MONROE - The 1965 Monroe High School state championship boys basketball team will be honored before the start of the Monroe-Freeport game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
All players, managers and cheerleaders from the team are asked to contact Ken Gratz before the game at 608-325-3919. This March will mark the 50th anniversary of the state championship team.
Two players on the team who went on to play for the University of Wisconsin-Madison are Keith Burington and Tom Mitchell. Burington and Mitchell helped lead Monroe to an unbeaten season and the single-class state championship in 1965. Monroe was ranked No. 1 in the state from start to finish.
"When you are the only team left standing at the end of the year, it's unbelievable," Monroe boys basketball coach Pat Murphy said. "That 1965 basketball team put Monroe on the map. We hope to have as many people as we can."
Some of the other notable players on the team were Jim Dearth, Dave Holling and Bob Buchholtz. After losing in the sectional championship game two straight years, Burington and his teammates vowed to make a state run their senior year. Under the tutelage of coach Lee Mitchell, it all came together in 1965. Lee Mitchell was known for having his teams run a fullcourt press the entire game to wear down opposing guards and create turnovers.
Burington and Lee Mitchell have both been inducted to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
All players, managers and cheerleaders from the team are asked to contact Ken Gratz before the game at 608-325-3919. This March will mark the 50th anniversary of the state championship team.
Two players on the team who went on to play for the University of Wisconsin-Madison are Keith Burington and Tom Mitchell. Burington and Mitchell helped lead Monroe to an unbeaten season and the single-class state championship in 1965. Monroe was ranked No. 1 in the state from start to finish.
"When you are the only team left standing at the end of the year, it's unbelievable," Monroe boys basketball coach Pat Murphy said. "That 1965 basketball team put Monroe on the map. We hope to have as many people as we can."
Some of the other notable players on the team were Jim Dearth, Dave Holling and Bob Buchholtz. After losing in the sectional championship game two straight years, Burington and his teammates vowed to make a state run their senior year. Under the tutelage of coach Lee Mitchell, it all came together in 1965. Lee Mitchell was known for having his teams run a fullcourt press the entire game to wear down opposing guards and create turnovers.
Burington and Lee Mitchell have both been inducted to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
