MONROE - From the track to the basketball court to the pool and hills on various cross country courses in southern Wisconsin, the accomplishments of several local prep athletes are stunning. The local sports year in 2017 was filled with many heartbreaking moments. With a drumroll, the following is the list of the top sports stories of the year by the Monroe Times sports department:
No. 1: Jordan Hirsbrunner repeating as the WIAA Division 2 state champion in the 300-meter hurdles
Hirsbrunner repeated as the WIAA Division 2 state champion in the 300-meter hurdles (44.25 seconds) and won a state title in the 100 hurdles (15.28) at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium. She helped the Cheesemakers take third as a team at state, just 2 points away from state runner-up Catholic Memorial (34).
Hirsbrunner is the only girl to medal in four events in a single year at the state track meet in the history of the Monroe program. Hirsbrunner captured three WIAA state track and field championships during her Monroe High School career. She won two straight state titles in the 300 hurdles and one championship in the 100 hurdles. She is a seven-time state medalist and 11-time state qualifier. She is attending the University of Wisconsin and is pursuing a degree in kinesiology and continuing her track and field career.
Hirsbrunner also won three medals at the Kansas Relays in her fourth time competing in the event. She took gold in winning the 300 hurdles in a school-record time of 43.77 seconds. She took seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.25) and ninth in the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches).
Hirsbrunner owns nine school records. The five outdoor school records she has are the 100 hurdles (14.8 seconds), 300 hurdles (43.6), 800 relay (1:44.8), 1,600 relay (4:00.8) and 800 medley relay (1:51.85). The four indoor school records she owns are the 55 hurdles (8.6), 200 (27.1), 800 relay (1:50.2) and high jump (5-5).
She received the Monroe Badger Foundation Scholarship at the 64th annual Monroe Badger Days. Hirsbrunner has already started practice for the indoor track season. She plans to compete in the heptathlon during the outdoor track season.
No. 2: Juda-Albany softball team brings home gold ball
The Juda-Albany softball team proved to be the state's most dominant team winning the program's first state championship. Behind ace pitcher Nicki Becker, Juda-Albany outdueled Stevens Point Pacelli 2-1 in the WIAA Division 4 state title game. In fact, it was the first state title in any team sport in the history of Juda.
Juda-Albany (27-2), which was in its fifth year as a co-op, made it to the state tournament two of the past three years. This year, the team struck gold. Becker tossed a complete game and gave up one unearned run on a wild pitch and allowed just four hits. She struck out eight and didn't issue a walk. Becker finished the season with a 25-1 pitching record, an 0.88 ERA and 192 strikeouts.
No. 3: Black Hawk football team brings home silver ball
The Warriors made a run to Camp Randall and brought home the silver ball after losing the WIAA Division 7 state title game to Bangor 37-14, finishing the season 13-1.
Warrior Nation has brought home hardware from Camp Randall in two of the past five years. Black Hawk brought home the school's first gold ball after winning a football state title in 2013.
Senior Brody Milz became the only running back to eclipse 100 rushing yards against Bangor's stout defense this year, which came into the state title game with six shutouts. Milz, a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State linebacker and running back, rushed for 117 yards on 15 carries and had a touchdown. He also tied a state record with 20 tackles in the championship game.
No. 4: Darlington boys basketball finishes as state runner-up
For rookie coach Tom Uppena, taking over a roster full of talented, experienced and athletic players was the perfect formula. Uppena made the transition from a junior varsity coach to the head boys varsity coach and helped guide the Redbirds to the WIAA Division 4 state championship game where the Redbirds lost to Destiny, 76-55. It was a battle of No. 1-ranked Destiny against No. 2-ranked Redbirds.
Darlington was hoping to bring home the gold in its first state basketball tournament appearance since winning the Class C title in 1990. Bringing home the silver ball in his first season as the head coach was a great way to start for Uppena, who relied on a senior-laden lineup.
No. 5: Monroe girls basketball makes run to state tourney in Green Bay
Fueled by three first-team Badger South All-Conference players - Sydney Hilliard (so.), Sydney Mathiason (jr.) and Emily Benzschawel (so.) - the Monroe girls basketball team started strong with a double overtime win over Madison Edgewood and a win over Stoughton that helped give them the confidence they needed. That was the springboard the Cheesemakers needed to catapult them on a surprise run to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
Monroe's magical run to state came to an end with a 62-47 loss to eventual champion Beaver Dam in a WIAA Division 2 state semifinal. The Cheesemakers ended the season 21-4, the No. 8-ranked team in Division 2, a Badger South Conference co-championship and state berth for the first time since 2010.
