MONROE - The Monroe boys cross country team won't need a map of the course when they run at the WIAA Division 2 state meet at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday.

Monroe, ranked fifth in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 2 poll, will be running at state for the seventh time in the last eight years. The Cheesemakers finished fifth at state last year and have four runners with state experience. The Cheesemakers have finished in the top 10 at state six times in the last seven years.

"We definitely want a top-five finish," Monroe sophomore Ethan Moehn said. "All season long that has been our goal."

Ten of the 16 teams that ran at state last year return including Shorewood, which is seeking a third straight state championship. Shorewood, which is ranked No. 1 in Division 2, isn't the favorite in Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner's mind after Wisconsin Lutheran, ranked No. 3 finished ahead of them at the sectional.

"The field is much stronger this year," Hirsbrunner said. "The favorite this year is Wisconsin Lutheran in my mind."

Dodgeville-Mineral Point, ranked sixth and last year's state runner-up and La Crosse Aquinas, ranked No. 4 are also expected to be title contenders.

The Cheesemakers won the Badger South Conference and finished as the Monroe sectional runner-up behind Dodgeville-Mineral Point. There has been a solid core of four runners for the Cheesemakers this year including Moehn, senior Joel Henry, senior Luke Peterson and junior Steve Christiansen.

Hirsbrunner said the most crucial time zone of all is the 17:45 to the 18 minute range.

"There will probably be 25 to 30 who finish in that range," Hirsbrunner said. "That crucial zone is where state meets are won and lost. Sometimes we have struggled with the 5-6-7 runners. We are going to have to close that gap."

Peterson, who will be running in his third state meet, understands the importance of getting out fast.

"Everyone gets pumped up to run," Peterson said. "If you don't go out fast than you get swallowed up at the start."

New Glarus-Monticello junior Ryan McCoy, who is a three-time state qualifier, could contend for an individual state championship along with Dodgeville-Mineral Point's Trevor Wunnicke and Madison Edgewood's Joe McKenna. McCoy finished fifth last year and eighth as a freshman.

"Any one of us could win the individual state title," McCoy said. "That (winning a state title) is always the goal. I just want to run tough and run as best as I can."

New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley is confident in McCoy running on the big stage. McCoy led the race at state as a freshman during several stretches.

"He has only one goal in mind and that is going to be leading that race when he crosses that line," Wehrley said.

Wehrley knows that freshman race was a learning experience for McCoy.

"Ryan is solid with everything he does in and out of season," he said. "What he learned from that freshman year was how to run smart. In racing, he runs as much with his head as his legs."

Division 3

The Darlington boys cross country team enters the state meet ranked No. 1 in Division 3. The Redbirds are making their fourth straight state appearance.

The last time the Redbirds won a state title was in 1986, with Hirsbrunner on the team. Kenosha St. Joseph's won the Division 3 boys state title last year. Kenosha St. Joseph's and Grantsburg are the top contenders for a state title along with the Redbirds. Cedar Grove Belgium and Rosholt, which has their top six runners back from a state run last year, can also contend.

"I think if we run our best, we will be right in the thick of things," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "Anyone in the state can win it on any given day."

Arnie also has the chance to see his sons - senior Kent and sophomore Tyson Miehe run together one more time.

"As a coach and dad you always hope they will let you coach them," Arnie said. "That is special. We have a strong team. It is definitely something I have really taken in and enjoyed."

The Darlington girls cross country team qualified for state for the fifth consecutive year. The Redbird girls like the boys finished fifth at state last year. The Redbird girls are ranked No. 3 in Division 3 behind No. 1 Oshkosh Lourdes and No. 2 St. Mary's Springs. The Redbirds have overcome the loss of Claire Cullen who injured her leg mid-season and will not run at state.

"I'm hoping we can improve on our fifth-place finish," Miehe said. "We don't have any front-runners. We stay in a pack and put four runners ahead of a lot of other people's No. 3 and 4 runners. That has been a part of our success all year. We hope to continue that."