FORT ATKINSON — Monroe lost a dual match 43-28 to Fort Atkinson Jan. 30. The Cheesemakers collected six wins in the 14 events.
At 106, Jack Dubach recorded the only forfeit of the night for Monroe, which then got a pin by Garrett Voegeli at 113 in the next match. Two weight classes later, at 126-pounds, Brady Schuh pinned his opponent in just 34 seconds.
“Garrett Voegeli and Brady Schuh made quick work of their opponents,” said Monroe head coach Tom Witt.
The Blackhawks then strung together four straight pins to take a 30-18 advantage. The lead was increased by three when Max Patterson lost a 7-2 decision.
Patrick Rielly stopped the bleeding with a 13-3 major decision win over Eli Koehler at 170 pounds. The 182-pound match between Alex Witt and Thomas Witkins was the highlight of the night, with each wrestler ranked in the state throughout the year.
“That was a huge matchup at 182. Witkins has been ranked No. 2 or 3 in Division 1 most of the year, while Alex is No. 2 in Division 2,” Tom Witt said. “At the start of the match, Alex made a mistake and left his arm up high out of position and Witkins was able to put him to his back, earning two points on a takedown plus two for a near-fall.”
Alex Witt trailed 4-0 after the first period and won the toss, choosing to stay neutral. Staying focused, Alex scored a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2, but gave up another point on an escape.
“With some hard-fought pummeling, Alex finished a fireman’s carry to put Witkins on his back,” Tom Witt said. The move scored two takedown points, plus a 3-point near-fall, giving the Monroe senior a 7-5 lead.
Witkins chose neutral before the third period, but was never able to score the takedown needed to even the score.
“Alex was actually the more aggressive wrestler, coming close to two more takedowns before the third period would end,” Tom Witt said. “This was a big match for Alex to come out with the victory. It will help with his seed at the conference tournament.”
First-year wrestler Deion Hargrove then suffered a 13-5 loss at 195. Kelsey Dominguez returned to the mat after suffering an illness, but was pinned in the 220-pound match in the second period.
In the heavyweight class, Bodie Minder scored a 7-1 win for the Cheesemakers.
“Bodie was not quite himself before the match, but gutted out (the win),” Tom Witt said. “We had some chances in other matches to come out on top, but made mistakes that cost us. We have to do a better job of wrestling smart, staying in good position as well as keeping things simple in the technique that we are using.”
Monroe’s next day on the mat in competition is Feb. 8 at the Badger Conference Tournament in Watertown.
Pec-Argyle wins Ridge & Valley Conf. duals
KICKAPOO — Pecatonica-Argyle took first place at the Ridge and Valley Conference duals tournament, held Jan. 30. Ithaca/Weston was second, Kickapoo/La Farge was third, River Ridge/Cassville fourth, North Crawford/Seneca fifth and De Soto sixth.
The Vikings went unbeaten in all five duals, winning by a combined score of 326-71, or an average score of 65.2-14.2.
Eight Pecatonica-Argyle wrestlers recorded wins in all five matches, while two had four wins and another three.
Ridge Toay (106), Hunter Rodebaugh (113), Dawson Gross (120), Noah Krahenbuhl (126), Dakota Doescher (132), Tayte Hirsch (195), Dalton Turner (170, 182) and Easton Schraepfer (160, 170) all scored five wins on the day. Kristian Orloff (138) was 4-1, as was Zander Brunker (152, 160). Chevy Hughes was 3-0 at 145.
Brodhead-Juda 42, Sugar River 31
BRODHEAD — The Cardinals used the help of six forfeits to knock off the Raiders in a nonconference dual Jan. 30.
Sugar River scored points on just one Brodhead-Juda forfeit (220 pounds), and the two schools had a double-forfeit at 120 pounds. Of the six wrestled matches, Sugar River won five.
In the 113-pound match, Sugar River’s Nathan Balderas beat Matthew McCullough by pin with just three seconds left in the first period.
At 126, Brian Hollis pinned Brodhead-Juda’s Seth Mansfield 41 seconds into the third period.
Joe Quaglia scored a win for the Raiders in the 132-pound match, defeating Braden Erb by an 11-0 major decision. In the next match, Avery Lettman gave the Raiders six more team points with a second-period pin of Mlorio Reyes.
At 152-pounds, Sugar River’s Robert Chenoweth won an 8-4 decision over Brian McCullough. In the last match of the night at 170, Brodhead-Juda’s Cole Hoesly pinned Patrick Samon in 35 seconds.
Wisconsin Dells Invite
WISCONSIN DELLS — Sugar River took three wrestlers to the Wisconsin Dells Invitational Feb. 1.
At 152 pounds, Robert Chenoweth finished third, going 3-1 on the day.
Brian Hollis was fifth at 126 pounds, winning four of his five matches. At 138-pounds, Avery Lettman went 2-2 and did not place.
