MONROE - Ethan Moehn has no doubts the Monroe boys 3,200-meter relay team is capable of winning a third-straight state championship.
If the Cheesemakers are going to run for the gold again and three-peat, it will take a team effort. The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of senior Steve Christiansen, junior Jake Hirsbrunner, senior Alex Barenklau and Moehn have the best time heading into Friday's WIAA Division 2 state track and field championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"We have talked what it would mean to win three," Moehn said of the 3,200 relay. "That would be huge. It's definitely our goal. I think winning it last year and the year before gave us a lot of confidence. With the fastest qualifying time, we will be the hunted."
The Cheesemakers, which set the Division 2 state record last year, are one of the only teams to break 8 minutes this season, which they did in winning the Kansas Relays. Barenklau and Moehn have been part of the first two titles and could add a third to their resumes.
"It never gets old winning state," Barenklau said. "I feel most confident with this team. I feel like we can do the job. There is definitely more pressure knowing that we have won the last two years. It's nothing new to us. We know how to handle it."
With nine events at state, the Cheesemakers could contend for a team state championship, which Sugar River won last year.
"There is always a chance with how many events we have we could make a run for it," Barenklau said. "A lot of things would have to go right. It's something we would like to strive for."
Moehn, who is the defending state champion in the 800, is the No. 2 seed entering the state meet this year (1:55.03) and Hirsbrunner is the No. 3 seed (1:55.48).
"The 800 the last few years if you kind of put your hand in a hat you could draw anyone's name," Moehn said of winning the race. "I'm confident coming in. We have worked hard all year. I have faith in my training. We will go as far as we take each other. I think the competitiveness and pushing between the two of us has really helped us out."
Hirsbrunner agrees the race may be wide open.
"He (Moehn) wants to be No. 1 and I want to be No. 1," Hirsbrunner said. "We both have the same goal and at the end of the day only one of us can get it. There are a lot of incredible times. There are a lot of years where 1:56 or 1:57 could win state."
Hirsbrunner will compete in four events at state. He is tied for the second best high jump (6-4) heading into the state meet. He has cleared 6-6 twice this year. Parkview senior Ben Davisson is the defending state champion in the high jump. Seymour's Alex Bloom, Little Chute's D.J. DeValk and Whitewater's Andy Cooper each enter tied as the top seed (6-6).
"Every time I have attempted 6-6 I have made it," Hirsbrunner said. "I don't think many people know that. I felt like we have saved some of my jumps for the state meet. Hopefully, all of the jumps I have saved pays off at state."
Hirsbrunner will also run the 1,600 relay with Barenklau, Christiansen and Payton Hoesly. The Cheesemakers were the state runner-up in the 1,600 relay last year. However, Moehn will not run the race since he is focused on medaling in the 800 and 1,600. The Cheesemakers are the No. 11 seed in the 1,600 relay.
Barenklau is the No. 9 seed in the 400 (50.75) and will just focus on making it to Saturday.
"My goal going into it is to make it to finals," Barenklau said. "If I make it there, I will just run my best and see what I can do."
Sugar River junior Garrison Woods, the state runner-up in the triple jump last year, is the ninth seed in the triple jump (43-0 1/2) and 13th seed in the long jump (20-11 1/2).
"He certainly has the ability to win it and medal," Sugar River coach Dan Schettler said of Woods in the triple jump. "He will have to go a lot further. Maybe he can pop off one for 45 feet like he did last year."
Junior teammate Kelvin Johnson is the fifth seed in the 300 hurdles.
"He is right there with his times," Schettler said. "It just comes down to how clean of a race he runs. We are not doubting he can win it."
Monroe junior Tre Voegeli is tied for the sixth seed in the pole vault (9-9). She cleared a school record 11-1 at the Belleville regional last week. Sugar River senior Madeline Brunner is the fourth seed in the 800 (2:17.01).
"She (Brunner) is right in the mix," Schettler said. "Hopefully, she will have enough in her to carry her all the way through. She has a shot to medal."
The Raiders' 800 relay team of Emily Diaz, Emily DeNure, Brunner and Alexis Hanson, are looking to medal for the second straight year after finishing fifth last year.
