PLATTEVILLE - The only guarantees this time of year are the leaves changing colors and the Monroe boys cross country team making a run to state.
Monroe added to its dynasty by winning the WIAA Division 2 Platteville sectional title Saturday and punching its ticket for a fifth straight state team appearance.
"It may have lost some luster to some people because they almost expect it," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said about qualifying for state as a team. "It has never lost its luster. Nothing is ever taken for granted. So many things can go wrong."
It was clear sailing for the Cheesemakers on Saturday. Monroe senior Brett DeNure captured the individual sectional title by winning a kick in the last 150 meters to the finish, beating Mount Horeb-Barneveld's Zach Zweifel by one second. DeNure, who finished with a time of 16 minutes, 28 seconds, is only the second runner to win a sectional title in Hirsbrunner's tenure as coach. The last runner to win a sectional championship was Patrick Klein in 2006.
"I feel pretty honored to be one of the two sectional champions he (Hirsbrunner) has ever had," DeNure said. "We thought we were one of the best teams here.
"We thought we should definitely qualify for state. Our goal all year was to get to state. It's about the end of the year in cross country."
DeNure expected to finish the last 150 meters strong.
"I felt I'm really one of the best quarter-milers in cross country," DeNure said. "I felt confident going into the last 200 meters with him (Zweifel) on my tail."
The Cheesemakers placed four runners in the top eight, including Dylan Starck, sixth (16:47); Joe Pecora, seventh (16:54) and Cullen Sampson, eighth (16:56).
Hirsbrunner said he was sentimental in hoping DeNure would win the individual title.
"When he got to the point where he was hurting the most he got stronger," Hirbrunner said.
Hirsbrunner was guarded about avoiding a letdown.
"I was very hopeful we wouldn't come here and run average," he said. "We kind of compare it to getting C's on your school report card. The guys are not C students, so why would we come here and run like a C?"
Hirsbrunner was proud of the way Pecora, Sampson, Joel Henry, Luke Peterson and Jason Scott turned it on down the homestretch. Henry took 24th (17:56) to round out the top five for the Cheesemakers.
There were 23 runners between Platteville's No. 5 runner and Monroe's fifth runner before the last 1,600-meters. Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers kept climbing over the last 800 meters. Henry, Peterson and Scott surged past 20 runners in the last mile.
"We were looking to come out and here and destroy everybody, especially Platteville," Starck said. "We don't want to lose to Platteville.
"Last year we didn't expect to get to the state meet. This year we can do some damage at the state meet."
Monroe added to its dynasty by winning the WIAA Division 2 Platteville sectional title Saturday and punching its ticket for a fifth straight state team appearance.
"It may have lost some luster to some people because they almost expect it," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said about qualifying for state as a team. "It has never lost its luster. Nothing is ever taken for granted. So many things can go wrong."
It was clear sailing for the Cheesemakers on Saturday. Monroe senior Brett DeNure captured the individual sectional title by winning a kick in the last 150 meters to the finish, beating Mount Horeb-Barneveld's Zach Zweifel by one second. DeNure, who finished with a time of 16 minutes, 28 seconds, is only the second runner to win a sectional title in Hirsbrunner's tenure as coach. The last runner to win a sectional championship was Patrick Klein in 2006.
"I feel pretty honored to be one of the two sectional champions he (Hirsbrunner) has ever had," DeNure said. "We thought we were one of the best teams here.
"We thought we should definitely qualify for state. Our goal all year was to get to state. It's about the end of the year in cross country."
DeNure expected to finish the last 150 meters strong.
"I felt I'm really one of the best quarter-milers in cross country," DeNure said. "I felt confident going into the last 200 meters with him (Zweifel) on my tail."
The Cheesemakers placed four runners in the top eight, including Dylan Starck, sixth (16:47); Joe Pecora, seventh (16:54) and Cullen Sampson, eighth (16:56).
Hirsbrunner said he was sentimental in hoping DeNure would win the individual title.
"When he got to the point where he was hurting the most he got stronger," Hirbrunner said.
Hirsbrunner was guarded about avoiding a letdown.
"I was very hopeful we wouldn't come here and run average," he said. "We kind of compare it to getting C's on your school report card. The guys are not C students, so why would we come here and run like a C?"
Hirsbrunner was proud of the way Pecora, Sampson, Joel Henry, Luke Peterson and Jason Scott turned it on down the homestretch. Henry took 24th (17:56) to round out the top five for the Cheesemakers.
There were 23 runners between Platteville's No. 5 runner and Monroe's fifth runner before the last 1,600-meters. Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers kept climbing over the last 800 meters. Henry, Peterson and Scott surged past 20 runners in the last mile.
"We were looking to come out and here and destroy everybody, especially Platteville," Starck said. "We don't want to lose to Platteville.
"Last year we didn't expect to get to the state meet. This year we can do some damage at the state meet."
