MADISON - Brodhead-Juda junior Hunter Colden and Monroe junior Kevin Klopfenstein closed out their seasons by winning their first medals at the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament at the Kohl Center on Saturday.
"It's just a dream," Klopfenstein said of winning a sixth place medal at state.
Klopfenstein (38-13) at 132 pounds lost a controversial fifth place match to Sparta senior Derek VonRuden, 2-1. Klopfenstein scored on an escape in the second period and had a 1-0 lead heading into the third period. Klopfenstein got called for stalling twice in the third period, consequently awarding VonRuden with a point, and VonRuden escaped with about 10 seconds left to break the tie and defeat Klopfenstein 2-1.
"Kevin's strong suit is his ability to ride," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "I didn't agree with the referee's call. Kevin was trying to work cross faces and trying to turn him. For some reason because he couldn't turn him the ref called stalling and thought it wasn't wrestling. It was a very crappy way to end the state tournament. I would rather see the kids decide who wins and not the referee."
Colden (43-5) finished fourth at 170. He lost a third place match 9-1 to Bloomer-Cofax senior Levi Nayes. Colden was in a position to wrestle for third place after hanging on and defeating Saint Croix Falls senior Jake Radamacher 6-5 in a wrestleback. He had a 3-2 lead going into the third period. He scored on a reversal and near fall and was able to hang on.
"It's just cool to place," Colden said. "It's just a relief and a monkey off my back."
In his first wrestleback match against Ellsworth senior Roarke Langer, Klopfenstein trailed 2-0 early on after Langer scored on a reversal. Both Klopfenstein and Langer, who was a state champion at 125 last year, were called for stalling.
"I feel like I can wrestle with anyone even if they are a state champion," Klopfenstein said. "I feel like I could have beat him if I would have wrestled him again."
After winning his first medal at state, Klopfenstein said he looks forward to trying to become a three-time state qualifier next year.
"I feel like it has put a fire in me so I can place higher," he said.
Colden had a lot of accomplishments to relish. He set the record for most wins in a season (43) and handed Belmont-Platteville's Dusty Jentz, the 182-pound state champion, his only lost this season. Colden has 122 career wins, which is just one away from tying the school record.
"It was my goal since I stepped on the mat my freshman year to break that," Colden said. "I didn't think I would be that close after my junior year. My main goal is to be the first state champ."
And after all they accomplished this season, Klopfenstein and Colden have one more year of wrestling ahead of them. That realization, combined with their successes this year, can be quite a driving force. Jackson agreed.
"Getting that taste of the medal stand and being so close to a higher place on the medal stand will drive him," Jackson said.
"It's just a dream," Klopfenstein said of winning a sixth place medal at state.
Klopfenstein (38-13) at 132 pounds lost a controversial fifth place match to Sparta senior Derek VonRuden, 2-1. Klopfenstein scored on an escape in the second period and had a 1-0 lead heading into the third period. Klopfenstein got called for stalling twice in the third period, consequently awarding VonRuden with a point, and VonRuden escaped with about 10 seconds left to break the tie and defeat Klopfenstein 2-1.
"Kevin's strong suit is his ability to ride," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "I didn't agree with the referee's call. Kevin was trying to work cross faces and trying to turn him. For some reason because he couldn't turn him the ref called stalling and thought it wasn't wrestling. It was a very crappy way to end the state tournament. I would rather see the kids decide who wins and not the referee."
Colden (43-5) finished fourth at 170. He lost a third place match 9-1 to Bloomer-Cofax senior Levi Nayes. Colden was in a position to wrestle for third place after hanging on and defeating Saint Croix Falls senior Jake Radamacher 6-5 in a wrestleback. He had a 3-2 lead going into the third period. He scored on a reversal and near fall and was able to hang on.
"It's just cool to place," Colden said. "It's just a relief and a monkey off my back."
In his first wrestleback match against Ellsworth senior Roarke Langer, Klopfenstein trailed 2-0 early on after Langer scored on a reversal. Both Klopfenstein and Langer, who was a state champion at 125 last year, were called for stalling.
"I feel like I can wrestle with anyone even if they are a state champion," Klopfenstein said. "I feel like I could have beat him if I would have wrestled him again."
After winning his first medal at state, Klopfenstein said he looks forward to trying to become a three-time state qualifier next year.
"I feel like it has put a fire in me so I can place higher," he said.
Colden had a lot of accomplishments to relish. He set the record for most wins in a season (43) and handed Belmont-Platteville's Dusty Jentz, the 182-pound state champion, his only lost this season. Colden has 122 career wins, which is just one away from tying the school record.
"It was my goal since I stepped on the mat my freshman year to break that," Colden said. "I didn't think I would be that close after my junior year. My main goal is to be the first state champ."
And after all they accomplished this season, Klopfenstein and Colden have one more year of wrestling ahead of them. That realization, combined with their successes this year, can be quite a driving force. Jackson agreed.
"Getting that taste of the medal stand and being so close to a higher place on the medal stand will drive him," Jackson said.
