MONROE - Jake Hirsbrunner and Ethan Moehn have used their competitive drive to win gold as teammates on the Monroe track team. Now they will get the chance to start a new rivalry with the Badgers and Razorbacks.
Hirsbrunner signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday, Feb. 5 to run track for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Moehn signed to run cross country and track for the University of Arkansas. It was a banner day for the Monroe track program with two senior Division I recruits finalizing their plans on national signing day.
"The only chance we could meet and run against each other is at the national meet," Hirsbrunner said. "As good of friends as we are right now, I want to beat every Arkansas person who comes."
Darlington senior Tyson Miehe also signed his National Letter of Intent to run cross country for UW. Arkansas is ranked No. 1 in the country for indoor track and Wisconsin is ranked No. 4. Both Moehn and Hirsbrunner are leaving a Monroe High School program that has a long tradition of distance runners to go to college programs with similar traditions of success.
Hirsbrunner signaled UW's motion 'W' after signing his NLI to attend Wisconsin and Moehn led a hog call with a "woo" and the raising of his arms after the urging of a media member. Hirsbrunner and Moehn are the first track athletes from Monroe to sign with a Division I school since Matt Barrett signed with Minnesota in 2005. Last year, Monroe's Rachel Root signed to swim with Division I Illinois State University.
"I always wanted to be here," Moehn said. "I had no idea I would be here as a freshman. There are times you wonder if it will happen. You just have to stay motivated."
Moehn has won five state championships in track and cross country. He was the WIAA Division 2 state cross country champion last fall. Both Moehn and Hirsbrunner led the Cheesemakers to a silver trophy and state runner-up finish in cross country this fall. They were both named first-team all-state in cross country.
Moehn has won three straight state championships as part of the Cheesemakers' 3,200-meter relay, which also won the prestigious Kansas Relays last year. Moehn also won a state title in the 800-meters in 2012. At the time it marked a Division 2 state record. Moehn was recruited by the University of Minnesota, Illinois and Stanford.
"It (Arkansas) just really stuck out," Moehn said. "I just meshed well with the coaching staff and the facilities."
Monroe long distance track coach Howie Jubeck could tell in middle school that both Hirsbrunner and Moehn had a chance to be special athletes. Moehn has displayed his versatility as a long distance runner in the 3,200, 1,600 and 800.
"Ethan has proven to be one of the elite runners at Monroe," Jubeck said. "When you mention (Matt) Barrett and (Mark) Winzenried, Ethan is right up there with them. Ethan going to Arkansas is a feather in our cap."
Hirsbrunner made an immediate impact after switching from football to cross country before his junior year. Hirsbrunner has two state championships as part of the 3,200 relay and he was the Badger Conference champion his first year running cross country as a junior. He is a two-time state qualifier in the high jump with a lifetime best jump of 6 feet, 6 inches. He plans to be a decathlete for the Badgers. The decathlon is a track event which requires participants to compete in the high jump, long jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin, 110 hurdles, 100, 400 and 1,500.
"I feel confident in the distance races, the high jump and long jump," he said. "The ones I'm trying to get better at are the hurdles, pole vault, shot and discus."
That wasn't always the case. Hirsbrunner wasn't always confident running long distance races, but has emerged as one of the state's top runners in two years.
"I really had no clue," Hirsbrunner said about his first cross country race. "After that first cross country race, I didn't like it at all. After that, it turned into something where I wanted to beat other people and see how I could do."
Hirsbrunner also considered the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. After visiting Wisconsin, Hirsbrunner was convinced it would be a good fit.
"After seeing the facilities and taking the tours it was just head and shoulders above the other schools," he said.
Jubeck understands the Badgers' interest in Hirsbrunner.
"I can see why Wisconsin wants Jake to be a decathlete," Jubeck said. "Jake is definitely one of the most versatile athletes at Monroe."
Monroe Athletic Director and cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner said Moehn is the best at adjusting his racing plan and is a scholar of cross country understanding and knowing other runners. He said Jake has been a quick learner from video games to the long jump, high jump and long distance races.
"We are fortunate to have a signing," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "To have two is really crazy. With these two guys it's not lucky that we are here today. When it's cold and there is no school they are still doing their workout. When it's really hot they are still doing their workout. Some people might say they are too sports-minded. Being sports-minded is one of the reasons they are here today."
