RICHLAND CENTER - Monroe freshman Kevin Klopfenstein has made a big impact on the mat and continues turning heads as a rookie prep wrestler.
He won a championship at 119 pounds, to accompany seven Monroe wrestlers who placed in the top four of their weight classes as the Cheesemakers rolled to a third place finish at the Richland Center Invitational Saturday.
Klopfenstein continued an impressive rookie season with a 10-1 win over Richland Center junior James Kaderavek. Klopfenstein, who went 3-0 at the tournament, defeated Ithaca-Weston's Nick Laack 7-1 in the semifinals to get a chance at the title.
"He really dominated his weight class and took home the championship, he just looked really solid, didn't make mistakes and continues to look very mature in how he wrestles considering he is only a freshman," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said.
River Valley edged Waukon Senior, Iowa 228.5-227 to win the Richland Center Invite. Monroe had a trio of wrestlers finish second, including junior Dylan Schwitz (145), senior Mason Goff (152) and senior Dillon Weckerly (171).
"Every week we talk about how the competition will get better and better for us as we go through the season and it will continue to do so, but this has always been a very good tournament with some great teams so for us to come out of this is third place is impressive," Jackson said. "I can't wait to see what we can do when we fill some of those holes in our lineup."
Schwitz, a WIAA Division 2 state qualifier last year, went 2-1 on the day. He pinned Pecatonica-Argyle junior Eli Davis in 3:58 in the semifinals to advance to the finals. In the title match, he lost to Waukon Senior's Mitch Berns 7-2. Davis finished fourth for the Vikings after he was pinned in a third-place match by Baraboo junior Mubarak Kiyamar in 2:54.
Goff and Weckerly each finished the tournament 2-1. Goff, at 152 pounds, defeated Riverdale's Garrett Lowe 10-6 in the semifinals, but in the championship match he was pinned by Holmen's Ian Hackett in 2:50.
Jackson said Goff wrestled one of the best matches in his career during the semifinals.
"He really showed some heart and his hard work is paying off," Jackson said.
Weckerly (171) pulled out a 3-2 semifinal win over Heritage Christian's Cole Fraser to advance to the title match. In the championship match, Weckerly lost to Riverdale's Tyler Ryan 8-6.
"Dylan Schwitz and Dillon Weckerly continue to prove why they are the leaders on this team; sometimes we forget how well they are doing because they show it week in and week out and it becomes expected but they are really wrestling well," Jackson said.
The Cheesemakers received big production from the upper weight classes in addition to Weckerly. Monroe senior Josh Mayer (189), junior Nick Walker (heavyweight) and freshman Trevor Gorr (215) went a combined 8-3 at the tournament.
Walker, who went 3-1 at the tournament, defeated Pecatonica-Argyle's Ross Gilbertson 7-0 to seal a third-place finish. Gilbertson, who usually wrestles 215, went 2-2 on the day and finished fourth. Gilbertson defeated Darlington senior Mark Brugger, who was a state qualifier last year, 5-4.
Gorr (215) went 3-1 and won a third-place match over Darlington's Brandon Heins 3-2. Gorr just missed a chance to wrestle in the title match after a 7-6 semifinal loss to Boscobel's Caleb Curtis. Fellow freshman Aaron Hesgard at 103 went 3-1 on the day, and he pinned Riverdale's Jrarid Ingallas in 2:18 to take third place.
Darlington finished sixth (185 points), which was just one point away from fifth-place Riverdale. Darlington junior Matt McDaniel (140) went 3-0 at the tournament and won the championship after defeating Waukon Senior's Garrett McKenna 11-8. Darlington senior Devin Malott's dream of an unbeaten season at 125 pounds came to a halt after losing a title match to Ithaca-Weston's Nate Duren 7-2.
Darlington senior Tanner Andrews (189) pinned Mayer in 2:03 to capture third place. Colton Hackett (160) took fourth place. The Redbirds had three other wrestlers finish in the top five of their weight classes. Darlington sophomore Bo Brunkow (112), Bruce King (171) each took fifth.
Sugar River senior Ben Schmitt (160) went 3-0 at the tournament and won a title at 160. Schmitt defeated Belmont-Platteville sophomore Dusty Jentz, who was a state qualifier last year, for the championship.
Sugar River senior Dylan Riley finished second at 135. Riley defeated Riverdale's Alex Beckius 7-6 in the semifinals to advance to the finals. In the title match, he lost to Ithaca-Weston's Austin Clary 6-2.
The Raiders finished 10th out of 15 teams. The Raiders also received a fourth-place finish from Dan Nolden (152) and Mike Nolden (171) as well as fifth-place results from Brooks Hendrickson (130) and senior Tom Vetterli (145).
