MONROE - Traiten Gorr has set a high bar for the Monroe High School wrestling program by placing fourth at the WIAA Division 2 state tournament last year.
The Monroe senior added to that high standard by eclipsing 100 career wins already this young season.
Gorr entered Saturday's Janesville Parker dual tournament just two wins shy of 100. He went 5-0 in the tournament and defeated a Sauk Prairie wrestler by technical fall in 3 minutes, 27 seconds for his 100th career win.
"It's a good milestone," Gorr said. "I think it shows that I have been working hard for a while, and I have been getting better each year."
Gorr's total now stands at 103 wins. He could have a shot at the school record set by Kevin Klopfenstein, a 2013 Monroe High School graduate, who closed out his career with more than 150 wins and a fifth-place finish at 138 pounds at the Division 2 state meet.
Gorr will have a chance to add another win to his resume Friday when Monroe hosts Milton in a Badger South Conference dual. Milton is ranked No. 5 in the Division 1 state rankings.
"We all knew going into the season that it would be a tough match," Gorr said of the Red Hawks. "They have studs up and down the lineup. Milton and Stoughton are both ranked in Division 1. I think we will be able to compete in the Badger South and be up towards the top."
Setting a school record for wins wasn't even a goal on Gorr's radar to open the season. He finished fourth in the WIAA Division 2 state tournament last year at 220 and has his sights set on a second straight trip to state. Having a chance to set a school record would be just icing on the cake.
"I didn't really think about it until coach (Tom) Witt told me I was two wins away from 100 career wins on Saturday," he said. "It would mean a lot to win that one. It would show that I have put in a lot of hard work."
Gorr enters the season as one of the top wrestlers in the state at 220. Gorr is renowned as an instinctive and defensive wrestler who doesn't take a lot of risks by shooting for a takedown to put himself in a bad position.
"He (Gorr) has good mat savvy and has good instincts," Monroe coach Tom Witt said of Gorr last year. "He's deceptively strong. He may have a chance to set the school record this year."
Gorr understands wrestlers will be gunning for him now. He's ready to be a wrestler that is hunted this year.
"I'm going into it differently this year because people know who I am," he said. "I'm going into it thinking I'm going against a top-ranked wrestler every time. People know which side I like to shoot for. I have been working hard in practice on different takedowns and rides. I have to change it up a little bit to catch people off guard."
Gorr has been working to perfect his single leg takedowns, which includes a high crotch move. To execute the move, Gorr pulls his opponent's head down and then shoots to the leg at the high crotch area and lifts for a single leg takedown.
"I feel pressure to work harder and get to state on the podium and place even higher," Gorr said. "I feel pressure because everyone knows who I am."
Gorr is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Trevor Gorr, who placed
fifth at state in 2013 at 220 pounds.
There are many matches to wrestle this season, but Gorr is looking forward to the Bi-State Classic at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He took fourth at the tournament last season.
"It's a replica of state," he said of the competition that includes some of the state's top Division 1, 2 and 3 teams.
Gorr is garnering interest from colleges in wrestling at the next level. His mother is getting emails each day from prospective college programs.
He has not decided on what career he would like to pursue, but he is taking an apprenticeship course through Blackhawk Technical College where he works at Faith Engineering. He's getting two college credits this year.
He is putting any decision on wrestling in college on the backburner for now. He has received wrestling offers from UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and a private school in the Twin Cities.
"I'm waiting to see how this year goes and then I will make my decision," he said.
The Monroe senior added to that high standard by eclipsing 100 career wins already this young season.
Gorr entered Saturday's Janesville Parker dual tournament just two wins shy of 100. He went 5-0 in the tournament and defeated a Sauk Prairie wrestler by technical fall in 3 minutes, 27 seconds for his 100th career win.
"It's a good milestone," Gorr said. "I think it shows that I have been working hard for a while, and I have been getting better each year."
Gorr's total now stands at 103 wins. He could have a shot at the school record set by Kevin Klopfenstein, a 2013 Monroe High School graduate, who closed out his career with more than 150 wins and a fifth-place finish at 138 pounds at the Division 2 state meet.
Gorr will have a chance to add another win to his resume Friday when Monroe hosts Milton in a Badger South Conference dual. Milton is ranked No. 5 in the Division 1 state rankings.
"We all knew going into the season that it would be a tough match," Gorr said of the Red Hawks. "They have studs up and down the lineup. Milton and Stoughton are both ranked in Division 1. I think we will be able to compete in the Badger South and be up towards the top."
Setting a school record for wins wasn't even a goal on Gorr's radar to open the season. He finished fourth in the WIAA Division 2 state tournament last year at 220 and has his sights set on a second straight trip to state. Having a chance to set a school record would be just icing on the cake.
"I didn't really think about it until coach (Tom) Witt told me I was two wins away from 100 career wins on Saturday," he said. "It would mean a lot to win that one. It would show that I have put in a lot of hard work."
Gorr enters the season as one of the top wrestlers in the state at 220. Gorr is renowned as an instinctive and defensive wrestler who doesn't take a lot of risks by shooting for a takedown to put himself in a bad position.
"He (Gorr) has good mat savvy and has good instincts," Monroe coach Tom Witt said of Gorr last year. "He's deceptively strong. He may have a chance to set the school record this year."
Gorr understands wrestlers will be gunning for him now. He's ready to be a wrestler that is hunted this year.
"I'm going into it differently this year because people know who I am," he said. "I'm going into it thinking I'm going against a top-ranked wrestler every time. People know which side I like to shoot for. I have been working hard in practice on different takedowns and rides. I have to change it up a little bit to catch people off guard."
Gorr has been working to perfect his single leg takedowns, which includes a high crotch move. To execute the move, Gorr pulls his opponent's head down and then shoots to the leg at the high crotch area and lifts for a single leg takedown.
"I feel pressure to work harder and get to state on the podium and place even higher," Gorr said. "I feel pressure because everyone knows who I am."
Gorr is following in the footsteps of his older brother, Trevor Gorr, who placed
fifth at state in 2013 at 220 pounds.
There are many matches to wrestle this season, but Gorr is looking forward to the Bi-State Classic at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He took fourth at the tournament last season.
"It's a replica of state," he said of the competition that includes some of the state's top Division 1, 2 and 3 teams.
Gorr is garnering interest from colleges in wrestling at the next level. His mother is getting emails each day from prospective college programs.
He has not decided on what career he would like to pursue, but he is taking an apprenticeship course through Blackhawk Technical College where he works at Faith Engineering. He's getting two college credits this year.
He is putting any decision on wrestling in college on the backburner for now. He has received wrestling offers from UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and a private school in the Twin Cities.
"I'm waiting to see how this year goes and then I will make my decision," he said.
