MONROE - They might have finished second at state, but the Monroe Cheesemakers remain number one in the hearts of their fans.
The boys basketball team's players and coaches might have mistaken the high school gymnasium for the Kohl Center on Saturday, as they entered to music and thunderous cheers from their fans after their third trip to the Division 2 state tournament in as many years.
The final game of the season at the Kohl Center - a 79-67 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran - was a time for the players and coaches to reflect on their season and how well they played throughout the year. The homecoming ceremony at the high school was a chance for others to tell the team how proud they were of them as a team and as individuals.
"Congratulations," Monroe High School Principal Mark Burandt told the team. "You put forth a fabulous effort and made for an awfully entertaining week."
Burandt told the players the lessons they learned on the basketball court would serve them well throughout their lives.
"Hard work, dedication and teamwork. All of these are transferable," he told them.
Many of the fans in the gym Saturday were young boys and girls who no doubt dream they, too, will someday play in the state finals. School district officials and Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh thanked the players and coaches for their efforts and for how they represented Monroe.
"You represented the community with such class," Superintendent Larry Brown. "You know what total effort is, and you didn't quit.
"Take a minute to hug and kiss your mom and dad. Thank your coaches. You never get to this point by yourself."
Marsh thanked the team on behalf of Monroe and said the Cheesemakers gave people some good memories of a great season.
"You have been, still are and will continue to be champions in our eyes," Marsh said.
For six of the players on the team, Saturday's game was the last they will play as Monroe High School students. Monroe coach Pat Murphy thanked them all for the contributions they made during the season and for the way they conducted themselves both on and off the basketball court.
"I'm not sad because we lost," Murphy said. "I'm sad because our seniors are done."
The Cheesemakers' success this season was due to everyone on the team, he added.
"They worked hard every day," Murphy said. "They had team chemistry."
For the fans who spent the day cheering on their team and hoping for a win, the loss was difficult. The loss didn't diminish their support, however.
"I'm really proud of my team," senior Quinn Radke said. "They couldn't have (played) any better."
Radke and Amy Holst went to Madison to see the team play and came back to the high school to welcome them home.
"I wanted to be here to congratulate them when they came back," Holst said.
For juniors Cheryl Westgard, Laura Sandry and freshman Hannah Deiderich, all cheerleaders, the excitement of being in the Kohl Center easily transferred to the high school gym.
"I'm really proud of these guys to do it again," Westgard said.
What made it extra special for them was that some of the players are in their grade and they know them and talk to them all the time, she said.
She and Sandry have been able to cheer for the Cheesemakers in Madison the past three years.
"I'm proud of how this season went," Sandry said.
Deiderich laughed when asked if she thought she would get to cheer for the basketball team in Madison three years in a row. Her response summed the sentiments of everyone else in the gym.
"I hope so," she said with a smile.
The boys basketball team's players and coaches might have mistaken the high school gymnasium for the Kohl Center on Saturday, as they entered to music and thunderous cheers from their fans after their third trip to the Division 2 state tournament in as many years.
The final game of the season at the Kohl Center - a 79-67 loss to Wisconsin Lutheran - was a time for the players and coaches to reflect on their season and how well they played throughout the year. The homecoming ceremony at the high school was a chance for others to tell the team how proud they were of them as a team and as individuals.
"Congratulations," Monroe High School Principal Mark Burandt told the team. "You put forth a fabulous effort and made for an awfully entertaining week."
Burandt told the players the lessons they learned on the basketball court would serve them well throughout their lives.
"Hard work, dedication and teamwork. All of these are transferable," he told them.
Many of the fans in the gym Saturday were young boys and girls who no doubt dream they, too, will someday play in the state finals. School district officials and Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh thanked the players and coaches for their efforts and for how they represented Monroe.
"You represented the community with such class," Superintendent Larry Brown. "You know what total effort is, and you didn't quit.
"Take a minute to hug and kiss your mom and dad. Thank your coaches. You never get to this point by yourself."
Marsh thanked the team on behalf of Monroe and said the Cheesemakers gave people some good memories of a great season.
"You have been, still are and will continue to be champions in our eyes," Marsh said.
For six of the players on the team, Saturday's game was the last they will play as Monroe High School students. Monroe coach Pat Murphy thanked them all for the contributions they made during the season and for the way they conducted themselves both on and off the basketball court.
"I'm not sad because we lost," Murphy said. "I'm sad because our seniors are done."
The Cheesemakers' success this season was due to everyone on the team, he added.
"They worked hard every day," Murphy said. "They had team chemistry."
For the fans who spent the day cheering on their team and hoping for a win, the loss was difficult. The loss didn't diminish their support, however.
"I'm really proud of my team," senior Quinn Radke said. "They couldn't have (played) any better."
Radke and Amy Holst went to Madison to see the team play and came back to the high school to welcome them home.
"I wanted to be here to congratulate them when they came back," Holst said.
For juniors Cheryl Westgard, Laura Sandry and freshman Hannah Deiderich, all cheerleaders, the excitement of being in the Kohl Center easily transferred to the high school gym.
"I'm really proud of these guys to do it again," Westgard said.
What made it extra special for them was that some of the players are in their grade and they know them and talk to them all the time, she said.
She and Sandry have been able to cheer for the Cheesemakers in Madison the past three years.
"I'm proud of how this season went," Sandry said.
Deiderich laughed when asked if she thought she would get to cheer for the basketball team in Madison three years in a row. Her response summed the sentiments of everyone else in the gym.
"I hope so," she said with a smile.