MONROE - There were many magical sports moments in Green and Lafayette counties in 2013, from the gridiron to the track to the court and wrestling mat.
Below is the first part of a two part series on the top sports stories of the year. The list is in random order and is just a snapshot of some of the most thrilling, biggest impact moments and most meaningful local sports stories of the year.
Redbirds bring home silver ball
The Darlington football team won a silver trophy as the state runner-up after losing the WIAA Division 6 state championship to Shiocton 35-0. Shiocton's Jacob Van Asten racked up 258 total yards and scored five touchdowns.
It marked the first time at state for the Redbirds since 1997. Darlington helped put football back on the map in southwest Wisconsin as one of four teams to make state runs. The Redbirds' Wing-T offense was one of the most prolific running attacks in the state with three running backs eclipsing more than 1,000 rushing yards. It was a historic run for the Redbirds' running backs. It's just the sixth time in the history of the state that the same team has produced three running backs with 1,000 yards or more in the same season. The Redbirds snapped two-time state champion Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs' 39-game winning streak, beating them 28-13 in the state semifinal.
Wellnitz brings home gold medal
Black Hawk's Jen Wellnitz as a junior won the state championship in the 100-meter dash. She earned the gold medal and the fastest female athlete award, running the 100 in 12.73 seconds. The time by Wellnitz was just 0.5 seconds ahead of Newman's Abby Brown.
She also medaled in three events taking fourth in the 200 (26.49) and sixth in the long jump (16 feet, 10 inches).
"I looked up and saw 'Wellnitz' in the top spot and my heart just jumped a little bit," she said after the race at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Wellnitz has won six state medals in three years and was a rare four-sport athlete as a junior playing softball and running track in the spring and basketball in the winter and volleyball in the fall.
Cardinals make state run
The Brodhead volleyball team made an improbable run to the state tournament in Division 3. The Cardinals' run ended at the state semifinal where they lost to Regis 25-16, 25-20, 25-19. It was the Cardinals first state appearance since 2008.
The Cardinals' run to state took a different path than many expected. Brodhead didn't have to play No. 3 regional seed Deerfield in the regional championship or No. 1 seed Cuba City in a sectional title match since both were upset. However, the Cardinals had to beat Laconia in a regional title match and Wisconsin Heights in the sectional final. The Cardinals finished second in the Rock Valley South to Walworth-Big Foot, but found a way to make it to state and Big Foot lost to Madison Edgewood ending their state dream.
"We talked all season that there will always be a Big Foot, but they just might have a different name on their jersey," Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said.
Six sign with Division I schools
Six area athletes signed National Letters of Intent or announced they will attend Division I colleges for various sports. Monroe senior Jake Hirsbrunner will run track for the University of Wisconsin. Hirsbrunner plans to specialize in the decathlon. Monroe senior Ethan Moehn will run cross country and track for the University of Arkansas. Moehn and Hirsbrunner were both named all-state in cross country. It's the first time Monroe has had a Division I cross country and track recruit since Matt Barrett went to Minnesota in 2005. Patrick Klein, a 2007 graduate, received a full-ride from Loyola in Chicago, but he turned it down to go to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The other athletes going to Division I colleges include:
Brodhead senior Carly Mohns signed to play basketball at Iowa.
Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz signed to play basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Darlington senior Tyson Miehe signed to run cross country and track for the University of Wisconsin.
Monticello senior Marissa Berg signed to swim for the University of Wisconsin.
Grossen, McGuire go unbeaten
Monroe seniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire went unbeaten in the regular season for the Monroe girls tennis team. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo didn't lose a match until the Badger Conference tournament. Grossen and McGuire made a run to state for the second straight year.
Grossen and McGuire finished the season 22-4. They entered the state tournament as the No. 6 seed. They were the only public school tandem to earn one of the top eight seeds. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo lost to East Troy's Paige Kloth and Abi Goode 6-4, 6-4.
Trio of wrestlers earn state medals
Three area wrestlers closed out prestigious careers winning medals at the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Brodhead senior Hunter Colden finished fourth at 170 pounds. Monroe senior Kevin Klopfenstein (138) and senior Trevor Gorr (220) each took fifth place. Klopfenstein ended the season 45-10. He closed out his career with more than 150 career wins.
Gorr finished the season 48-4, and after losing a close wrestleback to Sheboygan Falls senior Drew Setzer 2-1, he pinned Grafton's Alex Marshall in 44 seconds.
Colden entered the state tournament as one of three unbeaten wrestlers at 170. He lost his first match of the season in the semifinals to Luxemburg-Casco's Jordan Pardowsky 6-4.
Colden became the first four-year state qualifier in the history of Brodhead-Juda.
