MONROE - The Cheesemakers won the Badger Challenge for the fifth time in the last six years and coach Dave Hirsbrunner will get to keep the traveling team trophy on his shelf.
In a race that is scored based on the top-five times, the Cheesemakers (91 minutes, 8 seconds) edged Fort Atkinson for the title by 35 seconds.
"We weren't given a chance by anyone at the beginning of the season," Hirsbrunner said. "I don't think a lot of people thought we could win this. Now it (the trophy) will be on my shelf five of the last six years."
With all five of its top runners competing for the first time Tuesday at Twining Park, Monroe ran to the title with three of the top 11 in the freshman-sophomore race. Monroe sophomore Joel Henry won the freshman-sophomore race with a time of 17:37. Fellow sophomore Luke Peterson took third in the freshman-sophomore race with a time of 18:13 and freshman Steve Christiansen was 11th (18:57).
"Our goal was to get that trophy back for Hirsh," Henry said. "A top time was my second priority after helping Hirsh win that trophy. Today it's based on time. It doesn't matter what place you are."
Henry plugged his way through the second mile.
"Going into the second loop around the baseball diamond, I was feeling a little bad," he said. "I didn't know who was behind me and how far back. I was visualizing the bike. I looked at that as motivation."
In the junior-senior race, Monroe junior Dylan Starck finished sixth with a time of 17:36 and senior Brandon Mortimer took 25th (18:45). Starck ran in just his second race this year after a hip injury. The injury sidelined him for 10 days without practicing and competing. He received a cortisone shot a little more than two weeks ago.
"It's made it a little bit better," Starck said of the shot. "My main goal was just not to get hurt. I have been having a rough time."
Starck hopes that he has cleared his biggest hurdle in battling back from injury.
"I just want to get a couple weeks of good health," he said. "I just want to get through the season without any more injuries. As the year goes on, I just want to keep dropping time."
Christiansen, who was the Cheesemakers' No. 5 runner, finished with a season best time.
"He (Christiansen) is a diamond in the rough," Hirsbrunner said. "He has had a huge impact on the team as a freshman. He has no idea what he is doing racing. He just continues getting better."
The Cheesemakers don't run again until the Midwest Challenge Sept. 26 at Janesville.
Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers will cut back on the amount of miles they run and focus on speed work.
"The people who are beat up will get a well needed rest," Hirsbrunner said.
In a race that is scored based on the top-five times, the Cheesemakers (91 minutes, 8 seconds) edged Fort Atkinson for the title by 35 seconds.
"We weren't given a chance by anyone at the beginning of the season," Hirsbrunner said. "I don't think a lot of people thought we could win this. Now it (the trophy) will be on my shelf five of the last six years."
With all five of its top runners competing for the first time Tuesday at Twining Park, Monroe ran to the title with three of the top 11 in the freshman-sophomore race. Monroe sophomore Joel Henry won the freshman-sophomore race with a time of 17:37. Fellow sophomore Luke Peterson took third in the freshman-sophomore race with a time of 18:13 and freshman Steve Christiansen was 11th (18:57).
"Our goal was to get that trophy back for Hirsh," Henry said. "A top time was my second priority after helping Hirsh win that trophy. Today it's based on time. It doesn't matter what place you are."
Henry plugged his way through the second mile.
"Going into the second loop around the baseball diamond, I was feeling a little bad," he said. "I didn't know who was behind me and how far back. I was visualizing the bike. I looked at that as motivation."
In the junior-senior race, Monroe junior Dylan Starck finished sixth with a time of 17:36 and senior Brandon Mortimer took 25th (18:45). Starck ran in just his second race this year after a hip injury. The injury sidelined him for 10 days without practicing and competing. He received a cortisone shot a little more than two weeks ago.
"It's made it a little bit better," Starck said of the shot. "My main goal was just not to get hurt. I have been having a rough time."
Starck hopes that he has cleared his biggest hurdle in battling back from injury.
"I just want to get a couple weeks of good health," he said. "I just want to get through the season without any more injuries. As the year goes on, I just want to keep dropping time."
Christiansen, who was the Cheesemakers' No. 5 runner, finished with a season best time.
"He (Christiansen) is a diamond in the rough," Hirsbrunner said. "He has had a huge impact on the team as a freshman. He has no idea what he is doing racing. He just continues getting better."
The Cheesemakers don't run again until the Midwest Challenge Sept. 26 at Janesville.
Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers will cut back on the amount of miles they run and focus on speed work.
"The people who are beat up will get a well needed rest," Hirsbrunner said.
