MONROE - There's no denying the fact that the 2013 sports season ended with a bang with two football teams making a state run and a slew of cross country runners making their case that southern Wisconsin has some of the top athletes in the state.
Below is the second part of the top sports stories of the year. The list is in random order and is just a snapshot of some of the most thrilling, biggest impact moments and most meaningful local sports stories of the year.
The Black Hawk football team rolled to a 44-22 win over Glenwood City to win the WIAA Division 7 state championship. It's the first gold ball in the history of the school. Winning a state title is an amazing accomplishment, but finishing with a perfect season (14-0) is a year every player, coach and football fan will remember.
The scene of longtime Black Hawk statistician Dick Schliem breaking down in tears and hugging Black Hawk coach Cory Milz after the Warriors won the title will be etched in the memories of players and fans. Schliem said this year's Black Hawk team is the best team in the history of the school.
Black Hawk senior Tanner Sweeney rushed for 146 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Warriors. He set the school's single season record for rushing yards (2,078) and was named the Gatorade Player of the Game.
"It couldn't get any better going undefeated, winning a state championship and a gold ball," Sweeney said. "We have had a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I can't believe it went by in a blink of an eye."
Black Hawk junior Heath Butler had 222 total yards and three touchdowns. He was 6 of 7 passing for 126 yards and rushed for 96 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown. Butler led the split back veer offense that was the highest scoring in the state averaging 47.4 points per game.
Moehn wins gold, Cheese take silver
Monroe senior Ethan Moehn, an Arkansas recruit, won the WIAA Division 2 state championship in cross country with a time of 15 minutes, 58.93 seconds. Moehn became the school's first state champion in cross country and he and senior Jake Hirsbrunner, who took fourth (16:11.50), helped the Cheesemakers win the silver trophy as the state runner-up. Monroe senior Noah Tostrud was 12th (16:35.87).
It marked the fifth state title for Moehn, who won a state championship in the 800-meter run in track in 2012 and has been a part of three straight titles in the 3,200 relay.
"To go out and be the best cross country runner in Division 2 is amazing," he said. "I may not be the best runner ever, but to do it on this one day leaves a legacy for a program that has had a great history. In the 60s, 70s and 80s there has been some amazing runners."
It's the fifth cross country trophy the Cheesemakers have won. Monroe won state titles in 1973, '74 and '79 and also finished as the runner-up in 2006. Monroe sophomore Derek Christiansen finished 37th and junior Jeremy Miller took 46th in the team scoring.
The Cheesemakers battled some adversity overcoming a rash of illnesses and an injury to freshman Nick Baumann to win the Monroe Division 2 sectional even though they didn't win the Badger South Conference. Baumann, who battled a stress fracture injury most of the season, ran the first 800 at state before dropping out of the race. The Cheesemakers have been a perennial state contender since Dave Hirsbrunner took over as coach. The Cheesemakers have qualified for state as a team four straight years and 10 of the last 11 years.
Monroe, Miehe and Redbirds 3-peat
The Monroe boys 3,200 relay team of Steve Christiansen, Jake Hirsbrunner, Alex Barenklau and Ethan Moehn won a third straight state championship at the WIAA Division 2 state meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
The quartet took the gold with a time of 7 minutes, 52.75 seconds May 31 at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse. It was just two seconds off their state record time from 2012.
"We kind of have a little dynasty in the 3,200 relay," Christiansen said.
Moehn, who also was the state runner-up in the 800, put the race in perspective.
"Goal No. 1 was to win the race," he said after winning the state title. "Anything on top of that would have been icing on the cake. It's not a huge deal not to get the record."
Darlington senior Tyson Miehe won his third straight state cross country title and led the Redbirds to their third consecutive championship. He finished the 5,000-meter race with a time of 15 minutes, 57.49 seconds. Miehe became just the fifth runner to ever win a third straight title.
"There are very few people who have the opportunity to repeat three times," Miehe said. "It's a tremendous honor to repeat three times."
Darlington edged Chequamegon 87-89 for the state team title. The Redbirds graduated five of its top seven runners from last year, but were still able to win the championship by developing some younger runners. Thomas Schultz, the other most experienced runner to start the year, was recovering from a dislocated kneecap early on.
"At the beginning of the year the paper said something about a three-peat," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "We had a lot of seniors on those two teams the last two years. It really wasn't fair to mention something like that with the younger kids."
Darlington sophomore Jayden Komprood finished ninth (16:37.33) and Schultz was 22nd (17:09.15). Sophomore Sean Barbee took 30th and sophomore Blake Cwynar was 33rd in team scoring.
Record-setting
season for Monroe
It was a record-setting and historic season for the Monroe softball team. Monroe made a run to state and set four records along the way.
The Cheesemakers lost 6-0 to New London in a WIAA Division 2 state semifinal. That doesn't taint the season the Cheesemakers had finishing 27-3. The Cheesemakers set records for the most wins in a single season (27) and won the Badger South Conference with the school's first unbeaten mark (12-0) in league play. Monroe's Becca Armstrong proved to be an ace pitcher setting records for strikeouts (247) and wins (25). The Cheesemakers got off to an inauspicious start in the state semifinal against New London June 6 at the University of Wisconsin's Goodman Diamond. Armstrong uncharacteristically walked three in the first inning and the Cheesemakers gave up two runs on an error. Four of the six runs Armstrong gave up were unearned.
"I'm still not convinced that they are the better team," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said after the game. "They were better than us today. That's sports."
