MONROE - Expect a sea of red in Green Bay this weekend.
Nearly 500 community members have purchased T-shirts in support of the Cheesemakers' run to the WIAA state girls basketball tournament, which is a huge turnout from the perspective of Heartland Graphics owner Tracy Hamilton.
"Those are some incredible numbers for such a quick turnout," Hamilton said. "Spirits are high. There will be a lot of red in Green Bay this weekend."
Monroe girls basketball is set to take on Beaver Dam at 3:15 p.m. today. For the first time since 2010, the program will return to state competition. Players will face tough competition against Beaver Dam, an undefeated team which overtook the Cheesemakers by about 20 points during regular-season play.
Despite the hard battle ahead, Monroe Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said he is confident the team can pull off a victory and proceed on to the championship game Saturday.
"I'm really excited, proud and happy for this team," Newcomer said.
He talked about the team bonding the Cheesemakers will experience and how all the hard work of the season has led to these final moments. From the first strenuous weeks of practice, remembering moves and how to work fluidly with teammates, to the adrenaline high of bringing home regional and then sectional trophies, the team has pulled together.
"It's going to be an amazing feeling for them," he said.
Newcomer has observed a school brimming with excitement since the news of the Cheesemakers sectional win and advancement to state competition. Especially after the Monroe bowling team returned home Sunday with a state championship win, response by friends and peers to the girls basketball players has been outstanding.
"The school is kind of buzzing a little bit," Newcomer said.
Four fan buses packed with students were expected to depart for Green Bay today. Newcomer said that by Thursday morning at least 650 tickets had been sold. He also noted the stacks of T-shirt orders that came in at the beginning of the week after Monroe won a sectional title.
"We have a really strong student section," he said. "It was an unexpected turnout. That tells me people want to be a part of it. People are really excited."
A pep rally held Thursday morning showed the school in high spirits as well. The Monroe High School pep band provided energetic tunes for students as they cheered on the Cheesemakers basketball team while the players took in the admiration of their peers. And the bowling club was given a shout out as students and faculty cheered in Cheesemaker pride.
Nearly 500 community members have purchased T-shirts in support of the Cheesemakers' run to the WIAA state girls basketball tournament, which is a huge turnout from the perspective of Heartland Graphics owner Tracy Hamilton.
"Those are some incredible numbers for such a quick turnout," Hamilton said. "Spirits are high. There will be a lot of red in Green Bay this weekend."
Monroe girls basketball is set to take on Beaver Dam at 3:15 p.m. today. For the first time since 2010, the program will return to state competition. Players will face tough competition against Beaver Dam, an undefeated team which overtook the Cheesemakers by about 20 points during regular-season play.
Despite the hard battle ahead, Monroe Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said he is confident the team can pull off a victory and proceed on to the championship game Saturday.
"I'm really excited, proud and happy for this team," Newcomer said.
He talked about the team bonding the Cheesemakers will experience and how all the hard work of the season has led to these final moments. From the first strenuous weeks of practice, remembering moves and how to work fluidly with teammates, to the adrenaline high of bringing home regional and then sectional trophies, the team has pulled together.
"It's going to be an amazing feeling for them," he said.
Newcomer has observed a school brimming with excitement since the news of the Cheesemakers sectional win and advancement to state competition. Especially after the Monroe bowling team returned home Sunday with a state championship win, response by friends and peers to the girls basketball players has been outstanding.
"The school is kind of buzzing a little bit," Newcomer said.
Four fan buses packed with students were expected to depart for Green Bay today. Newcomer said that by Thursday morning at least 650 tickets had been sold. He also noted the stacks of T-shirt orders that came in at the beginning of the week after Monroe won a sectional title.
"We have a really strong student section," he said. "It was an unexpected turnout. That tells me people want to be a part of it. People are really excited."
A pep rally held Thursday morning showed the school in high spirits as well. The Monroe High School pep band provided energetic tunes for students as they cheered on the Cheesemakers basketball team while the players took in the admiration of their peers. And the bowling club was given a shout out as students and faculty cheered in Cheesemaker pride.