EAST TROY — The Monroe boys finished with 69 points at the WIAA Division 2 East Troy Sectional May 23 — the most of any of the 31 teams in the meet. The Cheesemakers also had two sectional champions.
“We had an impressive sectional, winning the team title and sending 14 kids in nine events to state next week,” Monroe coach Scott Mosher said. “Sometimes there can be a bit of a hangover after big meets, but these guys keep improving their performances every time. “
Senior Jordan Montgomery won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.03 seconds and was also first in the 200 (22.48).
“Jordan Montgomery looks to be a contender in the 100 and 200 after winning both events,” Mosher said. “Jordan also anchored the 4x100 rely that took second. I’m very excited to see what Jordan can do if he gets to chase some kids at state. Not that the meets so far have been easy, but he hasn’t been pushed to the point where he’s run his absolute fastest.”
Sophomore Cade Meyer reached state in his first year of competing in the high jump, winning the sectional with a mark of 6 feet, 6 inches.
“That’s the top qualifying jump in the state. He had so much confidence and focus that he probably could have gone for a PR, but we decided to save that jump for state,” Mosher said.
In all, the Cheesemakers qualified in eight events for the state meet, which is set for May 31-June 1 in La Crosse. A top four finish in the sectional meet guarantees a spot in the state meet.
“It’s rare to not have any disappointments at a sectional meet, but our athletes took care of business and looked primed to continue the momentum at La Crosse,” Mosher said.
Trevor Rodebaugh continued his stellar sophomore season in the hurdles, taking second in the 110-high hurdles (15.16) and fourth in the 300-hurdles (41.08).
Senior Kyle Legler moved on in the 3,200-meter run (9:50.75).
“Kyle Legler ran a super gutsy and smart race in the 3,200, taking third in a lifetime best time. He’s seventh heading into state,” Mosher said.
Monroe’s 400-meter relay team of Montgomery, junior Nick Bansley and freshmen Lucas Flom and Camden Foesch finished second (44.00).
“The 4x100 relay took second in a season-best time. They didn’t have their best handoffs so if they hit everything sharp at state, perhaps they could look at bringing home a medal,” Mosher said.
The 3,200-meter relay team of Jake Brower, Lucas Sathoff, Gabe Witt and Alvin Buholzer finished third with a time of 8 minutes, 15.18 seconds.
“The 4x800 relay team started off the day by qualifying in third place and running fast enough to make the fast heat at state,” Mosher said. “I think a lot of teams and followers of the program wrote this year’s team off and didn’t think they were capable of making it. They’ve worked extremely hard all year and we’re driven to make it.”
Freshman JT Seagreaves just missed out on an automatic qualifying spot at state with a fifth-place high jump mark of 6-2.
“However, his jump of 6-2 places him in the top-8 which means he’s an extra qualifier and will also compete at the state meet,” Mosher said.
Also qualifying at in Division 2 in the East Tory meet include Brodhead-Juda’s Jeff Williams in the 100-meter dash. Williams finished second behind Montgomery with a mark of 11.35 seconds. Freshman Cardinals teammate Josiah Engen jumped a 6-2 on the high jump like Seagreaves.
Monroe’s Nick Bansley and Jack Garthwaite also ran in the 100. Bansley made it out of the preliminary heats but finished seventh by just 5/1,000ths of a second.
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Royce Brauer missed state by just four inches in the triple jump. He placed sixth (42-05.75).
