OREGON — The Cheesemakers were just one pin away from a victory in their dual with Oregon on Friday, Jan. 13. The Panthers won 42-36 with two forfeits in their favor.

Kabian Ramos (182) opened the match scoring six points for Monroe. He pinned Cameron Pagel with just nine second left in the first period. Oregon tied it up with their own pin.

Austin Fuchs (220) and Isaac Bunker (285) gave Monroe an 18-6 lead with pins of their own, but Oregon got those 12 points right back with two forfeits.

Andy Pollock (120) gave the Panthers a lead with his pin of Garrett Minder, but Jaden Liestiko (126) responded to pin Ramiro Ramos to tie the match again.

Oregon pulled ahead once again with Tomas Neumann’s (132) pin. Monroe scored the next nine points, though, with a 6-5 decision from Connor Eckdahl (138) and pin by Jack Dubach (145). 

The Panthers countered, recorded two pins at 152 and 160. Seth Niday’s (160) pin decided the match — even if Braedyn Nally (170) pinned Landon Schulz, Oregon would have won 42-39. Nally still won his match, though, by a 7-0 decision.

NORSKIE INVITE

DEFOREST — Monroe traveled to DeForest on Saturday, Jan. 14 for the Norskie Invite, where the Cheesemakers finished eight of 17 teams with 245 points.

Bunker (285) was the lone champ, pinning his way to victory. He received a first-round bye then pinned his next three opponents in less than a minute. His fastest match was just 21 seconds in the quarterfinals.

Dubach was runner up in the 145-pound bracket. He, too, received a first-round bye. In the quarterfinals, he bested Evan Stevenson by an 11-1 major decision. He followed that up with a pin of Jaden Denman before falling to Tyson Imhoff 5-2 in the championship.

Minder (113) took fifth, while Eckdahl (138) and Fuchs (220) finished seventh. 

Christian Schuh (152), Alex Anastacio (195), Liestiko (120) and Nally (170) all finished 11th, while Joe Rufenacht (160) took 12th.