Fall is the best time of the year. It's great to be able to walk outside with just a sweatshirt on. Fall television shows like Criminal Minds, Law and Order and CSI return. The big three professional sports - football, baseball and basketball seasons are in playoff mode, full swing or tip off.
The Bears are 4-1 and the Packers are reeling after a 2-3 start. As the leaves change color and fall to the ground, high school athletes are gearing up and participating in big games. The Monroe football team is on the brink of returning to the WIAA playoffs for the first time since 2003. Monroe needs to beat Stoughton at Holyoke Field tonight to finish .500 in conference and to become playoff eligible for the second straight year.
University of Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball and James White made a stop by the weight room Monday during a Monroe football practice to meet the Cheesemakers. Ball, who is friends with Monroe assistant coach Kyle Wojta, surprised the team. I don't think the Cheesemakers need any extra motivation for tonight, but getting a visit from a Heisman Trophy finalist can't hurt.
Monroe has a great history against Stoughton the last several years. The Cheesemakers are 8-2 against the Vikings the last 10 years. Last year, Monroe's Jon Becker returned a punt in the final minute to knock off the Vikings. I predict the Cheesemakers will have success running the ball again, and Alex Barenklau will throw a game-winning touchdown pass to Charlie Kind to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling 21-14 win.
Football isn't the only prep sport that heats up in October. There will be a lot of prep athletic achievements to celebrate in the next three weeks. Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire qualified for the state tennis tournament and won their first match at UW's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Cross country runners in Green and Lafayette counties may make the biggest splash at the state level. The Monroe boys cross country team is ranked No. 7 in Division 2 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Association state poll. Monroe is fortunate enough that they get to host two of the biggest meets of the year - the Badger South Conference meet at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and the Division 2 sectional meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at Twining Park. With Monroe junior Ethan Moehn back from injury, the Cheesemakers will be the favorite to return to state. The Cheesemakers have qualified for state as a team seven of the last eight years.
Two area runners - New Glarus-Monticello senior Ryan McCoy (Division 2) and Darlington junior Tyson Miehe (Division 3) will be looking to repeat as individual state champions. The Darlington boys are ranked No. 1 and are looking to repeat as Division 3 state champions as a team.
The Darlington girls are also ranked No. 1 in Division 3 after defeating Dodgeville-Mineral Point in a meet earlier this year. However, the Pointers were missing two of their top runners.
Volleyball regionals start next week. Monroe senior Rachel Root will be looking to qualify for the WIAA Division 2 state swimming meet for the fourth straight year. She is one of the top backstroke and butterfly swimmers in the state. Only time will tell how these stories will play out, but they sure make this time of year even better.
The Bears are 4-1 and the Packers are reeling after a 2-3 start. As the leaves change color and fall to the ground, high school athletes are gearing up and participating in big games. The Monroe football team is on the brink of returning to the WIAA playoffs for the first time since 2003. Monroe needs to beat Stoughton at Holyoke Field tonight to finish .500 in conference and to become playoff eligible for the second straight year.
University of Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball and James White made a stop by the weight room Monday during a Monroe football practice to meet the Cheesemakers. Ball, who is friends with Monroe assistant coach Kyle Wojta, surprised the team. I don't think the Cheesemakers need any extra motivation for tonight, but getting a visit from a Heisman Trophy finalist can't hurt.
Monroe has a great history against Stoughton the last several years. The Cheesemakers are 8-2 against the Vikings the last 10 years. Last year, Monroe's Jon Becker returned a punt in the final minute to knock off the Vikings. I predict the Cheesemakers will have success running the ball again, and Alex Barenklau will throw a game-winning touchdown pass to Charlie Kind to give the Cheesemakers a thrilling 21-14 win.
Football isn't the only prep sport that heats up in October. There will be a lot of prep athletic achievements to celebrate in the next three weeks. Ellie Grossen and Chandra McGuire qualified for the state tennis tournament and won their first match at UW's Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Cross country runners in Green and Lafayette counties may make the biggest splash at the state level. The Monroe boys cross country team is ranked No. 7 in Division 2 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Association state poll. Monroe is fortunate enough that they get to host two of the biggest meets of the year - the Badger South Conference meet at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and the Division 2 sectional meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at Twining Park. With Monroe junior Ethan Moehn back from injury, the Cheesemakers will be the favorite to return to state. The Cheesemakers have qualified for state as a team seven of the last eight years.
Two area runners - New Glarus-Monticello senior Ryan McCoy (Division 2) and Darlington junior Tyson Miehe (Division 3) will be looking to repeat as individual state champions. The Darlington boys are ranked No. 1 and are looking to repeat as Division 3 state champions as a team.
The Darlington girls are also ranked No. 1 in Division 3 after defeating Dodgeville-Mineral Point in a meet earlier this year. However, the Pointers were missing two of their top runners.
Volleyball regionals start next week. Monroe senior Rachel Root will be looking to qualify for the WIAA Division 2 state swimming meet for the fourth straight year. She is one of the top backstroke and butterfly swimmers in the state. Only time will tell how these stories will play out, but they sure make this time of year even better.
