All season long, the Monroe girls basketball team was overshadowed. The boys basketball team was the defending state champion. It was ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 2 for most of the season. It was picked by most prognosticators to make it back to the state tournament, and win it.
The boys did, indeed, have an outstanding season, falling just one game short of a bid for a repeat state title.
Meanwhile, almost quietly, the girls came on strong at the end of the year, winning seven straight games after a 54-44 loss to Waunakee in the Badger Conference crossover to capture their second state title in three years.
Way to go, Lady Cheesemakers! Who, at the beginning of the year, could have predicted what the girls would be able to do? They entered the season with three seniors. Four of their players were sophomores, including three starters, and another player, Kyleigh Sellnow, was a freshman.
Young, right? Inexperienced? Probably. Intimidated? Not at all.
Last June, the girls basketball team came together, looking for new leaders after the graduation of top players Marissa Young and Sydnee Wyss.
The girls constantly worked at playing together. They knew they had to play harder to shrug off the doubters, who said such a young team couldn't do much in a talent-laden Badger South Conference.
Not only did the girls win the conference title outright, they opened some eyes along the way. They battled through adversity, including an injury to starting post player Jamie Armstrong that had her miss three games.
The Lady Cheesemakers had some tough games along the way, including a season-opening overtime loss to Elkhorn, a 22-point loss to Verona on Jan. 3, and a 17-point loss to Waunakee Feb. 1. When Monroe lost to Waunakee for the second time in as many games Feb. 22, the confidence could have disappeared.
Instead, the girls became focused, reeling off five wins to get to the Alliant Energy Center and a chance at a state title.
Even with that accomplishment under its belt, Monroe wasn't regarded as the favorite at state. That was Grafton, the defending state champion.
Monroe's first-round opponent, Altoona, probably was favored, too. The Railroaders had won their last 18 games entering the tournament, and of the games they won, none were by less than double digits until regionals.
The Lady Cheesemakers made it through it all, and are a prime example of why athletes should never quit striving for that end goal.
Monroe believed. Who's next?
The boys did, indeed, have an outstanding season, falling just one game short of a bid for a repeat state title.
Meanwhile, almost quietly, the girls came on strong at the end of the year, winning seven straight games after a 54-44 loss to Waunakee in the Badger Conference crossover to capture their second state title in three years.
Way to go, Lady Cheesemakers! Who, at the beginning of the year, could have predicted what the girls would be able to do? They entered the season with three seniors. Four of their players were sophomores, including three starters, and another player, Kyleigh Sellnow, was a freshman.
Young, right? Inexperienced? Probably. Intimidated? Not at all.
Last June, the girls basketball team came together, looking for new leaders after the graduation of top players Marissa Young and Sydnee Wyss.
The girls constantly worked at playing together. They knew they had to play harder to shrug off the doubters, who said such a young team couldn't do much in a talent-laden Badger South Conference.
Not only did the girls win the conference title outright, they opened some eyes along the way. They battled through adversity, including an injury to starting post player Jamie Armstrong that had her miss three games.
The Lady Cheesemakers had some tough games along the way, including a season-opening overtime loss to Elkhorn, a 22-point loss to Verona on Jan. 3, and a 17-point loss to Waunakee Feb. 1. When Monroe lost to Waunakee for the second time in as many games Feb. 22, the confidence could have disappeared.
Instead, the girls became focused, reeling off five wins to get to the Alliant Energy Center and a chance at a state title.
Even with that accomplishment under its belt, Monroe wasn't regarded as the favorite at state. That was Grafton, the defending state champion.
Monroe's first-round opponent, Altoona, probably was favored, too. The Railroaders had won their last 18 games entering the tournament, and of the games they won, none were by less than double digits until regionals.
The Lady Cheesemakers made it through it all, and are a prime example of why athletes should never quit striving for that end goal.
Monroe believed. Who's next?
