LA CROSSE — An exquisite prep sports career for Monroe senior Cammi Ganshert came to a close at the WIAA Division 2 track and field state championships June 1.

Ganshert reached state in swimming, hockey and track in her four years as a Cheesemaker, and went out with two podium finishes at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.

“Cammi Ganshert went out how she deserved, earning two more podiums — completing her career with 10 podium finishes,” Monroe girls coach Eric Jubeck said. “Both of which she went out on a high note.”

Ganshert teamed up with fellow seniors Emma Sanders and Faith Koester, plus sophomore Megan Benzschawel and took seventh in the preliminary round of the 800-meter relay. Then in the championship race, the group of Cheesemakers finished sixth with a time of 1 minute, 46.29 seconds. Bloomer won the race at 1:43.27.

“(Ganshert) anchoring the 4x2 was a great race. Megan, Faith, and Emma put Cammi in a position to get on the podium, which she ensured happen,” Jubeck said. “They were seeded seventh going into the finals, and the discussion was that they would get on the podium, and they did. It’s what you want at this point in the year — to achieve your goal.”

In the 200-meter dash, Ganshert was fifth with a time of 25.80 seconds, narrowly edging Wisconsin Lutheran junior Trinity Moore at the finish line. Waukesha Catholic Memorial senior Tatum Straw won the event (24.68), while Sugar River’s Kiara Donnell (25.96) was seventh, just 14/100ths of a second off the podium.

“Cammi got back to the podium in the 200, running 25.80 which was a season’s best by 3/10ths of a second. She looked good doing it,” Jubeck said.

Ganshert finished eighth in the 100 with a season’s best time of time of 12.58, one spot ahead of Donnell (12.68). Clinton freshman Sylvia Johansen (11.95) broke the state record by 3/100ths of a second to win the title.

“This was a great race and her second fastest time of her career,” Jubeck said of Ganshert’s 100-meter dash.

Also reaching the podium for Monroe was junior Cassi Gersbach in the 100-meter hurdles. Gersbach struggled with an injury leading up to the two-day competition and was seventh after prelim. In the championship run she edged West Salem’s Natalie Jeranek by 1/100th of a second for sixth (16.12). Lodi’s Mackenzie Heyroth (14.36) broke the state record by nearly 3/10ths of a second for the title. 

“Cassi Gersbach had a slight hamstring injury all week and it was tough to determine how healthy she would be,” Jubeck said. “She decided to really bring the best version of herself to state and scored in both the 100- and 300-hurdles. She ran a great 100-hurdles race.”

Gersbach was the last qualifier in the 300-hurdles after the preliminary heats and finished eighth (47.27) in the finals, 2/10ths of a second off of another podium finish.

“In the 300, she didn’t run great in the prelims. She was crystal clear after this race that she didn’t run well but will make up for it in the finals,” Jubeck said. “It was her best 300-hurdles of her career. It will be great to see her use these performances to prepare for a memorable senior season.”

Koester finished 12th in the high jump (5 feet, 0 inches), just two inches off the pace from a 10-way tie for the highest mark. Dodgeville-Mineral Point’s Nicole Johnson won in a jump-off.

“Faith Koester making state in the high jump was a personal seasonal highlight for me, as it was great to watch her continue to develop the past two seasons. She made 5 feet but wasn’t quite able to get her approach perfect at 5 feet, 2 inches, but such is the event,” Jubeck said.

Monroe junior Chloe Bunker was ninth in the discus with a toss of 111-06, and sophomore teammate Riley Hartwig was 14th in the shot put with a throw of 35-04.

“Chloe Bunker made the finals in the discus. She hit a nice third throw in the prelims to sneak into the finals and her first throw in the finals got her into ninth place. It was nice for her to finish the season making the finals and can’t wait for her senior season,” Jubeck said. “(Hartwig) wasn’t happy with this performance but we were very proud of her to make it to state as a sophomore and am excited for her to use this as fuel to have a great junior and senior year.”

Sugar River senior Haiden Zimmerman was seventh in the discus at 113-02, while freshman Ava Foley was 10th in the triple jump at 35-02.25. Brodhead-Juda’s Madelynn McIntyre was 11th in the 3,200 (11:46.52).

Overall, Jubeck said he and the coaching staff were elated with not just the finishes in the state meet, but the entire season in general.

“This weekend in La Crosse was a very positive ending to a season we were very proud of as coaches and a team,” Jubeck said. “The state track meet is always a tough meet because of individual expectations versus the reality of an extremely impressive pool of athletes. If you looked at the results of the meet, to not only be a part of this meet but to hold our own is quite impressive.”