MONROE — A story written and re-written throughout the centuries has been a son trying to live up to his father’s legacy. From kings and emperors to modern day athletics, the plot line doesn’t change.

Here at home, the Cheesemakers have a similar story about to unfold. Monroe wrestling coach Tom Witt was the 1989 champion in the 160-pound weight class, finishing with a record of 37-1. 

Monroe junior Alex Witt, Tom’s son, is but a few wins away from filling his father’s shoes.

“It means a lot to me,” Alex said of reaching state. “It would mean a lot more for me to get my name on the wall.”

Monroe High School lists the names of all wrestlers who have placed at state on the wall in the gym. Varsity wrestlers over the last four decades could look over their shoulder to see other alums who placed at state. 

“My goal all year was to make it to state. The next goal is to be on the podium,” Alex said.

After finishing college, Tom Witt found his way back to Monroe as a teacher and coach. He’s in his seventh season as the head varsity wrestling coach and at the Feb. 16 sectional in Adams-Friendship was able to see the fruits of his son’s labor (qualifying for state) from the best seat in the house — folding chairs on the corner of the mat.

“It’s rewarding. The extra work he’s put in, the extra training sessions and getting mentally right, it’s very satisfying to watch,” Tom Witt said.

Alex said he’s looked up to his dad’s accomplishments and is ready to write his own chapter in the story

“I’m sure a lot of people know my dad went to state, and people will probably expect me to be good at state,” Alex said. “I won’t change my approach. I’ll still have the same mindset.”

Tom said he was nervous as a parent the week leading up to the sectional. At this point, he leaves his trust in what he and his coaching staff, including his brother John Witt, an assistant coach on the team, have instilled in Alex and the rest of the program’s grapplers.

“That’s why we wrestle at Bi-State and some of these other tournaments. It’s very competitive, and Bi-State is at the La Crosse Convention Center, so it’s a big arena, too,” Tom said. “We do that in hopes that they don’t get wide-eyed later on.”

For senior night, Alex wore his father’s singlet from the state championship. It earned him a victory that day, and Alex said he might bust it out again on the state’s biggest stage in hopes of rekindling some of the outfit’s magic.

“I’ll probably stick with my original singlet for the first match,” Alex said. “If I win, I’ll probably put (my dad’s) on. It means a lot to me.”

Asking the wrestling gods to rekindle some of the singlet’s magic might not be a bad move. Alex (42-7) will face off with Barron senior William Waldofski (30-2) in the opening round of the WIAA Division 2 170-pound state tournament Feb. 21 at 7:15 p.m. Waldofski is the No. 2-ranked wrestler in the state at 170-pounds in Division 2. He was upset early in the sectional and by rule finished in third. 

“It’s a tough draw. That kid was sixth last year at 160. Alex has to win that first match if he wants a shot at standing on the podium,” Tom said.

Should Alex win and move on, Reece Worachek (38-5), a junior from Luxemburg-Casco awaits in Round 2. Worachek is the top-rated wrestler in the class. Witt was honorable mention, getting a top-15 ranking prior to the sectionals.

Fellow Monroe junior Bodie Minder also qualified for the state meet at 220-pounds, pinning all three of his opponents.

“I knew that the quicker I beat them the easier the day would be for me,” Minder said. “Since the beginning of the year to Bi-State to now, I’ve had some big jumps. I’ve become more offensive and less defensive.”

As sectional champion, Minder automatically receives a first-round bye and two guaranteed matches. The first round is set for second-place sectional qualifiers to go against a third-place opponent from another sectional. 

Minder (39-8) will face either Mac Strand (33-4) of Xavier or Sheboygan Falls senior Connor Pierce (32-12). While Minder is ranked eighth in the state power rankings, Strand is 11th and Pierce is top-15. If Minder gets one win in either of his two guaranteed matches, he will be wrestling for a spot on the podium. 

“The bonus is both of these guys (Alex and Bodie) are juniors. Whatever happens this year, they’ll have all offseason to get ready for it again next year,” Witt said.

D2: Hauri gets final shot

Brodhead-Juda senior Jackson Hauri has now qualified for state all four years of high school. As a freshman at Orfordville Parkview, Hauri was fifth at 106 pounds. After transferring to Brodhead-Juda, Hauri was knocked out with a first-round loss at state as a sophomore.

