MONROE - Brett Zimmerman received clearance to wrestle after recovering from a fractured elbow two days before the season started last week.
Zimmerman, a Monroe senior heavyweight, showed no ill effects from an elbow injury that robbed him several games of the football season. Zimmerman pinned Milton's Hunter Nelson in 3 minutes, 17 seconds. He was one of two Cheesemaker wrestlers to post wins in a 63-9 dual meet loss to Milton Friday. Two weeks ago, Zimmerman, a state qualifier last year, went to the doctor when his arm started hurting again.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to be back," Zimmerman said. "I got cleared last Wednesday. I have my range of motion back. I still have to build strength in it (elbow) after not using it for like two months. I have to get back into the swing of things. I have to work hard and get back to the Brett Zimmerman I know I can be."
The other win for the Cheesemakers came from senior Austin Minder at 195 pounds. Minder scored on an escape and takedown in the first period to take a 3-0 lead against Randy Lipke. Minder was able to hang on for a 4-0 win. With the win, Minder improved to 6-0 this year.
"I gave it my all," Minder said. "It's great. Hard work has truly paid off."
Monroe (0-6) was in position to win several other matches against the Red Hawks. Milton junior Bowen Wileman defeated Monroe sophomore Traiten Gorr (182) in a heartbreaker 5-3, Monroe freshman Cole Murray (126) lost a nail-biter to Milton sophomore Tristan Woods 4-2 and Monroe sophomore McKenzy Foley (145) lost a hard fought match to freshman Billy Pitzner 7-2. The Red Hawks racked up six pins including John McCarthy (170), Dalton Shea (106), Levi Garrett (113), Alex Chesmore (138), Evan Whitehead (152) and Kaleb Crane (160) and the Cheesemakers forfeited three weight classes including 120, 132 and 220.
"I told them after they wrestled that I'm really proud of the way they battled tonight," Monroe coach Tom Witt said. "They (Milton) are usually good down at the lower weights. From what I have seen this year, Milton will probably be ranked in the top 10 in Division 1. They are strong top to bottom."
Witt also liked the fact that Zimmerman was tested early on in his match. Nelson took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first period.
"It was good for Zimm to get tested and challenged and then come back to pin him," Witt said.
Minder continued his unbeaten start to the season. There are no secrets to his success.
"With Austin there is nothing flashy about him," Witt said. "He stays in good position and doesn't get on his back. He's just that consistent truck that keeps on going."
Gorr wrestled one of the most exciting matches of the meet. He and Wileman were scoreless entering the third period. Lipke scored on a takedown with 1 minute, 23 seconds left to take a 2-0 lead. Gorr scored on an escape and scored on a takedown with 17 seconds to go to tie the match at 3. Lipke right before the buzzer scored on a reversal to win the match.
Murray had another match that came down to the wire at 126. He trailed 2-0 to start the third period against Woods. Murray scored on a reversal with 1:37 to go to tie the match at 2. Nine seconds later, Woods returned the favor scoring on a reversal to pull out a 4-2 win. Murray is one of four freshmen starting for the Cheesemakers.
"He (Murray) just has to keep battling," Witt said. "I told him he will probably beat that kid later in the year. It's good to have those high expectations, but you don't want that to frustrate you."
With eight freshmen and sophomores in the starting lineup, the Cheesemakers are young, but Zimmerman has been impressed by the work ethic many of the young wrestlers have displayed.
"I have never seen freshmen work as hard as they have been working," Zimmerman said. "I believe in all of them. They are my family."
Monroe will wrestle in the Raider Scramble tournament today in Belleville. Minder isn't focused on winning the tournament. He just wants to keep wrestling strong and let the results fall into place.
"I just want to go and do the best I can do," Minder said. "Only time can tell."
Zimmerman, a Monroe senior heavyweight, showed no ill effects from an elbow injury that robbed him several games of the football season. Zimmerman pinned Milton's Hunter Nelson in 3 minutes, 17 seconds. He was one of two Cheesemaker wrestlers to post wins in a 63-9 dual meet loss to Milton Friday. Two weeks ago, Zimmerman, a state qualifier last year, went to the doctor when his arm started hurting again.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to be back," Zimmerman said. "I got cleared last Wednesday. I have my range of motion back. I still have to build strength in it (elbow) after not using it for like two months. I have to get back into the swing of things. I have to work hard and get back to the Brett Zimmerman I know I can be."
The other win for the Cheesemakers came from senior Austin Minder at 195 pounds. Minder scored on an escape and takedown in the first period to take a 3-0 lead against Randy Lipke. Minder was able to hang on for a 4-0 win. With the win, Minder improved to 6-0 this year.
"I gave it my all," Minder said. "It's great. Hard work has truly paid off."
Monroe (0-6) was in position to win several other matches against the Red Hawks. Milton junior Bowen Wileman defeated Monroe sophomore Traiten Gorr (182) in a heartbreaker 5-3, Monroe freshman Cole Murray (126) lost a nail-biter to Milton sophomore Tristan Woods 4-2 and Monroe sophomore McKenzy Foley (145) lost a hard fought match to freshman Billy Pitzner 7-2. The Red Hawks racked up six pins including John McCarthy (170), Dalton Shea (106), Levi Garrett (113), Alex Chesmore (138), Evan Whitehead (152) and Kaleb Crane (160) and the Cheesemakers forfeited three weight classes including 120, 132 and 220.
"I told them after they wrestled that I'm really proud of the way they battled tonight," Monroe coach Tom Witt said. "They (Milton) are usually good down at the lower weights. From what I have seen this year, Milton will probably be ranked in the top 10 in Division 1. They are strong top to bottom."
Witt also liked the fact that Zimmerman was tested early on in his match. Nelson took an early 2-0 lead with a takedown in the first period.
"It was good for Zimm to get tested and challenged and then come back to pin him," Witt said.
Minder continued his unbeaten start to the season. There are no secrets to his success.
"With Austin there is nothing flashy about him," Witt said. "He stays in good position and doesn't get on his back. He's just that consistent truck that keeps on going."
Gorr wrestled one of the most exciting matches of the meet. He and Wileman were scoreless entering the third period. Lipke scored on a takedown with 1 minute, 23 seconds left to take a 2-0 lead. Gorr scored on an escape and scored on a takedown with 17 seconds to go to tie the match at 3. Lipke right before the buzzer scored on a reversal to win the match.
Murray had another match that came down to the wire at 126. He trailed 2-0 to start the third period against Woods. Murray scored on a reversal with 1:37 to go to tie the match at 2. Nine seconds later, Woods returned the favor scoring on a reversal to pull out a 4-2 win. Murray is one of four freshmen starting for the Cheesemakers.
"He (Murray) just has to keep battling," Witt said. "I told him he will probably beat that kid later in the year. It's good to have those high expectations, but you don't want that to frustrate you."
With eight freshmen and sophomores in the starting lineup, the Cheesemakers are young, but Zimmerman has been impressed by the work ethic many of the young wrestlers have displayed.
"I have never seen freshmen work as hard as they have been working," Zimmerman said. "I believe in all of them. They are my family."
Monroe will wrestle in the Raider Scramble tournament today in Belleville. Minder isn't focused on winning the tournament. He just wants to keep wrestling strong and let the results fall into place.
"I just want to go and do the best I can do," Minder said. "Only time can tell."
