BELMONT — The Cheesemakers traveled to Belmont Jan. 22 for a double-dual against River Valley and Belmont-Platteville. Monroe lost both duals, though competed well in the matches that were wrestled.
Against River Valley, Monroe fell 30-21. The two sides had five double-forfeits, while Monroe scored a solo forfeit at 126 pounds, and River Valley had two at 195 and 220.
In the 113-pound match, Monroe’s Jack Dubach pinned Braden Prochaska in 69 seconds. Brady Schuh picked up a 4-1 decision at 138 pounds, and Isaac Bunker won in 25 seconds in the heavyweight match against Brett Bindle.
“Schuh had a tough opponent. Jennings was a sectional qualifier last year. We knew we had a good matchup with Brady. Brady wrestled hard and smart,” Monroe coach Tom Witt said. “Both Brady Schuh and Jack Dubach are wrestling well right now as we near the regional tournament.
River Valley’s Cole White pinned Anthony Wels in 61 seconds in the 132-pound match. At 152, Monroe’s Max Patterson was pinned in 1:55 by Landon Radke. Ryan Holst, wrestling for Monroe at 160, lost to Keeghan Kjos by pin in 92 seconds.
In a 17-15 loss to Belmont-Platteville, just five matches were wrestled.
Schuh won at 138 against Dylan Taber, 9-7. Schuh fell behind 3-2 after the first period, and Taber, also a sectional qualifier last season, scored on an escape to open the second. Schuh then took a 2-point lead after a takedown and a near-fall.
Monroe lost the other four matches.
Wels fell 10-0 to John Burbach at 132, while Patterson lost to Tanner Paulson 9-1 at 152. In the 160 match, Holst fell 6-0. Bunker was pinned in 82 seconds by Michael Douglas, the state’s No. 1 heavyweight in Division 2.
“Isaac started the match pummeling aggressively, not backing down from Douglas,” Witt said. “Isaac is only a sophomore and has really improved from last season both on the mat and also with his strength gains in the wright room. We expect big things from Isaac in the next two years.”
The regional tournament is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 30 at Evansville. Only the top two finishers in each weight class will advance to sectionals. Schuh and Dubach are both unbeaten at 6-0 this season, while Bunker is 4-2.