A year ago, Hauri lost to Evansville-Albany’s Nolan Kicmol in the state title match. Two weeks earlier, Hauri bested Kicmol in the regional final.

“(I’ve) definitely been a man on a mission. I’ve put everything aside. This is my last go-round and I want to make everything count,” Hauri said. “I’m trying not to focus on winning that state championship — obviously that’s my goal — but I’m trying to take it one match at a time.”

The state’s top-ranked wrestler at 152, Hauri (38-2) was the sectional champion and awaits either Wisconsin Lutheran senior Jason Bonow (28-3) or Barron’s Tristan Massie (36-4) in the second round. Oconto Falls freshman Clayton Whiting (45-3) is the No. 2 wrestler in the state, and is sitting as a possible showdown matchup in the 7 p.m. slot on Friday for Hauri.

Hauri said there are many local DIII colleges looking to be his home the next four years, as well as some DI locations, like Minnesota. Hauri isn’t sure yet what he’s going to decide to do next fall, but mostly because he’s got his eyes focused on upcoming weekend and his quest for the elusive state championship.

“Previous experiences help, but I’ve got to clear my mind and focus on me and focus how I’m going to do it, envision the matches and go out and run my stuff,” Hauri said.

Sugar River qualified two wrestlers to state — senior heavyweight Daniel Enloe and sophomore Joe Quaglia at 126 pounds.

Enloe (31-11) faces Tomahawk’s Tony Matti (39-11) in the first round. The winner will get Wisconsin Lutheran’s Isaiah Hahm (33-10). Matti and Hahm were both ranked in the top 17 in the state.

Quaglia (28-12) jumped up a weight class from 120 to 126. He qualified for state in 2018 as a 106-pound freshman. Quaglia will face Baldwin-Woodville’s Jordan Bonte (37-3) in the first round, with Port Washington junior Blake Peiffer (10-1) awaiting the winner. Bonte was a state wrestler a year ago at 132-pounds and is the No. 4-ranked wrestler in the state, while Peiffer is ranked fifth and coming off a broken leg that hampered much of his season. A season ago, Peiffer was a state qualifier at 106 in Division 1.

D3: Ubersox back for more

Darlington-Black Hawk’s Kolbe Ubersox is already the program’s most successful wrestler in terms of career wins and pins. But the senior has made three prior trips to state and has a fifth- and third-place finish to show for it.

Ubersox, the No. 3 wrestler in Division 3 at 138 pounds, knocked off second-ranked Trevor Wanek (30-14) of Fennimore in the sectional final. That clinched Ubersox (36-4) a bye in the first round of the tournament. He’ll face either Cumberland’s Reid Olson (41-3) or Gillet/Suring’s Sam Lemens (35-7) in the quarterfinals. Olson dropped from 145-pounds before the postseason began and went from ranked third at 145 to first at 138. Lemens is the No. 8 wrestler in the state.

Also wrestling for the WarBirds is junior heavyweight Leif Brederson (35-5). Bredeson, ranked seventh, will take on either Winnebago Lutheran Academy’s Ryan Jacobs (39-4) or Clear Lake’s Sam Dusek (23-4). Jacobs is ranked fourth in the state, while Dusek is a top-15 wrestler.

Pecatonica-Argyle junior Easton Schraepfer (40-8) faces Coleman’s Bryce Karban (40-8) in the opening round. The winner get’s Random Lake’s Aiden Vandenbush (42-3) in the second round. Karban is ranked No. 3, while Vandenbush is second.

Noah Krahenbuhl (26-4) is making his second trip to the state tournament. The Vikings sophomore qualified a year ago as a freshman. Now wrestling at 120-pounds, Krahenbuhl matches up with Cedar Grove-Belgium’s Cael Erickson (40-3) in the first round, with Weyauwega-Fremont’s Cian Fischer (44-0) awaiting in Round 2. Fischer dropped down one weight class and is the top-ranked grappler for either the 120- or 126-pound classes. Erickson is ranked eighth, two sports ahead of Krahenbuhl, who is 10th.