MONROE — The Cheesemakers enter the 2021-22 wrestling season with a solid core of experienced wrestlers.

With a full schedule back as well, Monroe wrestlers will have ample opportunity to continue improving and showing their worth. “There’s potential for 4-5 state qualifiers,” Monroe head coach Tom Witt said of his roster.

Seniors Brady Schuh is a two-time state qualifier and finished sixth in the state at 138 pounds in Division 2 last season. Juniors Jack Dubach (132-138) and Isaac Bunker (285) finished third and fourth at sectionals and return. There are four other seniors back: Ryan Holst (152-160); Garrett Voegeli (120-126); Jace Amacher (160-170); and Liam Hermanson (170-182); plus junior Anthony Wels (145-152) and sophomore (Christian Schuh, 126-132).

Hermanson lettered as a freshman, but sat the past two seasons before returning to the sport for his senior year. Voegeli was a sectional qualifier as a sophomore, but broke his collarbone last season. 

New to the Cheesemakers roster are three freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors — Alex Hernandez and Austin Fuchs, who are coming off a football season where they saw their efforts and team success soar.

Witt, now in his 10th year at the helm, said the team’s experience is will a strength, but that his wrestlers will have to avoid COVID-19 related issues.

His goals then are simple, “Stay healthy, push it hard in practice, and be ready for regionals,” Witt said. “We need to stay healthy and hopefully have no COVID-related shutdowns. We have our normal schedule again this year and would like to fill all 14 varsity weights.”

He expects Baraboo and Sauk Prairie to battle for Badger West supremacy.