Hilliard scored a team-high 16 points and was named all-state. Mathiason added 10 points and had nine rebounds.
No. 6: Mekenzie Hammer wins gold at state in backstroke, Monroe-New Glarus girls take 8th at state
New Glarus freshman Mekenzie Hammer entered the WIAA Division 2 state swim meet with the top time in the 100-yard backstroke.
Hammer used a rush of adrenaline to out-touch New Berlin Eisenhower junior Maddie Guman by 0.03 of a second to win the state championship in the backstroke with a time of 58.22 seconds at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium in Madison.
Hammer is the first Monroe-New Glarus swimmer to win a state title since Ellie Radke in won a state championship in the 50 freestyle in 2005.
All six of the events the Monroe-New Glarus swim team competed in at state scored points, and the Cheesemakers finished eighth out of 34 teams with 99 points. Five of the top eight teams at state were from the Badger South and North conferences. Madison Edgewood rolled to its third straight state title, racking up 346 points. New Berlin Eisenhower finished as the state runner-up (202), and McFarland took third (194.5).
No. 7: Darlington boys cross country team takes second at state
The Darlington boys cross country team's run of six straight state championships was snapped when Durand outdueled the Redbirds for the WIAA Division 3 state title 79-104. The Redbirds were looking to win their seventh consecutive state title. Darlington's streak of six straight state championships is the second longest streak in the state. Milwaukee Riverside has the longest streak of eight consecutive state titles.
Darlington junior Payton Heinberg took sixth overall at state (16 minutes, 41.28 seconds). The other Redbird runners that finished in the top 20 at state were junior Tucker Lange, 15th (17:18.21) and senior Tanner Evenstad, 16th (17:19.03).
The last time Darlington didn't win a state title, this year's seniors were in fifth grade. It's been a magical run for longtime coach Arnie Miehe and the Redbirds.
No. 8: Pecatonica's Hendrickson eclipses 2,000-point milestone
Pecatonica senior A.J. Hendrickson was one of the most prolific scorers in the Six Rivers East Conference and the state. Hendrickson closed out his career with 2,177 points, which is 17th on the state's all-time scoring list. The Blanchardville sharpshooter was named first-team Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 5 all-state. Hendrickson averaged 23.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and helped the Vikings finish 19-6 for second place in the Six Rivers East Conference. He led Pecatonica to the sectional semifinal where it lost to eventual state champion Barneveld, 45-44.
No. 9: Monroe football team overcomes injuries to return to playoffs for second straight year
Despite dealing with several devastating injuries, the Monroe football returned to the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
After going 4-5 in the regular season, the Cheesemakers made the postseason on the second tiebreaker - the combined winning percentage of conference opponents. There were 16 teams that finished 3-4 in conference. Monroe and Cambria-Friesland both made the 224-team playoff field because they each had beaten teams in their respective conferences that had combined won six games. The second tiebreaker rewards teams who have defeated some of the better teams in the conference. The Cheesemakers' 29-28 win over Watertown, another playoff qualifier, was a key victory Sept. 8.
No. 10: Monticello girls basketball team fields varsity team after 3-year hiatus
The Ponies tipped off with their first varsity game since 2014 when they lost to Brodhead 55-38 Nov. 14 in the season opener.
Monticello coach Mark Gustafson is focused on building a competitive program. The Ponies are 2-7 this season in their return to the hardwood with wins over Pecatonica (56-30) and Johnson Creek (64-22).
Honorable Mentions
Other sports moments that deserve honorable mention are the Pecatonica baseball team's run to the WIAA Division 4 sectional final last spring, the Darlington girls basketball team's run to the sectional finals and Albany senior Emma Guenther, who made a fourth straight trip to the state cross country meet. The Pecatonica baseball team was on the brink of qualifying for state, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the sectional final before Oakfield rallied and stormed back for a 10-6 win.
La Crosse Aquinas knocked off Darlington 64-40 in a WIAA Division 4 sectional championship game.
