3,200 relay
Lead leg: Jason Koller
I will be really excited. I need to keep my emotions in check so I don't get ahead of myself. We have a plan to run even splits on the first lap, and on the second it's a big kick. The first lap we are trying to run 57 seconds and the second we are trying to run 60 seconds. We have kind of neglected the handoff and it showed at the sectional. It's more important than you think (even though it's not a blind handoff). It can knock a couple of seconds off our time. I think we will be in the lead. We want to go out fast and make it a mental game. We want everyone to chase us.
Second leg: Drake Ingold
I know we have the top time from the sectional. Our plan is to get the lead in the first lap. My plan is to maintain and keep the lead so Dylan (Scace) is in a good position in the anchor. I definitely want to get out quick and have a good first lap. I want to have a lead for our third guy, Jonah. I think if I know it will be close its gives me more motivation to give it my all. I just want to leave it all on the track so we don't end up like last year.
Third leg: Jonah Tostrud
Hopefully, Drake will have a big lead in the race. Hopefully, I can keep that lead and extend it even farther. I want to run my pace. I don't want to get too out front. I want to run a good even first lap and really extend the lead and go faster on the second one.
Anchor leg: Dylan Scace
If I get it (baton) in the lead, I just want to hold on to the lead in the first lap. If we are not in the lead, I want to go out under control and slowly catch him on the second lap. It can be exciting. You just have to go out calm. Whatever is happening, I have to adjust to the race. There is a lot of other competitors. The other top teams are Dodgeville-Mineral Point, Omro, Lakeland Union and Lodi.
Monroe has qualified for state in the 3,200 relay for seven straight years and 15 of the past 18 years. The Cheesemakers have won five state titles in that 18-year span - 2006, 2007 and three straight from 2011 to 2013.
Monroe set the Division 2 state record in the 3,200 relay in 2012 with a time of 7 minutes, 50.13 seconds. The record still stands.
For the second straight year, the Cheesemakers enter the state track meet as the top seed in the 3,200 relay (8:04.65). Omro (8:05.21) is the second seed.
Last year's Monroe 3,200 relay team, which included three of the four runners on the team this season, placed second by less than half a second to Dodgeville-Mineral Point.
"It feels good," Monroe senior Dylan Scace said. "We came in with the top time last year, and it didn't matter.
"If we run our race that day I don't think anyone can touch us."
The members of the Cheesemakers' quartet who will be running the 3,200 relay at state today at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium talked to sports reporter Mark Nesbitt about their thoughts before the race.