Monroe has made three straight trips to state and seventh in the past 11 years.
Below is the second part of the top sports stories of the year. The list is in random order and is just a snapshot of some of the most thrilling, biggest impact moments and most meaningful local sports stories of the year.
The Black Hawk football team rolled to a 44-22 win over Glenwood City to win the WIAA Division 7 state championship. It's the first gold ball in the history of the school. Winning a state title is an amazing accomplishment, but finishing with a perfect season (14-0) is a year every player, coach and football fan will remember.
The scene of longtime Black Hawk statistician Dick Schliem breaking down in tears and hugging Black Hawk coach Cory Milz after the Warriors won the title will be etched in the memories of players and fans. Schliem said this year's Black Hawk team is the best team in the history of the school.
Black Hawk senior Tanner Sweeney rushed for 146 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Warriors. He set the school's single season record for rushing yards (2,078) and was named the Gatorade Player of the Game.
"It couldn't get any better going undefeated, winning a state championship and a gold ball," Sweeney said. "We have had a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I can't believe it went by in a blink of an eye."
Black Hawk junior Heath Butler had 222 total yards and three touchdowns. He was 6 of 7 passing for 126 yards and rushed for 96 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown. Butler led the split back veer offense that was the highest scoring in the state averaging 47.4 points per game.
Moehn wins gold, Cheese take silver
Monroe senior Ethan Moehn, an Arkansas recruit, won the WIAA Division 2 state championship in cross country with a time of 15 minutes, 58.93 seconds. Moehn became the school's first state champion in cross country and he and senior Jake Hirsbrunner, who took fourth (16:11.50), helped the Cheesemakers win the silver trophy as the state runner-up. Monroe senior Noah Tostrud was 12th (16:35.87).
It marked the fifth state title for Moehn, who won a state championship in the 800-meter run in track in 2012 and has been a part of three straight titles in the 3,200 relay.
"To go out and be the best cross country runner in Division 2 is amazing," he said. "I may not be the best runner ever, but to do it on this one day leaves a legacy for a program that has had a great history. In the 60s, 70s and 80s there has been some amazing runners."
It's the fifth cross country trophy the Cheesemakers have won. Monroe won state titles in 1973, '74 and '79 and also finished as the runner-up in 2006. Monroe sophomore Derek Christiansen finished 37th and junior Jeremy Miller took 46th in the team scoring.
The Cheesemakers battled some adversity overcoming a rash of illnesses and an injury to freshman Nick Baumann to win the Monroe Division 2 sectional even though they didn't win the Badger South Conference. Baumann, who battled a stress fracture injury most of the season, ran the first 800 at state before dropping out of the race. The Cheesemakers have been a perennial state contender since Dave Hirsbrunner took over as coach. The Cheesemakers have qualified for state as a team four straight years and 10 of the last 11 years.
Monroe, Miehe and Redbirds 3-peat
The Monroe boys 3,200 relay team of Steve Christiansen, Jake Hirsbrunner, Alex Barenklau and Ethan Moehn won a third straight state championship at the WIAA Division 2 state meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
The quartet took the gold with a time of 7 minutes, 52.75 seconds May 31 at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse. It was just two seconds off their state record time from 2012.
"We kind of have a little dynasty in the 3,200 relay," Christiansen said.
Moehn, who also was the state runner-up in the 800, put the race in perspective.
"Goal No. 1 was to win the race," he said after winning the state title. "Anything on top of that would have been icing on the cake. It's not a huge deal not to get the record."
Darlington senior Tyson Miehe won his third straight state cross country title and led the Redbirds to their third consecutive championship. He finished the 5,000-meter race with a time of 15 minutes, 57.49 seconds. Miehe became just the fifth runner to ever win a third straight title.
"There are very few people who have the opportunity to repeat three times," Miehe said. "It's a tremendous honor to repeat three times."
Darlington edged Chequamegon 87-89 for the state team title. The Redbirds graduated five of its top seven runners from last year, but were still able to win the championship by developing some younger runners. Thomas Schultz, the other most experienced runner to start the year, was recovering from a dislocated kneecap early on.
"At the beginning of the year the paper said something about a three-peat," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "We had a lot of seniors on those two teams the last two years. It really wasn't fair to mention something like that with the younger kids."
Darlington sophomore Jayden Komprood finished ninth (16:37.33) and Schultz was 22nd (17:09.15). Sophomore Sean Barbee took 30th and sophomore Blake Cwynar was 33rd in team scoring.
Record-setting
season for Monroe
It was a record-setting and historic season for the Monroe softball team. Monroe made a run to state and set four records along the way.
The Cheesemakers lost 6-0 to New London in a WIAA Division 2 state semifinal. That doesn't taint the season the Cheesemakers had finishing 27-3. The Cheesemakers set records for the most wins in a single season (27) and won the Badger South Conference with the school's first unbeaten mark (12-0) in league play. Monroe's Becca Armstrong proved to be an ace pitcher setting records for strikeouts (247) and wins (25). The Cheesemakers got off to an inauspicious start in the state semifinal against New London June 6 at the University of Wisconsin's Goodman Diamond. Armstrong uncharacteristically walked three in the first inning and the Cheesemakers gave up two runs on an error. Four of the six runs Armstrong gave up were unearned.
"I'm still not convinced that they are the better team," Monroe coach Dale Buvid said after the game. "They were better than us today. That's sports."
Monroe has made three straight trips to state and seventh in the past 11 years.