Hirsbrunner signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday, Feb. 5 to run track for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Moehn signed to run cross country and track for the University of Arkansas. It was a banner day for the Monroe track program with two senior Division I recruits finalizing their plans on national signing day.
"The only chance we could meet and run against each other is at the national meet," Hirsbrunner said. "As good of friends as we are right now, I want to beat every Arkansas person who comes."
Darlington senior Tyson Miehe also signed his National Letter of Intent to run cross country for UW. Arkansas is ranked No. 1 in the country for indoor track and Wisconsin is ranked No. 4. Both Moehn and Hirsbrunner are leaving a Monroe High School program that has a long tradition of distance runners to go to college programs with similar traditions of success.
Hirsbrunner signaled UW's motion 'W' after signing his NLI to attend Wisconsin and Moehn led a hog call with a "woo" and the raising of his arms after the urging of a media member. Hirsbrunner and Moehn are the first track athletes from Monroe to sign with a Division I school since Matt Barrett signed with Minnesota in 2005. Last year, Monroe's Rachel Root signed to swim with Division I Illinois State University.
"I always wanted to be here," Moehn said. "I had no idea I would be here as a freshman. There are times you wonder if it will happen. You just have to stay motivated."
Moehn has won five state championships in track and cross country. He was the WIAA Division 2 state cross country champion last fall. Both Moehn and Hirsbrunner led the Cheesemakers to a silver trophy and state runner-up finish in cross country this fall. They were both named first-team all-state in cross country.
Moehn has won three straight state championships as part of the Cheesemakers' 3,200-meter relay, which also won the prestigious Kansas Relays last year. Moehn also won a state title in the 800-meters in 2012. At the time it marked a Division 2 state record. Moehn was recruited by the University of Minnesota, Illinois and Stanford.
"It (Arkansas) just really stuck out," Moehn said. "I just meshed well with the coaching staff and the facilities."
Monroe long distance track coach Howie Jubeck could tell in middle school that both Hirsbrunner and Moehn had a chance to be special athletes. Moehn has displayed his versatility as a long distance runner in the 3,200, 1,600 and 800.
"Ethan has proven to be one of the elite runners at Monroe," Jubeck said. "When you mention (Matt) Barrett and (Mark) Winzenried, Ethan is right up there with them. Ethan going to Arkansas is a feather in our cap."
Hirsbrunner made an immediate impact after switching from football to cross country before his junior year. Hirsbrunner has two state championships as part of the 3,200 relay and he was the Badger Conference champion his first year running cross country as a junior. He is a two-time state qualifier in the high jump with a lifetime best jump of 6 feet, 6 inches. He plans to be a decathlete for the Badgers. The decathlon is a track event which requires participants to compete in the high jump, long jump, pole vault, shot put, discus, javelin, 110 hurdles, 100, 400 and 1,500.
"I feel confident in the distance races, the high jump and long jump," he said. "The ones I'm trying to get better at are the hurdles, pole vault, shot and discus."
That wasn't always the case. Hirsbrunner wasn't always confident running long distance races, but has emerged as one of the state's top runners in two years.
"I really had no clue," Hirsbrunner said about his first cross country race. "After that first cross country race, I didn't like it at all. After that, it turned into something where I wanted to beat other people and see how I could do."
Hirsbrunner also considered the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. After visiting Wisconsin, Hirsbrunner was convinced it would be a good fit.
"After seeing the facilities and taking the tours it was just head and shoulders above the other schools," he said.
Jubeck understands the Badgers' interest in Hirsbrunner.
"I can see why Wisconsin wants Jake to be a decathlete," Jubeck said. "Jake is definitely one of the most versatile athletes at Monroe."
Monroe Athletic Director and cross country coach Dave Hirsbrunner said Moehn is the best at adjusting his racing plan and is a scholar of cross country understanding and knowing other runners. He said Jake has been a quick learner from video games to the long jump, high jump and long distance races.
"We are fortunate to have a signing," Dave Hirsbrunner said. "To have two is really crazy. With these two guys it's not lucky that we are here today. When it's cold and there is no school they are still doing their workout. When it's really hot they are still doing their workout. Some people might say they are too sports-minded. Being sports-minded is one of the reasons they are here today."
