MONROE - Monroe wrestling coach Jeriamy Jackson has to get on junior Jesse Keizer from time to time about his tendency to slip into "backyard wrestling."
"He reverts to that scrambling, backyard wrestling instead of using good technique, and that's a problem," Jackson said. "If he'd use good technique, he'd blow guys away."
Jackson reminded Keizer of that when he experienced some undisciplined moments in the deciding match against Evansville-Albany on Thursday night.
Keizer responded, pinning E-A's Skyler Mullen in 4 minutes, 33 seconds to give the Cheesemakers a 36-33 victory - their first dual-match triumph of the season.
Monroe trailed 33-30 entering the 120-pound finale.
"It was a lot of pressure, but I just told myself I was going to do it," Keizer said.
Keizer had leads of 3-2 after one period and 5-4 after two - Mullen recording a late reversal in the second period to tighten things up. He might've had a bigger lead going to the third period were it not for a couple of lapses in technique.
Keizer said the "backyard wrestling" characterization is fair, and blamed it on battles at home with brothers Sam and John.
"In the beginning I did (wrestle undisciplined) a little bit and the coaches yelled at me, so I got back on track," Keizer said of the deciding match. "I was going for a major decision and the pin just came with it."
But not without some anxious moments for Jackson.
"I don't know if I ever feel real good because Jesse can be a really, really good wrestler, but he puts himself in some bad positions," Jackson said. "When it comes down to it, he usually pulls it out. He just gives us heart attacks along the way."
The Cheesemakers' parents night crowd was treated to five pins in all - Kevin Klopfenstein (138 pounds), Caleb Rupnow (152), Ryan Hughes (160) and Trevor Gorr (220) also recording falls as Monroe built a lead.
But it was a pin that didn't happen - Monroe's Troy Gorr battling E-A's Ben Reed hard at 185 pounds before losing 3-2 - that Jackson was talking about after the match. Reed received honorable mention in this week's Division 2 state rankings.
"Troy Gorr did an amazing job," Jackson said. "That's a ranked kid and Troy's job was to not get pinned - and he almost won. That's the kind of stuff you need."
Aaron Hesgard and Brett Zimmerman posted victories by decision for Monroe.
Robert Crull (106), Hayden Milz (132) and Ethan Rossmiller recorded falls for
E-A, while Evan Benedict (170) and Alex Yoerger (182) won by decision. Brandon Robinson won by forfeit at 113.
It was the second dual loss against eight victories for E-A.
"They wrestled better than us, that's what it amounts to," E-A coach Robert Kostrum said. "Both teams are pretty close and they did a good job and we got our butts kicked.
"Every one of those matches was up for grabs. No one got blown out. You've got to win the close ones and we didn't win enough of them."
The Cheesemakers were coming off a strong showing at the Bi-State Classic in La Crosse, but Jackson said the hard-fought dual victory comes at a good time.
"We've been close all year. All the guys wrestle tough - I haven't been concerned about that all year long," Jackson said. "But we haven't come out on the right side of it. Usually it's because we have a couple open holes in our (lineup) and we're always fighting from behind.
"Tonight, some matches fell the right way for us. The guys who needed to do their job did their job, and that's what it was all about."
The Cheesemakers will compete in a dual format at the Verona Invitational on Saturday, with Badger Conference showdowns against perennial powers Stoughton and Milton waiting after that.
"We have to get the good times in when we can," Jackson quipped.
"He reverts to that scrambling, backyard wrestling instead of using good technique, and that's a problem," Jackson said. "If he'd use good technique, he'd blow guys away."
Jackson reminded Keizer of that when he experienced some undisciplined moments in the deciding match against Evansville-Albany on Thursday night.
Keizer responded, pinning E-A's Skyler Mullen in 4 minutes, 33 seconds to give the Cheesemakers a 36-33 victory - their first dual-match triumph of the season.
Monroe trailed 33-30 entering the 120-pound finale.
"It was a lot of pressure, but I just told myself I was going to do it," Keizer said.
Keizer had leads of 3-2 after one period and 5-4 after two - Mullen recording a late reversal in the second period to tighten things up. He might've had a bigger lead going to the third period were it not for a couple of lapses in technique.
Keizer said the "backyard wrestling" characterization is fair, and blamed it on battles at home with brothers Sam and John.
"In the beginning I did (wrestle undisciplined) a little bit and the coaches yelled at me, so I got back on track," Keizer said of the deciding match. "I was going for a major decision and the pin just came with it."
But not without some anxious moments for Jackson.
"I don't know if I ever feel real good because Jesse can be a really, really good wrestler, but he puts himself in some bad positions," Jackson said. "When it comes down to it, he usually pulls it out. He just gives us heart attacks along the way."
The Cheesemakers' parents night crowd was treated to five pins in all - Kevin Klopfenstein (138 pounds), Caleb Rupnow (152), Ryan Hughes (160) and Trevor Gorr (220) also recording falls as Monroe built a lead.
But it was a pin that didn't happen - Monroe's Troy Gorr battling E-A's Ben Reed hard at 185 pounds before losing 3-2 - that Jackson was talking about after the match. Reed received honorable mention in this week's Division 2 state rankings.
"Troy Gorr did an amazing job," Jackson said. "That's a ranked kid and Troy's job was to not get pinned - and he almost won. That's the kind of stuff you need."
Aaron Hesgard and Brett Zimmerman posted victories by decision for Monroe.
Robert Crull (106), Hayden Milz (132) and Ethan Rossmiller recorded falls for
E-A, while Evan Benedict (170) and Alex Yoerger (182) won by decision. Brandon Robinson won by forfeit at 113.
It was the second dual loss against eight victories for E-A.
"They wrestled better than us, that's what it amounts to," E-A coach Robert Kostrum said. "Both teams are pretty close and they did a good job and we got our butts kicked.
"Every one of those matches was up for grabs. No one got blown out. You've got to win the close ones and we didn't win enough of them."
The Cheesemakers were coming off a strong showing at the Bi-State Classic in La Crosse, but Jackson said the hard-fought dual victory comes at a good time.
"We've been close all year. All the guys wrestle tough - I haven't been concerned about that all year long," Jackson said. "But we haven't come out on the right side of it. Usually it's because we have a couple open holes in our (lineup) and we're always fighting from behind.
"Tonight, some matches fell the right way for us. The guys who needed to do their job did their job, and that's what it was all about."
The Cheesemakers will compete in a dual format at the Verona Invitational on Saturday, with Badger Conference showdowns against perennial powers Stoughton and Milton waiting after that.
"We have to get the good times in when we can," Jackson quipped.
