MONROE - With fire truck sirens blaring, the Monroe High School bowling team was escorted through the Square and around town after winning the program's first-ever Wisconsin High School Bowling Club Division 2 state championship on Sunday.
After qualifying for the finals as the No. 2 seed, the Cheesemakers tipped top-seeded Peshtigo by four pins to win the state title, 386-382, at the AMF Bowlero Lanes in Wauwatosa on Sunday. The Cheesemakers topped Ashwaubenon in a state semifinal 419-374 to earn the title shot. It was the Cheesemakers' fifth straight appearance in the club bowling state tournament.
"We have a lot of talent," Monroe senior Devon Boeck said. "We really came together as a team and rocked it. It's amazing."
The Monroe state champion bowling team is made up of six bowlers: Boeck, senior Trace Ermey, sophomore Keon Butler, senior Kody Althaus, junior Collyn Wilde and junior Samantha Lynch.
"We knew with their talent we know what they are capable of," Monroe coach Brittany Svendsen said. "You never expect it (state championship). You hope for it. They lived up to our expectations and beyond."
In addition to the state team title, the Cheesemakers had several bowlers finish high in the singles state competition. Boeck finished third out of 96 bowlers combined from Division 1 and 2 schools, and Ermey took eighth and was the second individual medalist for the Cheesemakers. Butler took 14th and Althaus placed 36th.
"After taking third, I really wanted some redemption," Boeck said of winning the state team title. "I knew we could do it."
After the graduation of Ryan Stoneback, who is bowling at Highland Community College in Freeport, Monroe's program remains strong. Both Boeck and Ermey will bowl at Highland next year.
"I wanted to do better than last year," said Ermey, who took 18th at state in the individual competition last year. "It's a big improvement. It's definitely a memory. It's something I will never forget."
After qualifying for the finals as the No. 2 seed, the Cheesemakers tipped top-seeded Peshtigo by four pins to win the state title, 386-382, at the AMF Bowlero Lanes in Wauwatosa on Sunday. The Cheesemakers topped Ashwaubenon in a state semifinal 419-374 to earn the title shot. It was the Cheesemakers' fifth straight appearance in the club bowling state tournament.
"We have a lot of talent," Monroe senior Devon Boeck said. "We really came together as a team and rocked it. It's amazing."
The Monroe state champion bowling team is made up of six bowlers: Boeck, senior Trace Ermey, sophomore Keon Butler, senior Kody Althaus, junior Collyn Wilde and junior Samantha Lynch.
"We knew with their talent we know what they are capable of," Monroe coach Brittany Svendsen said. "You never expect it (state championship). You hope for it. They lived up to our expectations and beyond."
In addition to the state team title, the Cheesemakers had several bowlers finish high in the singles state competition. Boeck finished third out of 96 bowlers combined from Division 1 and 2 schools, and Ermey took eighth and was the second individual medalist for the Cheesemakers. Butler took 14th and Althaus placed 36th.
"After taking third, I really wanted some redemption," Boeck said of winning the state team title. "I knew we could do it."
After the graduation of Ryan Stoneback, who is bowling at Highland Community College in Freeport, Monroe's program remains strong. Both Boeck and Ermey will bowl at Highland next year.
"I wanted to do better than last year," said Ermey, who took 18th at state in the individual competition last year. "It's a big improvement. It's definitely a memory. It's something I will never forget."
