FORT ATKINSON - The Monroe wrestling team had third place on the line in the Badger South Conference in the final regular season dual meet against Fort Atkinson Monday night, but let it off the hook.
Fort Atkinson edged the Cheesemakers 39-33 in the final dual meet before the Badger Conference tournament in Reedsburg Friday and Saturday.
The Cheesemakers received pins from senior Mason Goff at 152 pounds, senior Dillon Weckerly (171) and junior heavyweight Nick Walker.
Goff pinned Fort Atkinson's Codie Clarke in 3 minutes, 49 seconds. Weckerly pinned Nick Schulenburg in 1:42 and Walker stuck Marcus Crandall in 4:29.
Monroe wrestled without Dylan Schwitz (145) and Dusty Burkhalter (160) who were both out due to illness.
"If Dylan were in there we would have probably picked up a pin, but even at the least a three-point win for us is a nine-point swing in the match and gives us the victory 36-33," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "But we knew we would be without them going in and did everything we needed to do to be in a position to win the match. We had a couple of matches that we needed to go our way but it didn't happen tonight, its hard to count on young guys and put that kind of pressure on them but hopefully it makes them better for it in the end."
Monroe freshman Kevin Klopfenstein (119) defeated Sean Staude 5-1. The Cheesemakers also received wins from senior Josh Mayer (189) and Cory Kundert (215), who each won by forfeit.
"Everybody wrestled hard and we came out of it healthy; that is what matters going into the conference tournament," Jackson said. "Hopefully we can get our team back to full strength by Friday's conference tournament and especially for next week's regional."
Fort Atkinson edged the Cheesemakers 39-33 in the final dual meet before the Badger Conference tournament in Reedsburg Friday and Saturday.
The Cheesemakers received pins from senior Mason Goff at 152 pounds, senior Dillon Weckerly (171) and junior heavyweight Nick Walker.
Goff pinned Fort Atkinson's Codie Clarke in 3 minutes, 49 seconds. Weckerly pinned Nick Schulenburg in 1:42 and Walker stuck Marcus Crandall in 4:29.
Monroe wrestled without Dylan Schwitz (145) and Dusty Burkhalter (160) who were both out due to illness.
"If Dylan were in there we would have probably picked up a pin, but even at the least a three-point win for us is a nine-point swing in the match and gives us the victory 36-33," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "But we knew we would be without them going in and did everything we needed to do to be in a position to win the match. We had a couple of matches that we needed to go our way but it didn't happen tonight, its hard to count on young guys and put that kind of pressure on them but hopefully it makes them better for it in the end."
Monroe freshman Kevin Klopfenstein (119) defeated Sean Staude 5-1. The Cheesemakers also received wins from senior Josh Mayer (189) and Cory Kundert (215), who each won by forfeit.
"Everybody wrestled hard and we came out of it healthy; that is what matters going into the conference tournament," Jackson said. "Hopefully we can get our team back to full strength by Friday's conference tournament and especially for next week's regional."