Albany's Guenther finished 56th in her final state cross country appearance with a time of 21:27.14.
No. 1: Jordan Hirsbrunner repeating as the WIAA Division 2 state champion in the 300-meter hurdles
Hirsbrunner repeated as the WIAA Division 2 state champion in the 300-meter hurdles (44.25 seconds) and won a state title in the 100 hurdles (15.28) at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium. She helped the Cheesemakers take third as a team at state, just 2 points away from state runner-up Catholic Memorial (34).
Hirsbrunner is the only girl to medal in four events in a single year at the state track meet in the history of the Monroe program. Hirsbrunner captured three WIAA state track and field championships during her Monroe High School career. She won two straight state titles in the 300 hurdles and one championship in the 100 hurdles. She is a seven-time state medalist and 11-time state qualifier. She is attending the University of Wisconsin and is pursuing a degree in kinesiology and continuing her track and field career.
Hirsbrunner also won three medals at the Kansas Relays in her fourth time competing in the event. She took gold in winning the 300 hurdles in a school-record time of 43.77 seconds. She took seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.25) and ninth in the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches).
Hirsbrunner owns nine school records. The five outdoor school records she has are the 100 hurdles (14.8 seconds), 300 hurdles (43.6), 800 relay (1:44.8), 1,600 relay (4:00.8) and 800 medley relay (1:51.85). The four indoor school records she owns are the 55 hurdles (8.6), 200 (27.1), 800 relay (1:50.2) and high jump (5-5).
She received the Monroe Badger Foundation Scholarship at the 64th annual Monroe Badger Days. Hirsbrunner has already started practice for the indoor track season. She plans to compete in the heptathlon during the outdoor track season.
No. 2: Juda-Albany softball team brings home gold ball
The Juda-Albany softball team proved to be the state's most dominant team winning the program's first state championship. Behind ace pitcher Nicki Becker, Juda-Albany outdueled Stevens Point Pacelli 2-1 in the WIAA Division 4 state title game. In fact, it was the first state title in any team sport in the history of Juda.
Juda-Albany (27-2), which was in its fifth year as a co-op, made it to the state tournament two of the past three years. This year, the team struck gold. Becker tossed a complete game and gave up one unearned run on a wild pitch and allowed just four hits. She struck out eight and didn't issue a walk. Becker finished the season with a 25-1 pitching record, an 0.88 ERA and 192 strikeouts.
No. 3: Black Hawk football team brings home silver ball
The Warriors made a run to Camp Randall and brought home the silver ball after losing the WIAA Division 7 state title game to Bangor 37-14, finishing the season 13-1.
Warrior Nation has brought home hardware from Camp Randall in two of the past five years. Black Hawk brought home the school's first gold ball after winning a football state title in 2013.
Senior Brody Milz became the only running back to eclipse 100 rushing yards against Bangor's stout defense this year, which came into the state title game with six shutouts. Milz, a Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State linebacker and running back, rushed for 117 yards on 15 carries and had a touchdown. He also tied a state record with 20 tackles in the championship game.
No. 4: Darlington boys basketball finishes as state runner-up
For rookie coach Tom Uppena, taking over a roster full of talented, experienced and athletic players was the perfect formula. Uppena made the transition from a junior varsity coach to the head boys varsity coach and helped guide the Redbirds to the WIAA Division 4 state championship game where the Redbirds lost to Destiny, 76-55. It was a battle of No. 1-ranked Destiny against No. 2-ranked Redbirds.
Darlington was hoping to bring home the gold in its first state basketball tournament appearance since winning the Class C title in 1990. Bringing home the silver ball in his first season as the head coach was a great way to start for Uppena, who relied on a senior-laden lineup.
No. 5: Monroe girls basketball makes run to state tourney in Green Bay
Fueled by three first-team Badger South All-Conference players - Sydney Hilliard (so.), Sydney Mathiason (jr.) and Emily Benzschawel (so.) - the Monroe girls basketball team started strong with a double overtime win over Madison Edgewood and a win over Stoughton that helped give them the confidence they needed. That was the springboard the Cheesemakers needed to catapult them on a surprise run to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
Monroe's magical run to state came to an end with a 62-47 loss to eventual champion Beaver Dam in a WIAA Division 2 state semifinal. The Cheesemakers ended the season 21-4, the No. 8-ranked team in Division 2, a Badger South Conference co-championship and state berth for the first time since 2010.
