MADISON - Two of Monroe High School's three wrestlers who qualified for the WIAA Division 2 state tournament are moving on after winning preliminary matches Thursday at the Kohl Center.
Both Monroe seniors Cole Murray at 138 pounds and Hayden Arneson (195) advance. Eight of the 11 state qualifiers from the area are still alive for a medal and will wrestle in the quarterfinals today.
Murray (34-11), ranked sixth at 138 in the Wisconsin Online Division 2 poll, defeated Kewaskum sophomore Alex Deheck 7-4. Locked in a tie with Deheck late in the third period, Murray pulled off a thrilling win. Murray scored the go-ahead point on an escape with 25 seconds to go to take a 5-4 lead. He then closed the match strong with a takedown.
"It's great," Witt said. "It's his senior year and first match at the Kohl Center."
Murray trailed 2-0 early on in the first period. He scored on an escape and got a takedown at the end of the first period to take a 3-2 lead. That set the stages for a nail-biting finish.
"Cole is hard to hold down," Witt said. "He's pretty quick. I had confidence that he would get the escape."
Murray will wrestle second-ranked New London senior Scott Cook (31-2) today.
"He's capable of wrestling with anyone as long as he has the right mind," Witt said of Murray.
Arneson (32-5), ranked fourth at 195 in Division 2, pinned New Holstein senior Matt Buechel in 3 minutes, 22 seconds in his preliminary match. Arneson will wrestle second-ranked Hunter Luepke (36-2) in a quarterfinal match today.
"He's a high-energy kid," Witt said of Arneson. "He has to learn to relax a little bit."
Witt is confident that Arneson will be ready to wrestle today for a shot at the semifinals.
"I want to make sure he's ready to go six minutes and gives himself a chance to win," Witt said. "I expect a lot of energy from Hayden. It will be a battle."
Monroe junior Sam Kind's season came to an end Thursday. Martin Luther senior Mikey Rohleder (160) pinned Kind in 40 seconds.
"He may have been a little more nervous," Witt said of Kind. "It was his first time at state. Sam is usually a wrestler who can grind out matches and stays in good position. He didn't give himself a chance."
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Jackson Hauri's season also came to an end. Wrightstown freshman Ben Durocher beat Hauri 7-2 in a preliminary match.
Evansville-Albany senior Chase Katzenmeyer (126) beat Melrose-Mindoro's Les Lakey 11-5, and senior Nolan Kicmol (32-2) defeated Barron senior Noah Massie on a pin in 3:02.
In Division 3, Black Hawk-Darlington sophomore Kolbe Ubersox (41-3) at 132 defeated Shiocton junior Sawyer Theobald 12-8. Junior teammate Tyler Mosley edged Carter Merth of Spring Valley-Elmwood 7-6. Ubersox advances to wrestle Horicon junior Bill Condon (36-10) and Mosley will wrestle Random Lake senior Helton Vandenbush (43-1) in quarterfinals.
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Prestan Rosenstiel's season came to a close at state. Edgar sophomore Will Raatz defeated Rosenstiel (182) in a technical fall 18-1 in 2:54.
Both Monroe seniors Cole Murray at 138 pounds and Hayden Arneson (195) advance. Eight of the 11 state qualifiers from the area are still alive for a medal and will wrestle in the quarterfinals today.
Murray (34-11), ranked sixth at 138 in the Wisconsin Online Division 2 poll, defeated Kewaskum sophomore Alex Deheck 7-4. Locked in a tie with Deheck late in the third period, Murray pulled off a thrilling win. Murray scored the go-ahead point on an escape with 25 seconds to go to take a 5-4 lead. He then closed the match strong with a takedown.
"It's great," Witt said. "It's his senior year and first match at the Kohl Center."
Murray trailed 2-0 early on in the first period. He scored on an escape and got a takedown at the end of the first period to take a 3-2 lead. That set the stages for a nail-biting finish.
"Cole is hard to hold down," Witt said. "He's pretty quick. I had confidence that he would get the escape."
Murray will wrestle second-ranked New London senior Scott Cook (31-2) today.
"He's capable of wrestling with anyone as long as he has the right mind," Witt said of Murray.
Arneson (32-5), ranked fourth at 195 in Division 2, pinned New Holstein senior Matt Buechel in 3 minutes, 22 seconds in his preliminary match. Arneson will wrestle second-ranked Hunter Luepke (36-2) in a quarterfinal match today.
"He's a high-energy kid," Witt said of Arneson. "He has to learn to relax a little bit."
Witt is confident that Arneson will be ready to wrestle today for a shot at the semifinals.
"I want to make sure he's ready to go six minutes and gives himself a chance to win," Witt said. "I expect a lot of energy from Hayden. It will be a battle."
Monroe junior Sam Kind's season came to an end Thursday. Martin Luther senior Mikey Rohleder (160) pinned Kind in 40 seconds.
"He may have been a little more nervous," Witt said of Kind. "It was his first time at state. Sam is usually a wrestler who can grind out matches and stays in good position. He didn't give himself a chance."
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Jackson Hauri's season also came to an end. Wrightstown freshman Ben Durocher beat Hauri 7-2 in a preliminary match.
Evansville-Albany senior Chase Katzenmeyer (126) beat Melrose-Mindoro's Les Lakey 11-5, and senior Nolan Kicmol (32-2) defeated Barron senior Noah Massie on a pin in 3:02.
In Division 3, Black Hawk-Darlington sophomore Kolbe Ubersox (41-3) at 132 defeated Shiocton junior Sawyer Theobald 12-8. Junior teammate Tyler Mosley edged Carter Merth of Spring Valley-Elmwood 7-6. Ubersox advances to wrestle Horicon junior Bill Condon (36-10) and Mosley will wrestle Random Lake senior Helton Vandenbush (43-1) in quarterfinals.
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Prestan Rosenstiel's season came to a close at state. Edgar sophomore Will Raatz defeated Rosenstiel (182) in a technical fall 18-1 in 2:54.
