MONROE — The Cheesemakers opened the Badger South wrestling season with a home dual win over Fort Atkinson 48-27 Nov. 30.
Monroe had pinned four Blackhawks and won nine of the 14 matches – included two forfeits – to take the W.
“There were mistakes, but I thought we did pretty good. We dictated the pace of our matches,” Monroe head coach Tom Witt said. “The start of the season in any sport — whether it’s wrestling, football or basketball — you are kind of in the unknown of how things will go.”
After Julian Gruber opened the match with a 2-0 loss in the 195-pound class to Fort’s Thomas Witkins, the Cheesemakers won the next three – which included a forfeit at 106 and a pair of pins by Kelsey Domingez and Bodie Minder. Domingez pinned Seth Draeger at 220 in just 58 seconds, and Minder won the heavyweight bout in just 54 seconds with a pin against Keegan Findlay.
Leading 18-9, Monroe’s Lukas Broitzman pinned Dominic Hebbe in the 120 match in just 30 seconds to make it 24-9. Two matches later, Dakota Wickstrum pinned Cesar Valadez at 2:51 to score the Cheesemakers another six points.
“Lukas has never wrestled before this year,” coach Witt said.
Monroe later got wins from Liam Hermanson (major decision 16-5) at 145 and Gabe Witt (forfeit) at 152 that sealed the win. Logan Clark won the 160 match for Monroe with a technical fall at 5:47 (19-2), and Alex Witt defeated Louis Jones at 170 in a 10-7 decision.
Monroe’s Grant Gogin (182), Austin Smiley (138), Zach Roper (126) and Kyle Haldiman (113) were all pinned.
Dec. 1: Janesville Parker Duals
Monroe went 3-2, going 2-1 in pool play and 1-1 as the top teams advanced. First the Cheesemakers lost to Edgerton in a tight match that could have gone differently. Junior Patrick Rielly is on the mend due to a shoulder injury, and in another match, Wickstrum was up 6-0 before getting pinned.
“That’s a big point swing,” coach Witt said. Monroe would then go on to defeat Kenosha Bradford and Milwaukee Hamilton in pool play. “Kenosha Bradford is traditionally a solid program.”
After advancing out of pool play, Monroe lost to Random Lake, a team-state qualifier last year, 43-30 but defeated Janesville Parker 45-33.
Minder wrestled the entire day at heavyweight and went unbeaten. He is 6-0 this season with all six wins coming via pin. Alex Witt is also 6-0. Domingez, Gruber and Brady Schuh all went 4-1 on Saturday.
Minder and Domingez will flip flop between 220 and 285 this season based on matchups, coach Witt said.
“We’re a young team — we only have two seniors. That’s why you hope to see a Random Lake or a Kenosha Bradford — to get an idea of where you are at,” coach Witt said. “Now it gets tough.”
The Cheesemakers are back in action Dec. 7 at defending state champion Stoughton. The following day Monroe travels to the Sugar River Invitational in New Glarus.
