MADISON - Monroe senior Gwen Sutter, after a heartbreaking 31-30 loss to Winneconne in the WIAA Division 2 state semifinals, will trade in her basketball shoes for a baseball glove and depart for Walt Disney World for a spring softball trip.
The big three for the Cheesemakers on the court - Sutter, Ashley Hermanson and Jamie Armstrong - have compiled one of the winningest marks in school history at 88-14.
"It will probably take at least a day and a half to get over it," Sutter said. "Life goes on."
There are four starters on the softball team who play basketball, including junior pitcher Kristin McArdle, senior catcher Paisley Bennett, junior infielder Kelsey Erickson and Sutter at first base.
"We will be going to get away from Wisconsin," Sutter said about the season-opening softball trip to Florida the Cheesemakers will leave for on Sunday. "It will be good to go so we don't dwell on it (the state semifinal loss)."
Losing in the state semifinals for the second straight year is tough, but that will not tarnish the laundry list of achievements from this year's senior class.
The senior class, including the big three, has played in the Division 2 state girls basketball tournament three-straight years and won a championship in 2008. The Cheesemakers won the Badger South Conference for an unprecedented seventh-straight year this season. Armstrong and Hermanson each eclipsed the 1,000-point career milestone.
Hermanson was a unanimous choice on the 2010 WBCA Division 2 All-State Team. It marks the second straight year that Hermanson was named to the first-team WBCA all-state team. Armstrong was also named to the all-state team. Hermanson, a Nebraska-Kearney recruit, is a key reason the Cheesemakers made their third straight state tournament appearance this year: The 6-foot senior averaged over 11 points and seven rebounds per game.
"We just have been together for so long," Hermanson said.
Armstrong teamed with Hermanson to give Monroe one of the best inside duos in the state. Armstrong, a George Washington volleyball recruit, averaged 11.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game.
"I just wanted to be out there to give my team a spark," Armstrong said. "We win as a team and we lose as a team. I have been proud to be a part of this team."
Sutter played all 102 games in her prep basketball career. It's a consecutive game-played streak that would make Brett Favre proud.
After playing 100 straight games, Sutter was well aware of the streak.
"I was kind of worried I might get hurt and tear my ACL," she said.
After winning a third state championship in 2008, Monroe coach Kevin Keen then contemplated retirement.
"I thought about retiring two years ago when we won the state championship," said Keen, who announced his retirement in February. "I thought that would be a good time to quit coaching. This year's seniors were sophomores. With the prospects of being successful the next couple of years, I decided to go for the next couple of years and see what happens."
It was the big three that convinced him that it wasn't time to step down. Now Keen has compiled a 394-127 mark.
"It's been a good run," Keen said. "I couldn't have asked for anything more from this group."
The big three for the Cheesemakers on the court - Sutter, Ashley Hermanson and Jamie Armstrong - have compiled one of the winningest marks in school history at 88-14.
"It will probably take at least a day and a half to get over it," Sutter said. "Life goes on."
There are four starters on the softball team who play basketball, including junior pitcher Kristin McArdle, senior catcher Paisley Bennett, junior infielder Kelsey Erickson and Sutter at first base.
"We will be going to get away from Wisconsin," Sutter said about the season-opening softball trip to Florida the Cheesemakers will leave for on Sunday. "It will be good to go so we don't dwell on it (the state semifinal loss)."
Losing in the state semifinals for the second straight year is tough, but that will not tarnish the laundry list of achievements from this year's senior class.
The senior class, including the big three, has played in the Division 2 state girls basketball tournament three-straight years and won a championship in 2008. The Cheesemakers won the Badger South Conference for an unprecedented seventh-straight year this season. Armstrong and Hermanson each eclipsed the 1,000-point career milestone.
Hermanson was a unanimous choice on the 2010 WBCA Division 2 All-State Team. It marks the second straight year that Hermanson was named to the first-team WBCA all-state team. Armstrong was also named to the all-state team. Hermanson, a Nebraska-Kearney recruit, is a key reason the Cheesemakers made their third straight state tournament appearance this year: The 6-foot senior averaged over 11 points and seven rebounds per game.
"We just have been together for so long," Hermanson said.
Armstrong teamed with Hermanson to give Monroe one of the best inside duos in the state. Armstrong, a George Washington volleyball recruit, averaged 11.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game.
"I just wanted to be out there to give my team a spark," Armstrong said. "We win as a team and we lose as a team. I have been proud to be a part of this team."
Sutter played all 102 games in her prep basketball career. It's a consecutive game-played streak that would make Brett Favre proud.
After playing 100 straight games, Sutter was well aware of the streak.
"I was kind of worried I might get hurt and tear my ACL," she said.
After winning a third state championship in 2008, Monroe coach Kevin Keen then contemplated retirement.
"I thought about retiring two years ago when we won the state championship," said Keen, who announced his retirement in February. "I thought that would be a good time to quit coaching. This year's seniors were sophomores. With the prospects of being successful the next couple of years, I decided to go for the next couple of years and see what happens."
It was the big three that convinced him that it wasn't time to step down. Now Keen has compiled a 394-127 mark.
"It's been a good run," Keen said. "I couldn't have asked for anything more from this group."