"We know they can drop a couple of seconds off their time," Schettler said. "If they run like they are capable of running they can get on the medal stand."
If the Cheesemakers are going to run for the gold again and three-peat, it will take a team effort. The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of senior Steve Christiansen, junior Jake Hirsbrunner, senior Alex Barenklau and Moehn have the best time heading into Friday's WIAA Division 2 state track and field championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"We have talked what it would mean to win three," Moehn said of the 3,200 relay. "That would be huge. It's definitely our goal. I think winning it last year and the year before gave us a lot of confidence. With the fastest qualifying time, we will be the hunted."
The Cheesemakers, which set the Division 2 state record last year, are one of the only teams to break 8 minutes this season, which they did in winning the Kansas Relays. Barenklau and Moehn have been part of the first two titles and could add a third to their resumes.
"It never gets old winning state," Barenklau said. "I feel most confident with this team. I feel like we can do the job. There is definitely more pressure knowing that we have won the last two years. It's nothing new to us. We know how to handle it."
With nine events at state, the Cheesemakers could contend for a team state championship, which Sugar River won last year.
"There is always a chance with how many events we have we could make a run for it," Barenklau said. "A lot of things would have to go right. It's something we would like to strive for."
Moehn, who is the defending state champion in the 800, is the No. 2 seed entering the state meet this year (1:55.03) and Hirsbrunner is the No. 3 seed (1:55.48).
"The 800 the last few years if you kind of put your hand in a hat you could draw anyone's name," Moehn said of winning the race. "I'm confident coming in. We have worked hard all year. I have faith in my training. We will go as far as we take each other. I think the competitiveness and pushing between the two of us has really helped us out."
Hirsbrunner agrees the race may be wide open.
"He (Moehn) wants to be No. 1 and I want to be No. 1," Hirsbrunner said. "We both have the same goal and at the end of the day only one of us can get it. There are a lot of incredible times. There are a lot of years where 1:56 or 1:57 could win state."
Hirsbrunner will compete in four events at state. He is tied for the second best high jump (6-4) heading into the state meet. He has cleared 6-6 twice this year. Parkview senior Ben Davisson is the defending state champion in the high jump. Seymour's Alex Bloom, Little Chute's D.J. DeValk and Whitewater's Andy Cooper each enter tied as the top seed (6-6).
"Every time I have attempted 6-6 I have made it," Hirsbrunner said. "I don't think many people know that. I felt like we have saved some of my jumps for the state meet. Hopefully, all of the jumps I have saved pays off at state."
Hirsbrunner will also run the 1,600 relay with Barenklau, Christiansen and Payton Hoesly. The Cheesemakers were the state runner-up in the 1,600 relay last year. However, Moehn will not run the race since he is focused on medaling in the 800 and 1,600. The Cheesemakers are the No. 11 seed in the 1,600 relay.
Barenklau is the No. 9 seed in the 400 (50.75) and will just focus on making it to Saturday.
"My goal going into it is to make it to finals," Barenklau said. "If I make it there, I will just run my best and see what I can do."
Sugar River junior Garrison Woods, the state runner-up in the triple jump last year, is the ninth seed in the triple jump (43-0 1/2) and 13th seed in the long jump (20-11 1/2).
"He certainly has the ability to win it and medal," Sugar River coach Dan Schettler said of Woods in the triple jump. "He will have to go a lot further. Maybe he can pop off one for 45 feet like he did last year."
Junior teammate Kelvin Johnson is the fifth seed in the 300 hurdles.
"He is right there with his times," Schettler said. "It just comes down to how clean of a race he runs. We are not doubting he can win it."
Monroe junior Tre Voegeli is tied for the sixth seed in the pole vault (9-9). She cleared a school record 11-1 at the Belleville regional last week. Sugar River senior Madeline Brunner is the fourth seed in the 800 (2:17.01).
"She (Brunner) is right in the mix," Schettler said. "Hopefully, she will have enough in her to carry her all the way through. She has a shot to medal."
The Raiders' 800 relay team of Emily Diaz, Emily DeNure, Brunner and Alexis Hanson, are looking to medal for the second straight year after finishing fifth last year.
"We know they can drop a couple of seconds off their time," Schettler said. "If they run like they are capable of running they can get on the medal stand."
