MONROE - Despite small numbers, the Cheesemakers swim team has had a good season. School records have been broken and nearly every week an individual personal best time is set.
"This is one of the best teams we've had overall," Monroe head coach Linda Moser said. "It's not just one person doing everything, we have several swimmers swim as best as they possibly can. We may not win all of the duals, but we've swam as well as we have in the last few years. A smaller team is a detriment to depth, but a smaller team is not a detriment to being a family. I have all confidence that our first race will go really well."
Eleven Cheesemakers will take part in Saturday's WIAA Division 2 sectional swim meet in Baraboo.
Monroe swimmers Rachel Root medaled in the 100-yard backstroke, as did Jessica Weeden in the 100 butterfly at last week's Badger South Conference meet. Both swimmers, along with their teammates, are fine-tuning any slight their fundamentals as the meet approaches.
"I've been working on my turns and dives," Root said.
Moser suggests that breaking times down will maybe help encourage the girls on their chances at state.
"If they breaking things down, they can see that anything is possible. Some may say that, 'there is no way I can swim a 100 in under a minute.' So I ask them, what do you swim in your 50 and they say 27 (seconds). I tell them, all right, let's add 30 to that, what do you get? They just have so separate these things down to small steps to realize that anything is possible," she said.
Weeden, a senior, swam on the international level at the Deaflympics prior to the season, but has since enjoyed her first varsity swimming season by spending time with her team and sister, Cat.
"It's a lot different. It's been fun and nice to swim with girls my own age instead of women who are older or being teamed with guys," she said.
Root, a freshman, is excited for the upcoming sectional meet.
"I like swimming," she said. "We as a team get along well and laugh a lot. It will be fun."
Weeden and Root will be joined in relay races by junior Leanna Schwartzlow and seniors Kendell Niffenegger and Randi Robertson.
"A group of seniors like this is a good thing to have, especially at sectionals because they have been there. They have that maturity and it can be calming for the freshmen and sophomore girls," Moser said.
Schwartzlow finished sixth at the conference meet in the 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke and is no stranger to the excitement of the postseason.
"It's a little nerve racking (preparing). I'm making sure I'm eating healthy to give it my best," Schwartzlow said. "I'm feeling really good right now, though."
It might be no easy task for Moser to keep her team ready physically and mentally for Saturday.
"It's nerve racking. I'm trying to keep them on an even keel. They are kind of bouncing all over the place," she said. "Emotions are running really high. We talked to them on Monday. We said that they are going to be tired and that things will get intense, but to never let a negative thought or negative word enter their minds. Everything should be encouraging. They have to be there for each other."
Robertson has had a significant career at MHS already before a shoulder injury slowed her down. Now in her final season, the speedy senior is enjoying her final days - possibly weeks - of varsity swimming.
"We've been trying to be really positive all week and help each other out and encourage each other. We're really close to knowing whether we will make state or not," Robertson said. "We just have to swim our hearts out."
Niffenegger also has stepped up her role on the roster. She has been a key component in two relays (200 medley and 400 freestyle), and has the respect of her peers.
"I've just been thinking about the races, hoping to do good," she said. "I've got faith in our other swimmers too. I think the freshmen and sophomores are awesome. We will all do well."
In the end, the small group of Cheesemakers will be cheering for each other in each race.
"We see ourselves as a family and not as much as a team," Robertson said. "We help each other through every thing - life and all."
"This is one of the best teams we've had overall," Monroe head coach Linda Moser said. "It's not just one person doing everything, we have several swimmers swim as best as they possibly can. We may not win all of the duals, but we've swam as well as we have in the last few years. A smaller team is a detriment to depth, but a smaller team is not a detriment to being a family. I have all confidence that our first race will go really well."
Eleven Cheesemakers will take part in Saturday's WIAA Division 2 sectional swim meet in Baraboo.
Monroe swimmers Rachel Root medaled in the 100-yard backstroke, as did Jessica Weeden in the 100 butterfly at last week's Badger South Conference meet. Both swimmers, along with their teammates, are fine-tuning any slight their fundamentals as the meet approaches.
"I've been working on my turns and dives," Root said.
Moser suggests that breaking times down will maybe help encourage the girls on their chances at state.
"If they breaking things down, they can see that anything is possible. Some may say that, 'there is no way I can swim a 100 in under a minute.' So I ask them, what do you swim in your 50 and they say 27 (seconds). I tell them, all right, let's add 30 to that, what do you get? They just have so separate these things down to small steps to realize that anything is possible," she said.
Weeden, a senior, swam on the international level at the Deaflympics prior to the season, but has since enjoyed her first varsity swimming season by spending time with her team and sister, Cat.
"It's a lot different. It's been fun and nice to swim with girls my own age instead of women who are older or being teamed with guys," she said.
Root, a freshman, is excited for the upcoming sectional meet.
"I like swimming," she said. "We as a team get along well and laugh a lot. It will be fun."
Weeden and Root will be joined in relay races by junior Leanna Schwartzlow and seniors Kendell Niffenegger and Randi Robertson.
"A group of seniors like this is a good thing to have, especially at sectionals because they have been there. They have that maturity and it can be calming for the freshmen and sophomore girls," Moser said.
Schwartzlow finished sixth at the conference meet in the 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke and is no stranger to the excitement of the postseason.
"It's a little nerve racking (preparing). I'm making sure I'm eating healthy to give it my best," Schwartzlow said. "I'm feeling really good right now, though."
It might be no easy task for Moser to keep her team ready physically and mentally for Saturday.
"It's nerve racking. I'm trying to keep them on an even keel. They are kind of bouncing all over the place," she said. "Emotions are running really high. We talked to them on Monday. We said that they are going to be tired and that things will get intense, but to never let a negative thought or negative word enter their minds. Everything should be encouraging. They have to be there for each other."
Robertson has had a significant career at MHS already before a shoulder injury slowed her down. Now in her final season, the speedy senior is enjoying her final days - possibly weeks - of varsity swimming.
"We've been trying to be really positive all week and help each other out and encourage each other. We're really close to knowing whether we will make state or not," Robertson said. "We just have to swim our hearts out."
Niffenegger also has stepped up her role on the roster. She has been a key component in two relays (200 medley and 400 freestyle), and has the respect of her peers.
"I've just been thinking about the races, hoping to do good," she said. "I've got faith in our other swimmers too. I think the freshmen and sophomores are awesome. We will all do well."
In the end, the small group of Cheesemakers will be cheering for each other in each race.
"We see ourselves as a family and not as much as a team," Robertson said. "We help each other through every thing - life and all."
