MONROE - It's the championship season for cross country, and two local teams are looking to use a home-course advantage to run back to state.
Monroe is hosting a WIAA Division 2 sectional at Twining Park in Monroe and Albany is hosting a WIAA Division 3 sectional at the Baertschi Farm in Albany. Both events are today, Oct. 26.
Monroe has dominated the competition running at Twining Park, amassing a 197-9 record since 1998.
"It's a big advantage to be able to run our home course for the sectional," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "We know where all the corners and bumps are."
For Albany, today is a historic day as the Baertschi Farm will host the school's first sectional cross country meet.
"As far as the team, community and alumni, everyone is excited," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "The kids are excited to be running on their home course."
Monroe has qualified for state as a team eight of the last nine years. But nothing is a guarantee, as the Cheesemakers found out last week after influenza and bronchitis swept through the team, and Madison Edgewood edged the Cheesemakers for the Badger South Conference championship 37-39.
Dave Hirsbrunner said the team is healthier, but his runners won't be at 100 percent today.
The Cheesemakers are looking at punching their ticket to state by getting one of the top two spots. Besides battling health issues, the competition could pose a challenge as the Monroe sectional will feature five of the state's top 13 ranked Division 2 teams. Monroe, ranked No. 5 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association state poll, still has high expectations despite several runners battling illness. The biggest threats to the Cheesemakers are No. 4 ranked Madison Edgewood and 10th ranked Platteville. However, the sectional also includes 12th ranked McFarland and 13th ranked Dodgeville-Mineral Point.
"Madison Edgewood is the favorite," Dave Hirsbrunner said, noting "Platteville is a scary team.
"Our goal is to defend our home course and win a sectional championship and if not, take second and qualify for state"
The Cheesemakers are led by seniors Ethan Moehn, Jake Hirsbrunner and Noah Tostrud. Moehn was the conference champion last week followed by Tostrud and Jake Hirsbrunner. Despite having the conference's top three runners, the Cheesemakers finished second to Edgewood because the Crusaders had their No. 4 and 5 runners finish ahead of the Cheesemakers' No. 5 runner.
"Our first three are solid," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "We could have three of the top 10 guys in the state running on our team. It's a great opportunity to come and watch some of the best runners in the state. It comes down to our No. 4, 5 and 6 runners and how close they can close the gap with Edgewood's fifth guy."
He's counting on a large home crowd making a difference and pushing each runner.
"I think it will help having the home crowd there yelling at them," Dave Hirsbrunner said.
In the girls' 4,000-meter race, Edgewood, ranked No. 4 in Division 2, is the proverbial favorite with No. 6 ranked Dodgeville-Mineral Point expected to contend with McFarland for the second spot. Amy Davis, the Badger South Conference champion and state runner-up last year, leads the Crusaders. Monroe freshman Jordan Hirsbrunner, who has been the Cheesemakers' No. 1 runner in most races this season, is expected to run after battling influenza and bronchitis last week.
"She won't be 100 percent," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "Hopefully, she will be able to give a better effort than last week because she couldn't breathe."
The coach said the Cheesemakers are shooting for a top-half finish.
"It will be interesting to see what bodies will be able to go," he said. "I can't predict who our top five runners will be because of the illness and influenza."
Fellow freshman Ciara Kaderly has come on strong at the end of the year earning second-team all-conference last week. With season-best times, Kaderly and Jordan Hirsbrunner could be in the mix for a state berth. The top five finishers not on the top two qualifying teams also qualify for state.
"I could see Jordan or Ciara getting to state if they hit their best race of the year," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "They will have to really nail one and probably break 16 minutes."
Division 3
Darlington, led by two-time state champion Tyson Miehe, is expected to be the favorite in the Albany Division 3 sectional. The Redbirds, the two-time defending state champions who are ranked No. 1, won the SWAL for the fifth time last week. The Redbirds are looking to lock up their sixth straight state berth as a team.
"If they run like they did at conference, they (Darlington) are the favorite," Brewer said. "We feel like it's between Boscobel and us for that second spot. We trained on our course more this year than we ever have because we knew we were going to be hosting the sectional."
Albany, ranked No. 8 finished second in the league meet last week just ahead of ninth-ranked Boscobel. The Comets are led by junior Aaron Johnson, who was a state qualifier last year, and junior Brennan Bloedel.
"I told the guys if that was the sectional they would have beat us because their fifth runner finished ahead of our fifth man," Brewer said of the SWAL meet. "Our top four runners have to give our fifth runner as much of a cushion as they can give him. This is a three-team battle. Hopefully, we can use some of Darlington's runners to help us push ahead of some of Boscobel's runners."
The Albany girls cross country team received some bad news when senior Bailey Hlavachek found out she has a stress fracture and won't be able to run in the sectional. Hlavachek, who is a three-time state qualifier, ran about one mile at the SWAL meet last week before pulling out.
"Basically, if she was healthy she would be a state qualifier," Brewer said. "It will be a tough Saturday for her."
Darlington, ranked No. 2 in Division 3, as well as fifth-ranked Boscobel and eighth-ranked Poynette, are expected to be the top teams contending for the top two spots. The Redbird girls' team has qualified for state as a team seven straight years and were the state runner-up last year.
The Comets have only four runners and won't score as a team. Albany sophomore Sydnee Woyak and freshman Lauren Blumer are two darkhorses for state berths.
"I think Sydnee has a shot because she is running at home," Brewer said. "She is not expected to go (to state). I want her to go out and run with the fifth runner for as long as she can and maybe the crowd can get her home in time. I told Lauren the same thing - to go out hard for as long as she can because she has nothing to lose."
