MONROE - Each time Monroe High School junior Sydney Mathiason takes the court she displays a quiet confidence in her ability and team, knowing her coach and father is in her corner.
"We have a great relationship," Sydney Mathiason said of Sam Mathiason. "It just comes out on the court. He and my mom are my biggest supporters. Having him being closer to experience it with me is great."
Having a mother who also has a strong basketball background has paid dividends in her growth as a person and player.
"She's had a big influence," Sydney said of Ellen Mathiason. "She has always told me to do the best I can out on the court. I would like to follow in her footsteps and get a state championship."
Ellen Mathiason is a 1989 Monroe High School graduate. As Ellen Sathoff, she was a star player for Monroe and helped lead the Cheesemakers to a WIAA Class A state runner-up finish in 1988 and a Class A state championship in 1989. Hartland Arrowhead defeated Monroe 56-32 in the state title game in 1988. In 1989, the Cheesemakers knocked off Madison East 62-50.
Sam Mathiason has high expectations for his daughter just like he does each one of his players. With dual roles as a coach and parent, he allows Sydney's drive to become a better player be the catalyst.
"I try to treat her like any other kid and player," Sam said of his 6-foot daughter. "I just try to help her and the team get better. I think it has been a positive experience watching her growth. I try to make sure she doesn't hear too much of it at home."
Sydney averages 11.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She leads the team in three categories: free-throw percentage (75 percent, 21 of 28), 3-pointers made (14) and 3-point percentage (34.1 percent).
She has had a spike in her scoring and shooting percentage every season since her freshman year. She's in her third year as a starter and she's shooting 41.7 percent this season, which is about six percentage points better than last year when the Cheesemakers finished 10-14.
Sydney played in the summer on a national Wisconsin Academy team coached by Stoughton coach Brad Pickett.
"I put in a lot of time both on my free-throw shooting and 3-point shooting," she said. "I really want to be an all-around player. I really want to do whatever I can to help the team."
Sydney said she shot as many free throws and 3-pointers as she could in the summer.
Sam believes several factors have made the difference in Sydney's improved shooting.
"Part of it is the competition she played against on that Wisconsin Academy team," he said. "Part of it is the shooting camps she has went to and the time she has put in on becoming a better shooter. You have to be happy any time as a coach a player puts in the time and really gets rewarded in the end. I think the time she put in is paying off."
Monroe senior Jordan Hirsbrunner has been on the varsity team with Sydney for three years. She believes Sydney takes after her father emotionally. Both keep a positive attitude and neither gets too high after a big win or too low after a tough loss.
"She's dedicated and a hard worker in everything she does from academics to athletics," Hirsbrunner said of Sydney. "She's always positive and has a strong mindset. She and her dad have a connection that we can see on the court. If you didn't know he (Sam Mathiason) was her father you would never know it on the court. He treats her the same way as everyone."
Hirsbrunner commends Sydney for taking everything in stride.
"She's always positive with people, not only in basketball but other sports," Hirsbrunner said.
Sydney said it's good to be happy about the team's successes and important to forget and move on from struggles during games.
Keeping achievements and adversity in perspective has helped Sydney in pressure situations on the court. With the Cheesemakers trailing Monona Grove by one point in a game earlier this month, she didn't panic when the Silver Eagles double-teamed point guard Sydney Hilliard late. Mathiason was able to d rive to the basket to hit the game-winning shot with 4.4 seconds to go.
Sydney said the best advice her mother gave her was to have fun and everything else will come together.
And it really has started to come together for the Cheesemakers this year.
Sydney isn't surprised that Monroe has a 13-1 record and leads the Badger South Conference at 8-0.
"I knew we had a good team coming back," she said. "Coming into the season, I knew we could do some big things."
The success of the Cheesemakers this season has brought back memories for Ellen from her high school days and the Cheesemakers two straight trips to the state tournament in Madison.
"The community and school support is the same as it was back then," Ellen said. "I'm just really happy for her and enjoy watching her improve. I'm hoping she can have an experience like me with great teammates and coaches."
Ellen is a pharmacist at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, and Sydney's uncle, Lance Sathoff, is a doctor at Monroe Clinic. Sydney envisions a career in the medical field. However, she's not sure if she wants to become a doctor.
In the meantime, with Monroe being ranked fourth in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, Sydney understands the Cheesemakers will not sneak up on anyone when the regional tournament begins. She embraces the increased expectations.
