MONROE - For Aaron Hesgard, it was about taking the tough step from being a good wrestler to being great.
For Ryan Hughes, it was about sweet redemption.
Hesgard and Hughes each recorded impressive victories to account for two of the Monroe wrestling team's four individual triumphs in a 50-21 loss to perennial Badger Conference power Stoughton on Tuesday night.
Hesgard, a junior needed just a few seconds in overtime to post a 12-10 decision over Stoughton senior Nick Urso, who's ranked ninth in the at 126 pounds in latest Division 1 state rankings.
Hughes, a sophomore, pinned the Vikings' Tom Wisersky in 1 minute, 18 seconds in the 160-pound match - flipping the result from a year ago when Wisersky got the first-period pin.
Juniors Dusty Burkhalter (182 pounds) and Trevor Gorr (220) also won by fall in the featured match for the Cheesemakers (7-7, 1-2 Badger South), who defeated Madison Edgewood/Monona Grove 60-12 earlier in the evening.
Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson was thrilled with the performances of all four winners vs. Stoughton (8-2, 3-2), but particularly the efforts of Hesgard and Hughes.
"The (Urso) kid is ranked in Division 1 and is somebody probably no one picked Aaron to win against," Jackson said. "But we know Aaron is a good wrestler. We've know that all along.
"Aaron wrestled probably one of the better matches he has all year long. Hopefully that gets in his own head and tells him that, 'Hey, I do have the stuff to hang with these (marquee) guys. He's always been a good wrestler, but he's trying to go to that next level of being a great wrestler. Hopefully this helps him take that next step."
Hesgard wasted little time asserting himself, scoring four quick points after Urso's attempted upper-body move didn't pan out. He was even more assertive in overtime, ending the match with an immediate takedown.
"I knew it was good competition going in. I just wanted to stick it out and go six minutes and be fundamentally sound," Hesgard said. "It makes me feel more confident and let's me know I can win the tougher matches. I just have to go out there and wrestle fundamentally."
Stoughton coach Dan Spilde was impressed with Hesgard's effort.
"He gave us fits last year," Spilde said of Hesgard. "We knew he was good at keeping position and we knew he didn't make a lot of mistakes. (Urso's) stomach wasn't very good, as was evident (two regurgitations), but that's not an excuse."
Hughes said he "finally put everything together" in knocking off Wisersky. His coach agreed wholeheartedly.
"I think he's starting to get it," Jackson said of Hughes. "He's got great hips and great athletic ability and he used to rely on those things too much - almost to a fault. Now that he's figured out that if combines those things and uses the skill and moves we teach him, he's getting better."
Like Hesgard, Hughes was clearly the aggressor.
"I shot faked, he went down, I did a snap and ended up with a front headlock," Hughes recounted. "I ended up with a near ankle and after that happened, he just went right over.
"It was night to get that win. Coming out and being (Wisersky) would definitely be one of my highlights of the season."
Gorr pinned Stoughton's Danny Olson in 1:59 and Burkhalter stopped Mac Shumaker in 3:04.
"(Gorr) is kind of a monster. You can see how powerful he is" Spilde said. "(Burkhalter) wrestled very well. We have a guy (Shumaker) we're pretty proud of there as well, and (Burkhalter) put an end to that one."
In the opening match Edgewood/MG, junior Jesse Keizer (120 pounds, 1:02), Hesgard (132, 2:35), junior Kevin Klopfenstein (138, 1:44) and junior Rustin Alton (145, :50) recorded pins.
The Cheesemakers return to action Saturday, when they host their 10-team invitational. The wrestling begins at 9:30 a.m.
For Ryan Hughes, it was about sweet redemption.
Hesgard and Hughes each recorded impressive victories to account for two of the Monroe wrestling team's four individual triumphs in a 50-21 loss to perennial Badger Conference power Stoughton on Tuesday night.
Hesgard, a junior needed just a few seconds in overtime to post a 12-10 decision over Stoughton senior Nick Urso, who's ranked ninth in the at 126 pounds in latest Division 1 state rankings.
Hughes, a sophomore, pinned the Vikings' Tom Wisersky in 1 minute, 18 seconds in the 160-pound match - flipping the result from a year ago when Wisersky got the first-period pin.
Juniors Dusty Burkhalter (182 pounds) and Trevor Gorr (220) also won by fall in the featured match for the Cheesemakers (7-7, 1-2 Badger South), who defeated Madison Edgewood/Monona Grove 60-12 earlier in the evening.
Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson was thrilled with the performances of all four winners vs. Stoughton (8-2, 3-2), but particularly the efforts of Hesgard and Hughes.
"The (Urso) kid is ranked in Division 1 and is somebody probably no one picked Aaron to win against," Jackson said. "But we know Aaron is a good wrestler. We've know that all along.
"Aaron wrestled probably one of the better matches he has all year long. Hopefully that gets in his own head and tells him that, 'Hey, I do have the stuff to hang with these (marquee) guys. He's always been a good wrestler, but he's trying to go to that next level of being a great wrestler. Hopefully this helps him take that next step."
Hesgard wasted little time asserting himself, scoring four quick points after Urso's attempted upper-body move didn't pan out. He was even more assertive in overtime, ending the match with an immediate takedown.
"I knew it was good competition going in. I just wanted to stick it out and go six minutes and be fundamentally sound," Hesgard said. "It makes me feel more confident and let's me know I can win the tougher matches. I just have to go out there and wrestle fundamentally."
Stoughton coach Dan Spilde was impressed with Hesgard's effort.
"He gave us fits last year," Spilde said of Hesgard. "We knew he was good at keeping position and we knew he didn't make a lot of mistakes. (Urso's) stomach wasn't very good, as was evident (two regurgitations), but that's not an excuse."
Hughes said he "finally put everything together" in knocking off Wisersky. His coach agreed wholeheartedly.
"I think he's starting to get it," Jackson said of Hughes. "He's got great hips and great athletic ability and he used to rely on those things too much - almost to a fault. Now that he's figured out that if combines those things and uses the skill and moves we teach him, he's getting better."
Like Hesgard, Hughes was clearly the aggressor.
"I shot faked, he went down, I did a snap and ended up with a front headlock," Hughes recounted. "I ended up with a near ankle and after that happened, he just went right over.
"It was night to get that win. Coming out and being (Wisersky) would definitely be one of my highlights of the season."
Gorr pinned Stoughton's Danny Olson in 1:59 and Burkhalter stopped Mac Shumaker in 3:04.
"(Gorr) is kind of a monster. You can see how powerful he is" Spilde said. "(Burkhalter) wrestled very well. We have a guy (Shumaker) we're pretty proud of there as well, and (Burkhalter) put an end to that one."
In the opening match Edgewood/MG, junior Jesse Keizer (120 pounds, 1:02), Hesgard (132, 2:35), junior Kevin Klopfenstein (138, 1:44) and junior Rustin Alton (145, :50) recorded pins.
The Cheesemakers return to action Saturday, when they host their 10-team invitational. The wrestling begins at 9:30 a.m.
