MONROE — The Cheesemakers finished 2-12-5 overall on the pitch in 2021, including a 1-6-1 mark in the Badger West. 

The biggest loss came after the season, as leading scorer and second-team all-conference forward Alex Torres graduated and is currently playing in college. Torres scored 21 of Monroe’s 37 goals and assisted on four more. Center backs Jason Carpenter and Ben Sanft also graduated, leaving a sizable hole in the middle of the defense.

A number of players return with varsity experience, and a few new names will add themselves to the mix this fall as well.

“Seth Brandt has signed on for the first time in his high school career as a senior. He played previously with his fellow seniors for Rebels. So far speed and competitiveness have been noticeable characteristics,” said Matt Bodeau, Monroe’s head coach. “We have also added Tristen Vazquez who played football his freshman year. In training so far he has exhibited both composure and intensity, he is a welcome addition to an already strong sophomore class.”

Also new this year is young keeper Hudson Davis, a sophomore. “I have set a team goal to go his entire first season without conceding a PK as a thank you for him stepping up to the plate as a sophomore on varsity,” Bodeau said. “As always, communication is a major priority for our program. The positive attitude throughout this year’s squad has been a noticeable and welcome high point for the coaches throughout our preseason and this first week of practice.”

There are six seniors on this year’s squad: Brandt, Alessandra Chagoya, Brian Guzman, Xander Obert, Sebastian Watkins and Trey Wyss. There are just four juniors, however: Hassan Mustafa, Parker Nall, William Richardson and Carson Buholzer. 

“Our junior class has a few less athletes this year, which will require more of the senior class,” Bodeau said. However, the sophomore class is large — 10 players deep, and the freshman class also brings in a slew of players. 

While that set the team up for continued grown on the varsity front, playing in the rugged Badger Conference can make moderate progress seem minuscule.

“Oregon is consistently a dominant program. Even with the retirement of Mark Newman as head coach for Mount Horeb, I expect the Vikings to maintain their high-quality play as well,” Bodeau said. 

Last year Oregon ran away with the league title and won the state championship. Baraboo finished second in the conference and was 16-7-2 overall, and this year the Thunderbirds return Johan and Ronaldo Lopez, who combined to score 65 goals and another 25 assists. 

Mount Horeb was third, and Sauk Prairie and Madison Edgewood shared a fourth-place finish.