Monroe is hosting a WIAA Division 2 sectional at Twining Park in Monroe and Albany is hosting a WIAA Division 3 sectional at the Baertschi Farm in Albany. Both events are today, Oct. 26.
Monroe has dominated the competition running at Twining Park, amassing a 197-9 record since 1998.
"It's a big advantage to be able to run our home course for the sectional," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "We know where all the corners and bumps are."
For Albany, today is a historic day as the Baertschi Farm will host the school's first sectional cross country meet.
"As far as the team, community and alumni, everyone is excited," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "The kids are excited to be running on their home course."
Monroe has qualified for state as a team eight of the last nine years. But nothing is a guarantee, as the Cheesemakers found out last week after influenza and bronchitis swept through the team, and Madison Edgewood edged the Cheesemakers for the Badger South Conference championship 37-39.
Dave Hirsbrunner said the team is healthier, but his runners won't be at 100 percent today.
The Cheesemakers are looking at punching their ticket to state by getting one of the top two spots. Besides battling health issues, the competition could pose a challenge as the Monroe sectional will feature five of the state's top 13 ranked Division 2 teams. Monroe, ranked No. 5 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association state poll, still has high expectations despite several runners battling illness. The biggest threats to the Cheesemakers are No. 4 ranked Madison Edgewood and 10th ranked Platteville. However, the sectional also includes 12th ranked McFarland and 13th ranked Dodgeville-Mineral Point.
"Madison Edgewood is the favorite," Dave Hirsbrunner said, noting "Platteville is a scary team.
"Our goal is to defend our home course and win a sectional championship and if not, take second and qualify for state"
The Cheesemakers are led by seniors Ethan Moehn, Jake Hirsbrunner and Noah Tostrud. Moehn was the conference champion last week followed by Tostrud and Jake Hirsbrunner. Despite having the conference's top three runners, the Cheesemakers finished second to Edgewood because the Crusaders had their No. 4 and 5 runners finish ahead of the Cheesemakers' No. 5 runner.
"Our first three are solid," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "We could have three of the top 10 guys in the state running on our team. It's a great opportunity to come and watch some of the best runners in the state. It comes down to our No. 4, 5 and 6 runners and how close they can close the gap with Edgewood's fifth guy."
He's counting on a large home crowd making a difference and pushing each runner.
"I think it will help having the home crowd there yelling at them," Dave Hirsbrunner said.
In the girls' 4,000-meter race, Edgewood, ranked No. 4 in Division 2, is the proverbial favorite with No. 6 ranked Dodgeville-Mineral Point expected to contend with McFarland for the second spot. Amy Davis, the Badger South Conference champion and state runner-up last year, leads the Crusaders. Monroe freshman Jordan Hirsbrunner, who has been the Cheesemakers' No. 1 runner in most races this season, is expected to run after battling influenza and bronchitis last week.
"She won't be 100 percent," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "Hopefully, she will be able to give a better effort than last week because she couldn't breathe."
The coach said the Cheesemakers are shooting for a top-half finish.
"It will be interesting to see what bodies will be able to go," he said. "I can't predict who our top five runners will be because of the illness and influenza."
Fellow freshman Ciara Kaderly has come on strong at the end of the year earning second-team all-conference last week. With season-best times, Kaderly and Jordan Hirsbrunner could be in the mix for a state berth. The top five finishers not on the top two qualifying teams also qualify for state.
"I could see Jordan or Ciara getting to state if they hit their best race of the year," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "They will have to really nail one and probably break 16 minutes."
Division 3
Darlington, led by two-time state champion Tyson Miehe, is expected to be the favorite in the Albany Division 3 sectional. The Redbirds, the two-time defending state champions who are ranked No. 1, won the SWAL for the fifth time last week. The Redbirds are looking to lock up their sixth straight state berth as a team.
"If they run like they did at conference, they (Darlington) are the favorite," Brewer said. "We feel like it's between Boscobel and us for that second spot. We trained on our course more this year than we ever have because we knew we were going to be hosting the sectional."
Albany, ranked No. 8 finished second in the league meet last week just ahead of ninth-ranked Boscobel. The Comets are led by junior Aaron Johnson, who was a state qualifier last year, and junior Brennan Bloedel.
"I told the guys if that was the sectional they would have beat us because their fifth runner finished ahead of our fifth man," Brewer said of the SWAL meet. "Our top four runners have to give our fifth runner as much of a cushion as they can give him. This is a three-team battle. Hopefully, we can use some of Darlington's runners to help us push ahead of some of Boscobel's runners."
The Albany girls cross country team received some bad news when senior Bailey Hlavachek found out she has a stress fracture and won't be able to run in the sectional. Hlavachek, who is a three-time state qualifier, ran about one mile at the SWAL meet last week before pulling out.
"Basically, if she was healthy she would be a state qualifier," Brewer said. "It will be a tough Saturday for her."
Darlington, ranked No. 2 in Division 3, as well as fifth-ranked Boscobel and eighth-ranked Poynette, are expected to be the top teams contending for the top two spots. The Redbird girls' team has qualified for state as a team seven straight years and were the state runner-up last year.
The Comets have only four runners and won't score as a team. Albany sophomore Sydnee Woyak and freshman Lauren Blumer are two darkhorses for state berths.
"I think Sydnee has a shot because she is running at home," Brewer said. "She is not expected to go (to state). I want her to go out and run with the fifth runner for as long as she can and maybe the crowd can get her home in time. I told Lauren the same thing - to go out hard for as long as she can because she has nothing to lose."
