OREGON - "Release the hounds!" is the long-standing battle cry Monroe's boys cross country team has yielded to obey. At Saturday's Badger South Conference meet, the Cheesemakers released the hounds once again - winning the meet with just 53 points.
Brett DeNure came in second place overall with a time of 16 minutes, 41 seconds earning first-team all-conference honors.
"This is a special award for Brett," Monroe head coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "He has done some pretty wonderful things in his four years here at MHS, but this is a milestone.
"Brett has earned first-team all-conference all four years of his career. Each year, he has improved his finish - eighth place, seventh place, third, and now second. I don't know how many athletes have ever achieved this in their sport. It's a huge testament to how tough he is and how hard he works."
Dylan Starck (17:09) and Cullen Sampson (17:16) finished back-to-back in fourth and fifth place, also returning home with first-team honors.
"Dylan missed second-team last year by two places and that did not sit well with him. Cullen finished 11th overall last year and he really wanted to get into the top eight this year," Hirsbrunner said.
Joe Pecora (17:54, 19th place) and freshman Joel Henry (18:00, 23rd place) rounded out the Cheesemakers' top five. Luke Peterson (18:04, 28th place) and Gavin Wells (18:09, 29th place) just missed placing for Monroe, but showed off the team's depth.
"It definitely takes a team effort to win a team title. A few strong individuals just can't get it done. We have really come together since the start of the season. As a coach, I have seen an extremely positive cohesiveness develop," Hirsbrunner said.
Monroe has now won 20 of the 49 boys cross country conference titles - Fort Atkinson is second on the list with just seven. It was Monroe's fourth league crown in the past six years.
"As a program, we are very proud of this," Hirsbrunner said. "Our goal every season is to be in a position at the end of the year to be able to contend for a conference championship. After taking second to McFarland last year, our guys were really hungry to get that honor back."
The junior-varsity finished second overall to Milton. Monroe prepares to run Saturday at Platteville in the state sectional race.
Brett DeNure came in second place overall with a time of 16 minutes, 41 seconds earning first-team all-conference honors.
"This is a special award for Brett," Monroe head coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "He has done some pretty wonderful things in his four years here at MHS, but this is a milestone.
"Brett has earned first-team all-conference all four years of his career. Each year, he has improved his finish - eighth place, seventh place, third, and now second. I don't know how many athletes have ever achieved this in their sport. It's a huge testament to how tough he is and how hard he works."
Dylan Starck (17:09) and Cullen Sampson (17:16) finished back-to-back in fourth and fifth place, also returning home with first-team honors.
"Dylan missed second-team last year by two places and that did not sit well with him. Cullen finished 11th overall last year and he really wanted to get into the top eight this year," Hirsbrunner said.
Joe Pecora (17:54, 19th place) and freshman Joel Henry (18:00, 23rd place) rounded out the Cheesemakers' top five. Luke Peterson (18:04, 28th place) and Gavin Wells (18:09, 29th place) just missed placing for Monroe, but showed off the team's depth.
"It definitely takes a team effort to win a team title. A few strong individuals just can't get it done. We have really come together since the start of the season. As a coach, I have seen an extremely positive cohesiveness develop," Hirsbrunner said.
Monroe has now won 20 of the 49 boys cross country conference titles - Fort Atkinson is second on the list with just seven. It was Monroe's fourth league crown in the past six years.
"As a program, we are very proud of this," Hirsbrunner said. "Our goal every season is to be in a position at the end of the year to be able to contend for a conference championship. After taking second to McFarland last year, our guys were really hungry to get that honor back."
The junior-varsity finished second overall to Milton. Monroe prepares to run Saturday at Platteville in the state sectional race.