Monroe wrestles at the Bi-State Classic at La Crosse Dec. 28-29.
He won a championship at 119 pounds, to accompany seven Monroe wrestlers who placed in the top four of their weight classes as the Cheesemakers rolled to a third place finish at the Richland Center Invitational Saturday.
Klopfenstein continued an impressive rookie season with a 10-1 win over Richland Center junior James Kaderavek. Klopfenstein, who went 3-0 at the tournament, defeated Ithaca-Weston's Nick Laack 7-1 in the semifinals to get a chance at the title.
"He really dominated his weight class and took home the championship, he just looked really solid, didn't make mistakes and continues to look very mature in how he wrestles considering he is only a freshman," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said.
River Valley edged Waukon Senior, Iowa 228.5-227 to win the Richland Center Invite. Monroe had a trio of wrestlers finish second, including junior Dylan Schwitz (145), senior Mason Goff (152) and senior Dillon Weckerly (171).
"Every week we talk about how the competition will get better and better for us as we go through the season and it will continue to do so, but this has always been a very good tournament with some great teams so for us to come out of this is third place is impressive," Jackson said. "I can't wait to see what we can do when we fill some of those holes in our lineup."
Schwitz, a WIAA Division 2 state qualifier last year, went 2-1 on the day. He pinned Pecatonica-Argyle junior Eli Davis in 3:58 in the semifinals to advance to the finals. In the title match, he lost to Waukon Senior's Mitch Berns 7-2. Davis finished fourth for the Vikings after he was pinned in a third-place match by Baraboo junior Mubarak Kiyamar in 2:54.
Goff and Weckerly each finished the tournament 2-1. Goff, at 152 pounds, defeated Riverdale's Garrett Lowe 10-6 in the semifinals, but in the championship match he was pinned by Holmen's Ian Hackett in 2:50.
Jackson said Goff wrestled one of the best matches in his career during the semifinals.
"He really showed some heart and his hard work is paying off," Jackson said.
Weckerly (171) pulled out a 3-2 semifinal win over Heritage Christian's Cole Fraser to advance to the title match. In the championship match, Weckerly lost to Riverdale's Tyler Ryan 8-6.
"Dylan Schwitz and Dillon Weckerly continue to prove why they are the leaders on this team; sometimes we forget how well they are doing because they show it week in and week out and it becomes expected but they are really wrestling well," Jackson said.
The Cheesemakers received big production from the upper weight classes in addition to Weckerly. Monroe senior Josh Mayer (189), junior Nick Walker (heavyweight) and freshman Trevor Gorr (215) went a combined 8-3 at the tournament.
Walker, who went 3-1 at the tournament, defeated Pecatonica-Argyle's Ross Gilbertson 7-0 to seal a third-place finish. Gilbertson, who usually wrestles 215, went 2-2 on the day and finished fourth. Gilbertson defeated Darlington senior Mark Brugger, who was a state qualifier last year, 5-4.
Gorr (215) went 3-1 and won a third-place match over Darlington's Brandon Heins 3-2. Gorr just missed a chance to wrestle in the title match after a 7-6 semifinal loss to Boscobel's Caleb Curtis. Fellow freshman Aaron Hesgard at 103 went 3-1 on the day, and he pinned Riverdale's Jrarid Ingallas in 2:18 to take third place.
Darlington finished sixth (185 points), which was just one point away from fifth-place Riverdale. Darlington junior Matt McDaniel (140) went 3-0 at the tournament and won the championship after defeating Waukon Senior's Garrett McKenna 11-8. Darlington senior Devin Malott's dream of an unbeaten season at 125 pounds came to a halt after losing a title match to Ithaca-Weston's Nate Duren 7-2.
Darlington senior Tanner Andrews (189) pinned Mayer in 2:03 to capture third place. Colton Hackett (160) took fourth place. The Redbirds had three other wrestlers finish in the top five of their weight classes. Darlington sophomore Bo Brunkow (112), Bruce King (171) each took fifth.
Sugar River senior Ben Schmitt (160) went 3-0 at the tournament and won a title at 160. Schmitt defeated Belmont-Platteville sophomore Dusty Jentz, who was a state qualifier last year, for the championship.
Sugar River senior Dylan Riley finished second at 135. Riley defeated Riverdale's Alex Beckius 7-6 in the semifinals to advance to the finals. In the title match, he lost to Ithaca-Weston's Austin Clary 6-2.
The Raiders finished 10th out of 15 teams. The Raiders also received a fourth-place finish from Dan Nolden (152) and Mike Nolden (171) as well as fifth-place results from Brooks Hendrickson (130) and senior Tom Vetterli (145).
Monroe wrestles at the Bi-State Classic at La Crosse Dec. 28-29.
