MONROE — After a 2-21 overall record last season, the Monroe Cheesemakers look to make improvements and achieve a .500 win-loss percentage this year.

“Finishing in the top half of the conference and above .500 for the season is always one of our goals every year,” head coach Patrick Kenny said. “We’ve got many new faces this year that will have to rise to the challenge if we are to achieve those goals.”

The team will need to fill the roles of Sloane Ambrose and Bre Giasson, who collectively led the team in blocks, steals, assists, field goals, rebounding percentage and free throw percentage last season.

Senior guard Taylor Jacobson will be heavily relied on to step up in these spots. Jacobson, a recent commit to Texas A&M International, averaged 12 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game last year and received Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades.

Returners joining Jacobson include seniors Sydnee Conway, Allison Wunschel and Sophia Douglas. Underclassmen Abbey Matley and Sophie Golembiewski also return. 

Kenny sees Jacobson, Conway and Golembiewski as leaders on the defense due to their length.

“Players like Taylor, Sophie G. and Sydnee have the ability to cover the floor and some of our younger players will bring some length as well,” Kenny said. “If we can learn to move together and take away driving lanes, I think we can be pretty effective defensively.”

Kenny predicts that Reedsburg will be a tough conference opponent with junior Sydney Cherney on the team. Cherney was named the top performer at the 2021 WSN Basketball Showcase and a member of the WBCA Division 2 All-State team in 2021-22.

The Beavers won the conference last season with a perfect 15-0 record and fell to Pewaukee in the Division 2 state tournament semifinal.