Hilliard scored a team-high 16 points and was named all-state. Mathiason added 10 points and had nine rebounds.
No. 6: Mekenzie Hammer wins gold at state in backstroke, Monroe-New Glarus girls take 8th at state
New Glarus freshman Mekenzie Hammer entered the WIAA Division 2 state swim meet with the top time in the 100-yard backstroke.
Hammer used a rush of adrenaline to out-touch New Berlin Eisenhower junior Maddie Guman by 0.03 of a second to win the state championship in the backstroke with a time of 58.22 seconds at the University of Wisconsin Natatorium in Madison.
Hammer is the first Monroe-New Glarus swimmer to win a state title since Ellie Radke in won a state championship in the 50 freestyle in 2005.
All six of the events the Monroe-New Glarus swim team competed in at state scored points, and the Cheesemakers finished eighth out of 34 teams with 99 points. Five of the top eight teams at state were from the Badger South and North conferences. Madison Edgewood rolled to its third straight state title, racking up 346 points. New Berlin Eisenhower finished as the state runner-up (202), and McFarland took third (194.5).
No. 7: Darlington boys cross country team takes second at state
The Darlington boys cross country team's run of six straight state championships was snapped when Durand outdueled the Redbirds for the WIAA Division 3 state title 79-104. The Redbirds were looking to win their seventh consecutive state title. Darlington's streak of six straight state championships is the second longest streak in the state. Milwaukee Riverside has the longest streak of eight consecutive state titles.
Darlington junior Payton Heinberg took sixth overall at state (16 minutes, 41.28 seconds). The other Redbird runners that finished in the top 20 at state were junior Tucker Lange, 15th (17:18.21) and senior Tanner Evenstad, 16th (17:19.03).
The last time Darlington didn't win a state title, this year's seniors were in fifth grade. It's been a magical run for longtime coach Arnie Miehe and the Redbirds.
No. 8: Pecatonica's Hendrickson eclipses 2,000-point milestone
Pecatonica senior A.J. Hendrickson was one of the most prolific scorers in the Six Rivers East Conference and the state. Hendrickson closed out his career with 2,177 points, which is 17th on the state's all-time scoring list. The Blanchardville sharpshooter was named first-team Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 5 all-state. Hendrickson averaged 23.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and helped the Vikings finish 19-6 for second place in the Six Rivers East Conference. He led Pecatonica to the sectional semifinal where it lost to eventual state champion Barneveld, 45-44.
No. 9: Monroe football team overcomes injuries to return to playoffs for second straight year
Despite dealing with several devastating injuries, the Monroe football returned to the playoffs for the second straight year for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
After going 4-5 in the regular season, the Cheesemakers made the postseason on the second tiebreaker - the combined winning percentage of conference opponents. There were 16 teams that finished 3-4 in conference. Monroe and Cambria-Friesland both made the 224-team playoff field because they each had beaten teams in their respective conferences that had combined won six games. The second tiebreaker rewards teams who have defeated some of the better teams in the conference. The Cheesemakers' 29-28 win over Watertown, another playoff qualifier, was a key victory Sept. 8.
No. 10: Monticello girls basketball team fields varsity team after 3-year hiatus
The Ponies tipped off with their first varsity game since 2014 when they lost to Brodhead 55-38 Nov. 14 in the season opener.
Monticello coach Mark Gustafson is focused on building a competitive program. The Ponies are 2-7 this season in their return to the hardwood with wins over Pecatonica (56-30) and Johnson Creek (64-22).
Honorable Mentions
Other sports moments that deserve honorable mention are the Pecatonica baseball team's run to the WIAA Division 4 sectional final last spring, the Darlington girls basketball team's run to the sectional finals and Albany senior Emma Guenther, who made a fourth straight trip to the state cross country meet. The Pecatonica baseball team was on the brink of qualifying for state, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the sectional final before Oakfield rallied and stormed back for a 10-6 win.
La Crosse Aquinas knocked off Darlington 64-40 in a WIAA Division 4 sectional championship game.
Albany's Guenther finished 56th in her final state cross country appearance with a time of 21:27.14.
