MADISON - Monroe High School senior Traiten Gorr's dream of wrestling for a WIAA state championship at the Kohl Center finally became a reality.
Gorr knocked off third-ranked Tomahawk senior Dane Borchardt 3-2 in an ultimate tiebreaker in the semifinals at 220 pounds Friday night.
Gorr (41-2), ranked No. 5 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, appeared to have pulled out a win in overtime. After Borchardt stepped away on the mat, Gorr took two steps back and raised his arm as time expired in the overtime. However, the official called him for stalling for the second time with 3 seconds to go to tie the match at 2 and force an ultimate tiebreaker. Since Gorr had scored first in the match, he got a choice if he wanted to go down, stay on top or neutral for the ultimate tiebreaker. He chose down and pulled off an escape to capture a thrilling win.
"It's been what I have been working for my whole career," Gorr said of the chance to wrestle for a state title tonight. "I've never felt this good before."
Gorr wasn't going to allow his second stalling call in the final 22 seconds of the overtime to derail his chance to wrestle for a gold medal.
"I knew I still had to wrestle the match out to win it," Gorr said. "I just kept my mind on the goal I wanted, and I achieved it."
Monroe coach Tom Witt questioned the call that forced the ultimate tiebreaker.
"I would say it was a bad call," Witt said. "Borchardt had given up. He was not attacking. (Gorr) still won. That is all that matters. Traiten wrestled smart. He was physical and wore him down."
Gorr will wrestle top-ranked Dodgeville senior Brady Wetter for a state title tonight. Wetter (28-0) has beaten Gorr twice this year, each time by pin.
Gorr is hoping to improve on his fourth-place finish at state last year.
"I know what I have to pinpoint," Gorr said. "I know I have to wrestle all three periods and wear him down like I did Borchardt. I have to wrestle hard for six minutes, and we will see what happens."
Gorr earned his berth in the semifinals by defeating Amery senior Eli Newton 6-2 in the quarterfinals in the afternoon. Gorr scored on a takedown in the first 20 seconds to take a 2-0 lead. With Gorr leading 4-2 late in the third period, he sealed the match on a takedown with 15 seconds to go.
Witt expects Gorr to wrestle hard for 6 minutes in the state championship match.
"That has been our mantra all year," he said. "It's great for Traiten. He came so close last year. That just fueled him."
Wisconsin Lutheran senior Quinton Reed (49-1), ranked No. 1, pinned Monroe junior Kyle Walter in a quarterfinal match in 1 minute, 9 seconds. In a consolation wrestleback, Columbus senior Brenden Lillo pinned Walter in 1:44.
"It's a heck of a season for Kyle," Witt said. "He's top eight at state."
In the match against Lillo, Walter went for a switch, and Witt said he just froze and didn't belly-down right away.
"I don't think he reacted quick enough," Witt said. "Hopefully, this will motivate him for next year to get on the podium."
Gorr knocked off third-ranked Tomahawk senior Dane Borchardt 3-2 in an ultimate tiebreaker in the semifinals at 220 pounds Friday night.
Gorr (41-2), ranked No. 5 in the Division 2 Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, appeared to have pulled out a win in overtime. After Borchardt stepped away on the mat, Gorr took two steps back and raised his arm as time expired in the overtime. However, the official called him for stalling for the second time with 3 seconds to go to tie the match at 2 and force an ultimate tiebreaker. Since Gorr had scored first in the match, he got a choice if he wanted to go down, stay on top or neutral for the ultimate tiebreaker. He chose down and pulled off an escape to capture a thrilling win.
"It's been what I have been working for my whole career," Gorr said of the chance to wrestle for a state title tonight. "I've never felt this good before."
Gorr wasn't going to allow his second stalling call in the final 22 seconds of the overtime to derail his chance to wrestle for a gold medal.
"I knew I still had to wrestle the match out to win it," Gorr said. "I just kept my mind on the goal I wanted, and I achieved it."
Monroe coach Tom Witt questioned the call that forced the ultimate tiebreaker.
"I would say it was a bad call," Witt said. "Borchardt had given up. He was not attacking. (Gorr) still won. That is all that matters. Traiten wrestled smart. He was physical and wore him down."
Gorr will wrestle top-ranked Dodgeville senior Brady Wetter for a state title tonight. Wetter (28-0) has beaten Gorr twice this year, each time by pin.
Gorr is hoping to improve on his fourth-place finish at state last year.
"I know what I have to pinpoint," Gorr said. "I know I have to wrestle all three periods and wear him down like I did Borchardt. I have to wrestle hard for six minutes, and we will see what happens."
Gorr earned his berth in the semifinals by defeating Amery senior Eli Newton 6-2 in the quarterfinals in the afternoon. Gorr scored on a takedown in the first 20 seconds to take a 2-0 lead. With Gorr leading 4-2 late in the third period, he sealed the match on a takedown with 15 seconds to go.
Witt expects Gorr to wrestle hard for 6 minutes in the state championship match.
"That has been our mantra all year," he said. "It's great for Traiten. He came so close last year. That just fueled him."
Wisconsin Lutheran senior Quinton Reed (49-1), ranked No. 1, pinned Monroe junior Kyle Walter in a quarterfinal match in 1 minute, 9 seconds. In a consolation wrestleback, Columbus senior Brenden Lillo pinned Walter in 1:44.
"It's a heck of a season for Kyle," Witt said. "He's top eight at state."
In the match against Lillo, Walter went for a switch, and Witt said he just froze and didn't belly-down right away.
"I don't think he reacted quick enough," Witt said. "Hopefully, this will motivate him for next year to get on the podium."
