MADISON - Four of the Lady Cheesemakers are celebrating their WIAA Division 2 state title in vintage fashion.
Less than a day removed from hoisting the golden ball, Kayla Rackow, Kylie Kaiser, Emily Rufenacht and Gwen Sutter are going to Disney World.
But the traditional celebration destination is just the next stop between the Alliant Energy Center and Space Mountain, as the quartet joined their softball team less than 24 hours removed from leaving their home of hoops in flying to Florida for spring break.
During their hiatus from classes and the cold, Monroe coach Dale Buvid's softball club not only will cut loose a bit, they'll also cut their teeth on some preseason competition before March 28's season-opener at Twining Park with DeForest of the Badger North.
Another club from the crossover division, Portage, brought Monroe's steamrolling softball club to halt, 2-1, in last year's sectional semifinals at McFarland High School.
Weeks ago, Monroe fans may have admitted they were anxiously looking forward to this past weekend for different reasons one may think of now that Kevin Keen's club achieved its incredibly unpredictable feat.
If the Cheeseheads were thumbing the same pulse as this writer was weeks ago, they were looking forward to their powerhouse softball club getting prepped for what should be a promising and deep run this season.
Not that they weren't looking forward to the hoops playoffs. But, much like a year prior (and maybe I've learned my lesson in prognostication by now), the Monroe hoops machine hit its highest gear imaginable long before many of its cogs reached their full potential.
Three hundred sixty-four days before the Lady Cheese followed suit, Pat Murphy, ensconced in the magic of St. Patrick Day's weekend, captured his first golden ball with a club that everyone called "a year away."
Saturday, the luck of the Irish was missing in action as Monroe's Lady Cheese fundamentally dismembered Freedom inside and out.
Things rarely turn out the way we plan, and even less frequently the way we predict. Even Monroe High School's yearbook editor couldn't have predicted a state title berth, let alone another gold ball, as he departed for vacation hours before Saturday's tilt with Freedom.
Several Wisconsin prep athletic programs proudly steal chances to reflect their admiration of the University of Wisconsin, and Monroe's affections for its big red sibling to the north is no mystery. While the Badgers regularly vie for the coveted Director's Cup - a comprehensive ranking of all NCAA athletic programs nationwide - Monroe's system has solidified its basketball prowess. And there's no reason to believe the Cheese won't spread its dominance into softball season.
It's hard not to envision great things for Buvid's bunch. Four of his key contributors (Kaiser will start behind the dish, Rackow at second and Rufenacht swings a mean stick, while Sutter's workload will significantly increase) just got a taste of blood in the water.
Nothing is more validating than the sensation that Monroe's young heroes felt Saturday. That same group got used to its onlookers waiting to forgive them for a season-ending loss.
That never happened. Now, already sharpening every tool Buvid has stored in his shed, it will be intriguing to see what this new group will become on what's already been deemed a diamond of destiny.
Less than a day removed from hoisting the golden ball, Kayla Rackow, Kylie Kaiser, Emily Rufenacht and Gwen Sutter are going to Disney World.
But the traditional celebration destination is just the next stop between the Alliant Energy Center and Space Mountain, as the quartet joined their softball team less than 24 hours removed from leaving their home of hoops in flying to Florida for spring break.
During their hiatus from classes and the cold, Monroe coach Dale Buvid's softball club not only will cut loose a bit, they'll also cut their teeth on some preseason competition before March 28's season-opener at Twining Park with DeForest of the Badger North.
Another club from the crossover division, Portage, brought Monroe's steamrolling softball club to halt, 2-1, in last year's sectional semifinals at McFarland High School.
Weeks ago, Monroe fans may have admitted they were anxiously looking forward to this past weekend for different reasons one may think of now that Kevin Keen's club achieved its incredibly unpredictable feat.
If the Cheeseheads were thumbing the same pulse as this writer was weeks ago, they were looking forward to their powerhouse softball club getting prepped for what should be a promising and deep run this season.
Not that they weren't looking forward to the hoops playoffs. But, much like a year prior (and maybe I've learned my lesson in prognostication by now), the Monroe hoops machine hit its highest gear imaginable long before many of its cogs reached their full potential.
Three hundred sixty-four days before the Lady Cheese followed suit, Pat Murphy, ensconced in the magic of St. Patrick Day's weekend, captured his first golden ball with a club that everyone called "a year away."
Saturday, the luck of the Irish was missing in action as Monroe's Lady Cheese fundamentally dismembered Freedom inside and out.
Things rarely turn out the way we plan, and even less frequently the way we predict. Even Monroe High School's yearbook editor couldn't have predicted a state title berth, let alone another gold ball, as he departed for vacation hours before Saturday's tilt with Freedom.
Several Wisconsin prep athletic programs proudly steal chances to reflect their admiration of the University of Wisconsin, and Monroe's affections for its big red sibling to the north is no mystery. While the Badgers regularly vie for the coveted Director's Cup - a comprehensive ranking of all NCAA athletic programs nationwide - Monroe's system has solidified its basketball prowess. And there's no reason to believe the Cheese won't spread its dominance into softball season.
It's hard not to envision great things for Buvid's bunch. Four of his key contributors (Kaiser will start behind the dish, Rackow at second and Rufenacht swings a mean stick, while Sutter's workload will significantly increase) just got a taste of blood in the water.
Nothing is more validating than the sensation that Monroe's young heroes felt Saturday. That same group got used to its onlookers waiting to forgive them for a season-ending loss.
That never happened. Now, already sharpening every tool Buvid has stored in his shed, it will be intriguing to see what this new group will become on what's already been deemed a diamond of destiny.
