WIAA girls state hockey tournament
What: Semifinal, Rock County Fury (16-10-1) vs. Hayward co-op (19-8)
When: 11 a.m. Friday
Where: Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison
Tickets: $8 per session at the door
At Stake: A chance to play for the state title against the winner of the D.C. Everest co-op (21-4-1) vs. University School co-op (22-3-2) game.
MONROE - One Monroe High School athlete loves watching the movie "Miracle" and has been playing hockey since she was 7. One of her teammates has received notoriety for being the lead singer of the rock band Precocious.
Both Monroe sophomore Ally Einbeck and freshman Cammi Ganshert will miss school on Friday. The duo will be playing with the Rock County Fury (16-10-1) against Hayward (18-6) in a WIAA state girls hockey semifinal at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Einbeck, Ganshert and the other members of the Rock County Fury will have a 45-minute practice today at the Coliseum.
"It has not sunk in yet," Einbeck said. "Once we step on the ice it will set in that this is really happening. It will be a rush of emotions when we get to see the site with no people in there. Putting all of the people in the stands will bring it to life."
Ganshert, who is used to prepping for big moments as an entertainer, has found a home on the ice.
"It's been a dream come true," Ganshert said. "I have never been to state before. It's still kind of in a haze. We can't believe it. I'm really amazed and proud we made it this far. We have been flying under the radar this year."
Einbeck has made the switch from a defender to a forward. She has scored one goal this year and has two assists. She plays on a line that Rock County coach Dave Soddy has dubbed the "grind line." The line has given up just one goal this season.
"We get the job to defend our house," Einbeck said. "I have had the defender mindset with learning about forward."
With Soddy being a first-year coach, Einbeck was willing to fill whatever role her coaches needed.
"I told them you can put me wherever you want, and I will get the job done," Einbeck said. "My skating has got so much better. This new coaching staff has pushed us to levels we never knew we could get to."
Ganshert has scored three goals and has four assists. She has played as a forward and defender this year. She relishes her time as a defender.
"I always hoped we would make it this far," Ganshert said. "We have always stayed confident and not cocky. I really love playing defense. The most challenging thing is keeping your eyes up, knowing who is open and where to pass the puck."
Soddy said Ganshert is the fastest skater on the team.
After Christmas break, the Fury lost four straight games.
"We went through a slump after Christmas break because we had so many days off without a game," Ganshert said. "We then beat Fond du Lac, which was ranked fourth or fifth in the state. That gave us momentum, and we felt we could do it (get to state)."
Another big win came when the Fury knocked off Onalaska 3-2 in overtime in a sectional semifinal. The win snapped Onalaska's four straight years of state tournament berths. The next big hurdle was beating the Middleton co-op 3-2 in a sectional championship game to clinch a state berth. The Middleton Metro Lynx had beaten the Fury 2-1 two other times this season.
After playing with the Monroe Avalanche hockey program, Ganshert played coed hockey coming up before the Monroe School District agreed to join a girls hockey co-op a couple years ago.
"It's nice to play with girls my age who all have a good skill level," she said.
Rock County Fury senior goalie Molly Gross, is a Monroe native, who attends Beloit Memorial High School. Gross has a .929 save percentage and is averaging 28.5 saves per game.
Whether it's getting together to bake cookies, having a team dinner, watching a movie or sharing cupcakes and laughs together, the Fury players have developed a bond even though the seven-team co-op has players from six schools - Monroe, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker and Clinton.
"We have come together as one team," Einbeck said. "We get to come to practice and forget about everyone else back at our home schools. Cammi and I have a connection with these girls."
Both Monroe sophomore Ally Einbeck and freshman Cammi Ganshert will miss school on Friday. The duo will be playing with the Rock County Fury (16-10-1) against Hayward (18-6) in a WIAA state girls hockey semifinal at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Einbeck, Ganshert and the other members of the Rock County Fury will have a 45-minute practice today at the Coliseum.
"It has not sunk in yet," Einbeck said. "Once we step on the ice it will set in that this is really happening. It will be a rush of emotions when we get to see the site with no people in there. Putting all of the people in the stands will bring it to life."
Ganshert, who is used to prepping for big moments as an entertainer, has found a home on the ice.
"It's been a dream come true," Ganshert said. "I have never been to state before. It's still kind of in a haze. We can't believe it. I'm really amazed and proud we made it this far. We have been flying under the radar this year."
Einbeck has made the switch from a defender to a forward. She has scored one goal this year and has two assists. She plays on a line that Rock County coach Dave Soddy has dubbed the "grind line." The line has given up just one goal this season.
"We get the job to defend our house," Einbeck said. "I have had the defender mindset with learning about forward."
With Soddy being a first-year coach, Einbeck was willing to fill whatever role her coaches needed.
"I told them you can put me wherever you want, and I will get the job done," Einbeck said. "My skating has got so much better. This new coaching staff has pushed us to levels we never knew we could get to."
Ganshert has scored three goals and has four assists. She has played as a forward and defender this year. She relishes her time as a defender.
"I always hoped we would make it this far," Ganshert said. "We have always stayed confident and not cocky. I really love playing defense. The most challenging thing is keeping your eyes up, knowing who is open and where to pass the puck."
Soddy said Ganshert is the fastest skater on the team.
After Christmas break, the Fury lost four straight games.
"We went through a slump after Christmas break because we had so many days off without a game," Ganshert said. "We then beat Fond du Lac, which was ranked fourth or fifth in the state. That gave us momentum, and we felt we could do it (get to state)."
Another big win came when the Fury knocked off Onalaska 3-2 in overtime in a sectional semifinal. The win snapped Onalaska's four straight years of state tournament berths. The next big hurdle was beating the Middleton co-op 3-2 in a sectional championship game to clinch a state berth. The Middleton Metro Lynx had beaten the Fury 2-1 two other times this season.
After playing with the Monroe Avalanche hockey program, Ganshert played coed hockey coming up before the Monroe School District agreed to join a girls hockey co-op a couple years ago.
"It's nice to play with girls my age who all have a good skill level," she said.
Rock County Fury senior goalie Molly Gross, is a Monroe native, who attends Beloit Memorial High School. Gross has a .929 save percentage and is averaging 28.5 saves per game.
Whether it's getting together to bake cookies, having a team dinner, watching a movie or sharing cupcakes and laughs together, the Fury players have developed a bond even though the seven-team co-op has players from six schools - Monroe, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker and Clinton.
"We have come together as one team," Einbeck said. "We get to come to practice and forget about everyone else back at our home schools. Cammi and I have a connection with these girls."
