MONROE - After a historic run on the court together, Monroe seniors Ashley Hermanson and Gwen Sutter will play basketball as teammates one more time as each were selected to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division 2 South All-Star team.
Hermanson and Sutter will play in the WBCA All-Star game June 19 at Madison Area Technical College. However, Hermanson and Sutter are raising money for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc. in order to play in the game. Each player and coach who participates in the game has to raise a minimum of $500 for the MACC Fund.
"It's an honor," Sutter said. "It feels good that I can play one last high school game."
Hermanson, a Nebraska-Kearney recruit, looks forward to playing one final game.
"It feels good playing for four years and getting to play in the WBCA is a good accomplishment," Hermanson said.
When former Milwaukee Buck Jon McGlocklin retired from the team in 1976, his friend and broadcaster Eddie Doucette had a son, Brett who was diagnosed with cancer at age 2. McGlocklin, who was the Bucks first All-Star and played on the championship Bucks in 1971, developed the MACC Fund and became the president. The WBCA has been a supporter of the MACC Fund since the first boys and girls All-Star games in 1978.
"It always brings meaning to it," Sutter said of the fund-raising for cancer. "Everyone has known someone who has had cancer. Besides my grandma, my family has been lucky. It's like fund-raising for someone close to you or for yourself."
"It's just a wonderful experience to help out and still be able to play," Hermanson said.
Brodhead senior Dana Lewis, a University of Maryland Baltimore-County recruit, will play on the South team with AAU teammates Hermanson and Sutter.
"We didn't end it the way we wanted to," Sutter said about the state semifinal loss to Winneconne. "It will be a lot of fun playing with some of the players we have known. We will look back on this and remember our high school career."
Hermanson and Sutter are already familiar playing with Lewis and Sauk Prairie's Kelsey Budd, a Bradley (Ill.) recruit, since all four played on the same AAU basketball team.
"We know each other's playing styles," Hermanson said. "It will be a lot of fun playing with them again. It's just one more game."
Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan will coach the Division 4 All-Star South team that will include Black Hawk seniors Kim Wellnitz and Katie Place. Flanagan will also have his assistant coaches - Bruce Jackson and Denny Larson with him coaching.
"It's a big honor that a lot of coaches hope to coach in that game," Flanagan said. "It's for a great cause. It's nice to participate in an event that is not only athletic, but humanitarian."
The Six Rivers East Conference will be well represented. In addition to Wellnitz and Place, Pecatonica's Kimee Chandler, a UW-Milwaukee recruit, and Barneveld's Courtney Sullivan will play for the South team.
"I'm looking forward to coaching them one more time," Flanagan said of Wellnitz and Place. "We get a chance to play together instead of battling each other."
The only representative on the boys side playing in the WBCA All-Star game is Albany senior Bryce Hulbert. Hulbert will play on the Division 4 WBCA All-Star South team. Hulbert averaged 14.3 points per game last year. Hulbert as part of the South All-Stars will play the Division 4 North team at 12:30 p.m. June 19 at the UW Fieldhouse.
Hermanson and Sutter will play in the WBCA All-Star game June 19 at Madison Area Technical College. However, Hermanson and Sutter are raising money for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer, Inc. in order to play in the game. Each player and coach who participates in the game has to raise a minimum of $500 for the MACC Fund.
"It's an honor," Sutter said. "It feels good that I can play one last high school game."
Hermanson, a Nebraska-Kearney recruit, looks forward to playing one final game.
"It feels good playing for four years and getting to play in the WBCA is a good accomplishment," Hermanson said.
When former Milwaukee Buck Jon McGlocklin retired from the team in 1976, his friend and broadcaster Eddie Doucette had a son, Brett who was diagnosed with cancer at age 2. McGlocklin, who was the Bucks first All-Star and played on the championship Bucks in 1971, developed the MACC Fund and became the president. The WBCA has been a supporter of the MACC Fund since the first boys and girls All-Star games in 1978.
"It always brings meaning to it," Sutter said of the fund-raising for cancer. "Everyone has known someone who has had cancer. Besides my grandma, my family has been lucky. It's like fund-raising for someone close to you or for yourself."
"It's just a wonderful experience to help out and still be able to play," Hermanson said.
Brodhead senior Dana Lewis, a University of Maryland Baltimore-County recruit, will play on the South team with AAU teammates Hermanson and Sutter.
"We didn't end it the way we wanted to," Sutter said about the state semifinal loss to Winneconne. "It will be a lot of fun playing with some of the players we have known. We will look back on this and remember our high school career."
Hermanson and Sutter are already familiar playing with Lewis and Sauk Prairie's Kelsey Budd, a Bradley (Ill.) recruit, since all four played on the same AAU basketball team.
"We know each other's playing styles," Hermanson said. "It will be a lot of fun playing with them again. It's just one more game."
Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan will coach the Division 4 All-Star South team that will include Black Hawk seniors Kim Wellnitz and Katie Place. Flanagan will also have his assistant coaches - Bruce Jackson and Denny Larson with him coaching.
"It's a big honor that a lot of coaches hope to coach in that game," Flanagan said. "It's for a great cause. It's nice to participate in an event that is not only athletic, but humanitarian."
The Six Rivers East Conference will be well represented. In addition to Wellnitz and Place, Pecatonica's Kimee Chandler, a UW-Milwaukee recruit, and Barneveld's Courtney Sullivan will play for the South team.
"I'm looking forward to coaching them one more time," Flanagan said of Wellnitz and Place. "We get a chance to play together instead of battling each other."
The only representative on the boys side playing in the WBCA All-Star game is Albany senior Bryce Hulbert. Hulbert will play on the Division 4 WBCA All-Star South team. Hulbert averaged 14.3 points per game last year. Hulbert as part of the South All-Stars will play the Division 4 North team at 12:30 p.m. June 19 at the UW Fieldhouse.
