MONROE - The revival of the Monroe football team into a contender for a trip to the state championship game brings back a flood of memories for former Monroe coach Pat Martin.
Martin, a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer, coached football at Monroe for 26 years. He guided the Cheesemakers to five state championships including three straight state titles from 1990 to 1992. The other state titles came in 1986 and 1994 and the Cheesemakers were the state runner-up in 1995 and 1996.
Martin has sat in the stands for nine of the Cheesemakers' games this season.
"It definitely brings back a lot of memories and a lot of them are good," Martin said. "We had a good run. The seats are full and there is a lot of excitement in the community. They have been working hard and it's all coming together."
Monroe takes on Pewaukee Friday in a Division 3 state quarterfinal game at home.
For many former players, coaches and fans, the Cheesemakers re-emergence into a Badger South Conference champion and a Division 3 playoff contender has renewed a sense of pride not only in the sport of football, team, but the community.
"To sit in the stands there is a lot of excitement and it's a lot of fun," Martin said. "It's great for the community and the team. They have had a long time of disappointing seasons the last few seasons. To get back to where we were is great."
The success by the Monroe football team has led to a boost in sales for one local businessman. Tracy Hamilton, owner of Heartland Graphics, has remained busy stocking his shelves with more Monroe sweatshirts, T-shirts, caps and other apparel.
"The school spirit is definitely running wild," Hamilton said. "It's great to see."
Hamilton said he has seen an increase in business in part because of the success of Monroe's fall sports teams including the Cheesemaker football team.
Hamilton, a 1984 MHS graduate, is excited to see the dominance in football return, like the Cheesemakers enjoyed for most of the decade in the 1990s.
"As it gets cooler the sweatshirts have really been flying off the shelves," he said.
First-year Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski has enjoyed the success of the program this season. He understands the success of sports at some high schools goes in cycles.
"The success this year may motivate more kids in middle school to go out for Blaze football next year," Golembiewski said. "I have already seen it with my son and his friends. They are excited about football."
Martin, a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer, coached football at Monroe for 26 years. He guided the Cheesemakers to five state championships including three straight state titles from 1990 to 1992. The other state titles came in 1986 and 1994 and the Cheesemakers were the state runner-up in 1995 and 1996.
Martin has sat in the stands for nine of the Cheesemakers' games this season.
"It definitely brings back a lot of memories and a lot of them are good," Martin said. "We had a good run. The seats are full and there is a lot of excitement in the community. They have been working hard and it's all coming together."
Monroe takes on Pewaukee Friday in a Division 3 state quarterfinal game at home.
For many former players, coaches and fans, the Cheesemakers re-emergence into a Badger South Conference champion and a Division 3 playoff contender has renewed a sense of pride not only in the sport of football, team, but the community.
"To sit in the stands there is a lot of excitement and it's a lot of fun," Martin said. "It's great for the community and the team. They have had a long time of disappointing seasons the last few seasons. To get back to where we were is great."
The success by the Monroe football team has led to a boost in sales for one local businessman. Tracy Hamilton, owner of Heartland Graphics, has remained busy stocking his shelves with more Monroe sweatshirts, T-shirts, caps and other apparel.
"The school spirit is definitely running wild," Hamilton said. "It's great to see."
Hamilton said he has seen an increase in business in part because of the success of Monroe's fall sports teams including the Cheesemaker football team.
Hamilton, a 1984 MHS graduate, is excited to see the dominance in football return, like the Cheesemakers enjoyed for most of the decade in the 1990s.
"As it gets cooler the sweatshirts have really been flying off the shelves," he said.
First-year Monroe coach Toby Golembiewski has enjoyed the success of the program this season. He understands the success of sports at some high schools goes in cycles.
"The success this year may motivate more kids in middle school to go out for Blaze football next year," Golembiewski said. "I have already seen it with my son and his friends. They are excited about football."