Below is the first part of a two part series on the top sports stories of the year. The list is in random order and is just a snapshot of some of the most thrilling, biggest impact moments and most meaningful local sports stories of the year.
Redbirds bring home silver ball
The Darlington football team won a silver trophy as the state runner-up after losing the WIAA Division 6 state championship to Shiocton 35-0. Shiocton's Jacob Van Asten racked up 258 total yards and scored five touchdowns.
It marked the first time at state for the Redbirds since 1997. Darlington helped put football back on the map in southwest Wisconsin as one of four teams to make state runs. The Redbirds' Wing-T offense was one of the most prolific running attacks in the state with three running backs eclipsing more than 1,000 rushing yards. It was a historic run for the Redbirds' running backs. It's just the sixth time in the history of the state that the same team has produced three running backs with 1,000 yards or more in the same season. The Redbirds snapped two-time state champion Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs' 39-game winning streak, beating them 28-13 in the state semifinal.
Wellnitz brings home gold medal
Black Hawk's Jen Wellnitz as a junior won the state championship in the 100-meter dash. She earned the gold medal and the fastest female athlete award, running the 100 in 12.73 seconds. The time by Wellnitz was just 0.5 seconds ahead of Newman's Abby Brown.
She also medaled in three events taking fourth in the 200 (26.49) and sixth in the long jump (16 feet, 10 inches).
"I looked up and saw 'Wellnitz' in the top spot and my heart just jumped a little bit," she said after the race at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Wellnitz has won six state medals in three years and was a rare four-sport athlete as a junior playing softball and running track in the spring and basketball in the winter and volleyball in the fall.
Cardinals make state run
The Brodhead volleyball team made an improbable run to the state tournament in Division 3. The Cardinals' run ended at the state semifinal where they lost to Regis 25-16, 25-20, 25-19. It was the Cardinals first state appearance since 2008.
The Cardinals' run to state took a different path than many expected. Brodhead didn't have to play No. 3 regional seed Deerfield in the regional championship or No. 1 seed Cuba City in a sectional title match since both were upset. However, the Cardinals had to beat Laconia in a regional title match and Wisconsin Heights in the sectional final. The Cardinals finished second in the Rock Valley South to Walworth-Big Foot, but found a way to make it to state and Big Foot lost to Madison Edgewood ending their state dream.
"We talked all season that there will always be a Big Foot, but they just might have a different name on their jersey," Brodhead coach Erin Kammerer said.
Six sign with Division I schools
Six area athletes signed National Letters of Intent or announced they will attend Division I colleges for various sports. Monroe senior Jake Hirsbrunner will run track for the University of Wisconsin. Hirsbrunner plans to specialize in the decathlon. Monroe senior Ethan Moehn will run cross country and track for the University of Arkansas. Moehn and Hirsbrunner were both named all-state in cross country. It's the first time Monroe has had a Division I cross country and track recruit since Matt Barrett went to Minnesota in 2005. Patrick Klein, a 2007 graduate, received a full-ride from Loyola in Chicago, but he turned it down to go to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. The other athletes going to Division I colleges include:
Brodhead senior Carly Mohns signed to play basketball at Iowa.
Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz signed to play basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Darlington senior Tyson Miehe signed to run cross country and track for the University of Wisconsin.
Monticello senior Marissa Berg signed to swim for the University of Wisconsin.
Grossen, McGuire go unbeaten
Monroe seniors Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire went unbeaten in the regular season for the Monroe girls tennis team. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo didn't lose a match until the Badger Conference tournament. Grossen and McGuire made a run to state for the second straight year.
Grossen and McGuire finished the season 22-4. They entered the state tournament as the No. 6 seed. They were the only public school tandem to earn one of the top eight seeds. The Cheesemakers' No. 1 doubles duo lost to East Troy's Paige Kloth and Abi Goode 6-4, 6-4.
Trio of wrestlers earn state medals
Three area wrestlers closed out prestigious careers winning medals at the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Brodhead senior Hunter Colden finished fourth at 170 pounds. Monroe senior Kevin Klopfenstein (138) and senior Trevor Gorr (220) each took fifth place. Klopfenstein ended the season 45-10. He closed out his career with more than 150 career wins.
Gorr finished the season 48-4, and after losing a close wrestleback to Sheboygan Falls senior Drew Setzer 2-1, he pinned Grafton's Alex Marshall in 44 seconds.
Colden entered the state tournament as one of three unbeaten wrestlers at 170. He lost his first match of the season in the semifinals to Luxemburg-Casco's Jordan Pardowsky 6-4.
Colden became the first four-year state qualifier in the history of Brodhead-Juda.
