breath control in the longer freestyle and work on my technique in the fly."
Sugar River's Noah Zimmerman, 13, won the 13-14 year-old boys 200 IM (3:41.82) and the 50 butterfly (46.14). Noah Zimmerman finished second in the 100 freestyle (1:23.39) and was just 0.4 seconds away from champion Nick Demaree of Platteville. He also added a second-place finishes in the 50 freestyle (38.07) and 50 breaststroke (51.82).
Marissa Berg, who started swimming when she was 6 with Sugar River, returned to swim with the Rapids where she is helping coach younger swimmers. Berg won the 50 freestyle (32.36), 50 butterfly (35.0) and 50 breaststroke (41.14). She won the 50 freestyle ahead of teammate Haley Reeson, 15, who took second (37.16). Berg teamed with Briana Donnell, Reagan Andersen and Reeson to take first in the 200 freestyle relay (2:28.54).
The city pool is about 27 meters and Berg was happy with her results even though the 50 freestyle is more like a 54 freestyle.
"Everything felt good," Berg said. "That is all you have to go off of because you can't look at time. It just felt good to be with my old team."
Berg is also swimming for the Green County Golden Gators this summer and is helping coach younger swimmers for Sugar River. She plans to swim in college and has visited the University of Wisconsin, Iowa and UW-Milwaukee. She's also gearing up for the USA state meet in Milwaukee in August.
Berg has enjoyed coaching some of the younger swimmers and said she still has time and doesn't have a timetable on which college she will select to attend for swimming.
"I love doing that," she said of coaching. "It brings you back to the basics. That is always good."
