MONROE - Sophomore Ethan Moehn has one thing he wants to do when the Monroe's 3,200-meter relay team arrives in Philadelphia for the 117th annual Penn Relays.
"I'm a big fan of the Rock movies," Moehn said. "I'm hoping to get to run the Rocky steps."
The 72 stone steps before the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are renowned as the "Rocky steps" because of their appearance in the hit movies. Just as the steps symbolize an underdog like Rock Balboa's underdog climb, the Cheesemakers' quest is to have a national breakthrough on one of the biggest stages.
"It's definitely an honor to be going out there and to be only the second team in school history to do that," Moehn said.
The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of junior Alex Barenklau, senior Matt Bush, senior Skyler Stingley and Moehn as well as alternates Joel Henry and Payton Hoesly flew out of Chicago's O'Hare Airport for Philadelphia this morning.
"I feel it's an honor for us to be invited to the Penn Relays," Bush said. "Any time you can represent the state of Wisconsin, it's an honor."
Monroe is the only team from Wisconsin to qualify for the Penn Relays. The Cheesemakers are one of 74 teams that will run in the 3,200 relay. The Cheesemakers are scheduled to run at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
The Cheesemakers have the eighth fastest time in the state in the 3,200 relay regardless of division in the Track and Field Honor Roll. Each heat is expected to have about 20 teams. The top 12 relay teams will make it to the finals on Saturday.
"There are only about six lanes and there are about double the teams," Barenklau said. "We really don't have a choice. We will adjust to it. The handoffs will be interesting."
The Cheesemakers qualified for the Penn Relays by running the 3,200 relay in 8 minutes, 12.72 seconds at the Madison West relays earlier this season. The last time the Cheesemakers qualified for the Penn Relays they finished 11th.
"Our goal at the beginning of the year was to qualify for the Penn Relays," Stingley said. "Our goal now is to make it to the finals."
Monroe middle and long distance coaches Dave Hirsbrunner and Howie Jubeck will also be making the trip.
Hirsbrunner said if the 3,200 relay team can break 8 minutes, the Cheesemakers will have a chance to make it to the finals.
"Our main goal is to run 8 minutes flat," Bush said.
Barenklau agreed.
"If we run 8 flat, we probably would make it to the finals," he said. "It's kind of a benchmark for it. When you run at a big meet like this it will obviously bring out the best competition."
Moehn is well aware the Cheesemakers must have tunnel vision.
"We just have to be focused when we run, not worry about the handoffs and leave it all out there. If we do that, we will have a good chance."
Monroe will also get the chance to see some of the nation's top country and professional runners.
"I'm a big fan of the Rock movies," Moehn said. "I'm hoping to get to run the Rocky steps."
The 72 stone steps before the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are renowned as the "Rocky steps" because of their appearance in the hit movies. Just as the steps symbolize an underdog like Rock Balboa's underdog climb, the Cheesemakers' quest is to have a national breakthrough on one of the biggest stages.
"It's definitely an honor to be going out there and to be only the second team in school history to do that," Moehn said.
The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of junior Alex Barenklau, senior Matt Bush, senior Skyler Stingley and Moehn as well as alternates Joel Henry and Payton Hoesly flew out of Chicago's O'Hare Airport for Philadelphia this morning.
"I feel it's an honor for us to be invited to the Penn Relays," Bush said. "Any time you can represent the state of Wisconsin, it's an honor."
Monroe is the only team from Wisconsin to qualify for the Penn Relays. The Cheesemakers are one of 74 teams that will run in the 3,200 relay. The Cheesemakers are scheduled to run at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
The Cheesemakers have the eighth fastest time in the state in the 3,200 relay regardless of division in the Track and Field Honor Roll. Each heat is expected to have about 20 teams. The top 12 relay teams will make it to the finals on Saturday.
"There are only about six lanes and there are about double the teams," Barenklau said. "We really don't have a choice. We will adjust to it. The handoffs will be interesting."
The Cheesemakers qualified for the Penn Relays by running the 3,200 relay in 8 minutes, 12.72 seconds at the Madison West relays earlier this season. The last time the Cheesemakers qualified for the Penn Relays they finished 11th.
"Our goal at the beginning of the year was to qualify for the Penn Relays," Stingley said. "Our goal now is to make it to the finals."
Monroe middle and long distance coaches Dave Hirsbrunner and Howie Jubeck will also be making the trip.
Hirsbrunner said if the 3,200 relay team can break 8 minutes, the Cheesemakers will have a chance to make it to the finals.
"Our main goal is to run 8 minutes flat," Bush said.
Barenklau agreed.
"If we run 8 flat, we probably would make it to the finals," he said. "It's kind of a benchmark for it. When you run at a big meet like this it will obviously bring out the best competition."
Moehn is well aware the Cheesemakers must have tunnel vision.
"We just have to be focused when we run, not worry about the handoffs and leave it all out there. If we do that, we will have a good chance."
Monroe will also get the chance to see some of the nation's top country and professional runners.
