MONROE — The Cheesemakers have been decimated by injuries and COVID-19 in recent weeks, and entered a Badger Conference dual with Oregon knowing victory was unlikely.
“Like a lot of other schools, we’re dealing with a lot of COVID and injuries,” said Tom Witt, Monroe’s coach. “We’re only wrestling eight guys, so you’re pretty much defeated before you even step on the mat. Sometimes that gets into kids’ heads.”
In all, the Cheesemakers forfeited 6 of the 14 scheduled matches, with Oregon forfeiting just one.
“We were down 36-6 after forfeits. You erase those, then what’s the score? It’s close,” said Witt, referencing the 24-22 score of wrestled matches.
Monroe’s Garrett Minder led off the night with a 69-second pin at 106 pounds over Raven Ringhand. In the next wrestled match, Garrett Voegeli gave the Cheesemakers their second win, an 8-0 major decision over Dakota Brown. Christian Schuh followed at 132 with a pin in just 79 seconds of Ramiro Ramos.
At 138, Jack Dubach was pinned by Brandon Liddle at 138. “Jack was home sick yesterday, and he’s not 100%,” Witt said.
Monroe’s Brady Schuh, who is nursing a hip injury, won via forfeit at 145 pounds. It was the only forfeit of the night for the Panthers.
At 152, Monroe’s Ryan Holst lost via pin just six seconds before time ran out in the first period.
“Our matchups weren’t good for what they had. Their best wrestler is at 152, he’s 20-1 right now. Brady is our best, but he’s nursing a hip flexor injury right now, and it didn’t seem like the right thing to do for me to have him go out – giving up the weight and all. If he was healthy, I probably would have done that just to have a good matchup,” Witt said.
In the next match, Jace Amacher went down via pin in 59 seconds. In the last varsity match of the night, Monroe’s Austin Fuchs was pinned at the 1:50 mark by
Karl Brooks at 220 pounds.
“We’re missing (Isaac) Bunker (at 285), he’s at home in quarantine,” Witt said. “COVID has really come through. With the quarantine stuff, a guy tests positive, and his practice partner can’t come to practice. It’s just a trickle-down effect. It is what it is, and we have to deal with the adversity.”
Brodhead-Juda competes at River Valley tourney
SPRING GREEN – Marcus McIntyre was second, and three teammates finished fourth at the Rick Lawinger Invitational at River Valley High School Jan. 15.
McIntryre (20-1) lost to Iowa-Grant/Highland’s Caden Lindner in the 138-pound championship. Earlier in the day, he defeated Mineral Point’s Colbi Carey 6-0, then pinned Waunakee’s Gabe Gurlaski in the semifinal.
Taking fourth place for the Cardinals were Jacob Roth (106), Jacob Lohmar (113) and Emmitt Allen (220).
Iowa-Grant/Highland won the meet with 211 team points, with Reedsburg (173) second and Mineral Point (113) third. Brodhead-Juda was eighth.
Oregon 60, Monroe 22
At Monroe, Jan. 13
106: Garrett Minder (M) over Raven Ringhand (O)
(Fall 1:09)
113: Carson Stebbins (O) over (M) (For.)
120: Evan McGill (O) over (M) (For.)
126: Garrett Voegeli (M) over Dakota Brown (O)
(MD 8-0)
132: Christian Schuh (M) over Ramiro Ramos (O)
(Fall 1:19)
138: Brandon Liddle (O) over Jack Dubach (M)
(Fall 1:39)
145: Brady Schuh (M) over (O) (For.)
152: Seth Niday (O) over Ryan Holst (M) (Fall 1:54)
160: John Ruth (O) over Jace Amacher (M) (Fall 0:59)
170: Turner Sieren (O) over (M) (For.)
182: Cammron Hall (O) over (M) (For.)
195: Tyler Wald (O) over (M) (For.)
220: Karl Brooks (O) over Austin Fuchs (M) (Fall 1:50)
285: Paxton Krengel (O) over (M) (For.)
