MONROE — The Cheesemakers won just two of five wrestled matches, but picked up an easy dual victory over Oregon thanks to a litany of forfeits. The Panthers gave up points for eight weight classes and both teams double-forfeited the 120-pound weight class as Monroe went on to win 58-18 Dec. 21.

The Monroe High School Performing Arts Center hosted Senior Night, and it was the second season in a row the PAC had been utilized.

“Last year we did it with Milton because of a reschedule and a scheduling conflict. We didn’t have a choice other than going to the middle school,” Monroe coach Tom Witt said. 

Witt had heard of UW-Platteville using its PAC, as well as Oregon against Stoughton two years ago. 

“I measured to see if it would fit, and it barely does — we’ve got about a foot of an opening on each side in the front,” he said.  “We get good lighting, good sound system and being up on that stage it’s a little bit of a different atmosphere — so it’s pretty cool.”

Count senior Grant Gogin is a fan of wrestling in the MHS PAC.

“This was awesome. It was great with the spotlight, we’ve got stuff on the projectors — it just really boosted the mood,” Gogin said. “When it’s all dark and it’s just you and the lights, it’s pretty awesome. I hope we can do this in years to come.”

The Cheesemakers won just two of the five weight classes that were wrestled — Jaden Clark (145) topped Turner Sieren and Gabe Witt (152) pinned Cooper King.

“I knew going in that some of the weights we were definitely out-matched, and the result that happened was probably going to happen. And again, we’ve got young guys on our team — we’ve only got two seniors — so that happens sometimes where you are just physically outmatched. Getting pinned is sometimes the result of it,” coach Witt said.

Clark led 2-0 after a takedown in the first period and scored another takedown and a near-fall in the second to go ahead 7-0. An escape in the third capped the 9-0 victory.

Gabe Witt, one of Monroe’s two seniors, had a takedown in the first to go up 2-0 and then pinned King with just 16 seconds left in the period.

“It feels good having that self-confidence that you’re doing good in front of your team and in front of your parents, your friends, and especially tonight, on Senior Night,” Gabe Witt said.

Monroe’s Dakota Wickstrum lost to Michael Schliem via pin in the first period of the 126 match. Cheesemakers freshman Jace Amacher was pinned just 37 seconds into the 138-pound match against Oregon’s John Ruth.

The only other match wrestled was at 182, where Gogin lost to Oregon senior Robbie Ruth, a ranked wrestler in Division 1.

“For him to get to the second period and fought hard, and Gabe came through with some good technique and turned his kid and pinned him — it was a good night for our seniors,” coach Witt said.

Ruth went up 2-0 on a takedown, but Gogin made it 2-1 after an escape in the first period. Ruth went on to lead 9-2 after the first and later pinned Gogin midway through the second.

“The kid, he was pretty strong. He wasn’t letting me get a whole lot of tie-ups on my feet, it made taking a shot pretty hard,” Gogin said. “I think I learned some from this match — I definitely learned a lot about effort. If I would have come into the match and thought, ‘Man, this kid is ranked in the state,’ I could have gone in with a poor attitude and wrestled like a fish. But I think I did pretty well, given the circumstances. I fought hard.”

Gogin lost a pre-season wrestle off with Logan Clark for the varsity 182 spot, but coach Witt had no issue letting his second senior wrestle on Senior Night — especially with the outcome of the dual meet not being a factor.

“He was appreciative of the opportunity, and he did a great job,” coach Witt said.

Both Gogin and Gabe Witt are enjoying their final days with the program they have grown to know so well.

“I only have a few more moments left with the team and making memories like this. I’m trying to keep myself in shape and keep a good work ethic, because this is going to be the last organized sport I’m going to be in. I’m just trying to make the most of it and getting as good of a record as I can,” Gogin said. “I’m just trying to make my last season last as long as possible. I’m going to work hard in practice and hopefully earn back a varsity spot.”

While Gabe Witt’s uncle, Tom, is the team’s head coach, Gabe’s father, John, is one of the team’s four coaches.

“It was a lot of fun being coached by my uncle and my dad. It’s been a lot of years of hard work, and it’s going to be done soon,” said Gabe, a licensed pilot who plans on studying aerospace engineering in Arizona after high school. “It’s almost like yesterday we just started as freshmen getting on the mat, and now we are halfway through our season for our senior year and you just wonder where it all went.”

Monroe was scheduled to wrestle in La Crosse at the annual Bi-State tournament Dec. 28. From there, the season is half over.

“We have a really good team here. Everyone is working hard in the practice room and making each other better,” Gabe Witt said. “We have a lot of new guys out this season, which is awesome. I’m excited for this team for years to come. I think we have something special brewing for the future.”