"I think we have a chance," she said of making a state tournament run. "We have to do what we need to do to win games. We will see where each game takes us."
"We have a great relationship," Sydney Mathiason said of Sam Mathiason. "It just comes out on the court. He and my mom are my biggest supporters. Having him being closer to experience it with me is great."
Having a mother who also has a strong basketball background has paid dividends in her growth as a person and player.
"She's had a big influence," Sydney said of Ellen Mathiason. "She has always told me to do the best I can out on the court. I would like to follow in her footsteps and get a state championship."
Ellen Mathiason is a 1989 Monroe High School graduate. As Ellen Sathoff, she was a star player for Monroe and helped lead the Cheesemakers to a WIAA Class A state runner-up finish in 1988 and a Class A state championship in 1989. Hartland Arrowhead defeated Monroe 56-32 in the state title game in 1988. In 1989, the Cheesemakers knocked off Madison East 62-50.
Sam Mathiason has high expectations for his daughter just like he does each one of his players. With dual roles as a coach and parent, he allows Sydney's drive to become a better player be the catalyst.
"I try to treat her like any other kid and player," Sam said of his 6-foot daughter. "I just try to help her and the team get better. I think it has been a positive experience watching her growth. I try to make sure she doesn't hear too much of it at home."
Sydney averages 11.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She leads the team in three categories: free-throw percentage (75 percent, 21 of 28), 3-pointers made (14) and 3-point percentage (34.1 percent).
She has had a spike in her scoring and shooting percentage every season since her freshman year. She's in her third year as a starter and she's shooting 41.7 percent this season, which is about six percentage points better than last year when the Cheesemakers finished 10-14.
Sydney played in the summer on a national Wisconsin Academy team coached by Stoughton coach Brad Pickett.
"I put in a lot of time both on my free-throw shooting and 3-point shooting," she said. "I really want to be an all-around player. I really want to do whatever I can to help the team."
Sydney said she shot as many free throws and 3-pointers as she could in the summer.
Sam believes several factors have made the difference in Sydney's improved shooting.
"Part of it is the competition she played against on that Wisconsin Academy team," he said. "Part of it is the shooting camps she has went to and the time she has put in on becoming a better shooter. You have to be happy any time as a coach a player puts in the time and really gets rewarded in the end. I think the time she put in is paying off."
Monroe senior Jordan Hirsbrunner has been on the varsity team with Sydney for three years. She believes Sydney takes after her father emotionally. Both keep a positive attitude and neither gets too high after a big win or too low after a tough loss.
"She's dedicated and a hard worker in everything she does from academics to athletics," Hirsbrunner said of Sydney. "She's always positive and has a strong mindset. She and her dad have a connection that we can see on the court. If you didn't know he (Sam Mathiason) was her father you would never know it on the court. He treats her the same way as everyone."
Hirsbrunner commends Sydney for taking everything in stride.
"She's always positive with people, not only in basketball but other sports," Hirsbrunner said.
Sydney said it's good to be happy about the team's successes and important to forget and move on from struggles during games.
Keeping achievements and adversity in perspective has helped Sydney in pressure situations on the court. With the Cheesemakers trailing Monona Grove by one point in a game earlier this month, she didn't panic when the Silver Eagles double-teamed point guard Sydney Hilliard late. Mathiason was able to d rive to the basket to hit the game-winning shot with 4.4 seconds to go.
Sydney said the best advice her mother gave her was to have fun and everything else will come together.
And it really has started to come together for the Cheesemakers this year.
Sydney isn't surprised that Monroe has a 13-1 record and leads the Badger South Conference at 8-0.
"I knew we had a good team coming back," she said. "Coming into the season, I knew we could do some big things."
The success of the Cheesemakers this season has brought back memories for Ellen from her high school days and the Cheesemakers two straight trips to the state tournament in Madison.
"The community and school support is the same as it was back then," Ellen said. "I'm just really happy for her and enjoy watching her improve. I'm hoping she can have an experience like me with great teammates and coaches."
Ellen is a pharmacist at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, and Sydney's uncle, Lance Sathoff, is a doctor at Monroe Clinic. Sydney envisions a career in the medical field. However, she's not sure if she wants to become a doctor.
In the meantime, with Monroe being ranked fourth in the Associated Press Division 2 state poll, Sydney understands the Cheesemakers will not sneak up on anyone when the regional tournament begins. She embraces the increased expectations.
"I think we have a chance," she said of making a state tournament run. "We have to do what we need to do to win games. We will see where each game takes us."
