MONROE - Sophomore Luke Peterson and the Monroe long distance crew seem to live for challenges.
Peterson won the 3,200-meter run (10 minutes, 27.16 seconds) and sophomore teammate Joel Henry was second to seal an 84-62 win over Monona Grove to give the Cheesemakers a leg up on the Silver Eagles in their quest to repeat as Badger South Conference champions. Peterson also finished first in the 1,600 (4:45.18).
Peterson said knocking off Monona Grove sets the tone for the rest of the season.
"We did really great last year and we are back this year," Peterson said. "It's awesome. It's not just us. Everyone did it."
The Cheesemakers' long distance runners had plenty of support in winning the dual with the Silver Eagles. Monroe's Alex Bartlett won the 100 (:11.62) and the 200 (:23.62).
"Coming into the meet, they (Monona Grove) were better on paper," Bartlett said. "They had ran some good indoor times. A lot of people I don't even think considered us to be in the hunt for a conference championship."
That's the exact position the Cheesemakers find themselves in after beating the Silver Eagles in their first Badger South Conference dual.
"This is a huge upset," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "Those guys (Peterson and Henry) knew they had to finish 1-3. They took that as a personal vendetta."
Monroe junior Jeffrey Hill won the pole vault (12-feet) and he took second in the long jump (19-9 1/2). Hill and Bartlett teamed with Lucas Goetz and Mason Goff to win the 400 relay with a time of 45.63 seconds.
"My first two years I primarily focused on the pole vault," Hill said. "This year my priority is still pole vault, but I wanted to contribute in more events to help my team. It gets tiring, but I know I can do it."
The Cheesemakers swept the top three spots in the pole vault with Cameron Wahl taking second (11-6) and Evan Brady finishing third (10-6).
Junior Caleb Ahrens won the 110 high hurdles (:15.82), Skyler Stingley finished first in the 400 (:53.0) and junior Dylan Starck took first in the 800 (2:07.22).
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Goetz, Starck, Ahrens and Stingley took first with a time of 3:34.63. The 3,200 relay team of Matt Bush, Steve Christiansen, Stingley and Starck finished first with a time of 8:48.09.
Junior Michael Barrett finished second in the high jump (6-2) and Michael Reed took second in the discus (141-10).
Hirsbrunner projected the Cheesemakers would score 70 points and 74 points are needed to win a meet. The Cheesemakers outscored his projections in six events.
"We talked coming in that not one person would win or lose the meet," Hirsbrunner said. "There is no me, I or mine in this program. In our meeting we had 65 guys all focused on the same goal. They were determined coming out here."
Monroe will host the Simpson Relays Friday, but Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers will rest several runners after beating the Silver Eagles.
"We have to be a Tuesday night team," Hirsbrunner said of a critical stretch where the Cheesemakers have Tuesday conference dual meets the next three weeks.
Peterson won the 3,200-meter run (10 minutes, 27.16 seconds) and sophomore teammate Joel Henry was second to seal an 84-62 win over Monona Grove to give the Cheesemakers a leg up on the Silver Eagles in their quest to repeat as Badger South Conference champions. Peterson also finished first in the 1,600 (4:45.18).
Peterson said knocking off Monona Grove sets the tone for the rest of the season.
"We did really great last year and we are back this year," Peterson said. "It's awesome. It's not just us. Everyone did it."
The Cheesemakers' long distance runners had plenty of support in winning the dual with the Silver Eagles. Monroe's Alex Bartlett won the 100 (:11.62) and the 200 (:23.62).
"Coming into the meet, they (Monona Grove) were better on paper," Bartlett said. "They had ran some good indoor times. A lot of people I don't even think considered us to be in the hunt for a conference championship."
That's the exact position the Cheesemakers find themselves in after beating the Silver Eagles in their first Badger South Conference dual.
"This is a huge upset," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "Those guys (Peterson and Henry) knew they had to finish 1-3. They took that as a personal vendetta."
Monroe junior Jeffrey Hill won the pole vault (12-feet) and he took second in the long jump (19-9 1/2). Hill and Bartlett teamed with Lucas Goetz and Mason Goff to win the 400 relay with a time of 45.63 seconds.
"My first two years I primarily focused on the pole vault," Hill said. "This year my priority is still pole vault, but I wanted to contribute in more events to help my team. It gets tiring, but I know I can do it."
The Cheesemakers swept the top three spots in the pole vault with Cameron Wahl taking second (11-6) and Evan Brady finishing third (10-6).
Junior Caleb Ahrens won the 110 high hurdles (:15.82), Skyler Stingley finished first in the 400 (:53.0) and junior Dylan Starck took first in the 800 (2:07.22).
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Goetz, Starck, Ahrens and Stingley took first with a time of 3:34.63. The 3,200 relay team of Matt Bush, Steve Christiansen, Stingley and Starck finished first with a time of 8:48.09.
Junior Michael Barrett finished second in the high jump (6-2) and Michael Reed took second in the discus (141-10).
Hirsbrunner projected the Cheesemakers would score 70 points and 74 points are needed to win a meet. The Cheesemakers outscored his projections in six events.
"We talked coming in that not one person would win or lose the meet," Hirsbrunner said. "There is no me, I or mine in this program. In our meeting we had 65 guys all focused on the same goal. They were determined coming out here."
Monroe will host the Simpson Relays Friday, but Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers will rest several runners after beating the Silver Eagles.
"We have to be a Tuesday night team," Hirsbrunner said of a critical stretch where the Cheesemakers have Tuesday conference dual meets the next three weeks.
