MONROE - After not making weight and having to wrestle up two weight classes at last year's regional wrestling tournament, Aaron Hesgard had something to prove this year.

The Monroe junior used last season as motivation, and now he is gearing up to wrestle in the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament tonight at the Kohl Center in Madison.

"I think coming into the regional, I had a monkey on my back," Hesgard said. "Making it to the sectional was a monkey off my back. I just came in under the radar. They really didn't know who I am. I made myself present."

Hesgard and Monroe junior Trevor Gorr, ranked fifth in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll at 220, will look to make their presence felt at the state tournament tonight. Hesgard (32-13), ranked 12th, will wrestle a preliminary match at state tonight against fourth-ranked Dylan Drephal (34-8) of Seymour. Gorr, (40-5), will wrestle Luxemburg-Casco's Luke Destiche.

The Division 2 field has 10 returning state champions, and Marshall senior Hunter Weber (52-0) at 126 is one of nine Division 2 wrestlers unbeaten heading into state. Weber is looking to become a three-time state champion and is 156-1 over the last three years. The 126-pound bracket also includes Wrightstown senior Brett Buechler, who won the title at 112 last season.

"I think outside this wrestling room, he was an underdog," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said of Hesgard. "We knew what kind of talent he had. It's no surprise to us."

Monroe junior Kevin Klopfenstein (37-10), who is ranked fifth at 132, and Brodhead-Juda junior Hunter Colden (41-3) both received byes in the preliminaries and won't wrestle until the quarterfinals on Friday.

Colden, ranked No. 2 at 170 pounds, is the first three-time state qualifier in the history of the Brodhead-Juda program. Colden is seeking his first win in a match at state.

"This year I have three goals," Colden said. "I want to win my first match, place and win a state championship."

The Cheesemaker trio of state qualifiers are the most since three made the trip in 2007. The Monroe triumvirate plans to get to Madison early to get down on the mats and soak the atmosphere all in before weigh-ins.

"I think it would be abnormal if they didn't have butterflies," Jackson said. "You don't want the first time they see that to be their first match. We want them to get down there and see the mat is the same size. It's a different level of competition."

Gorr understands if he's going to contend for a medal, it starts with the preliminary match. Oconto Falls senior Riley Delzer, will be shooting for his second straight title after winning the 215 weight class last year.

"I'm ranked fifth and I want to try to beat that," Gorr said. "I want to make it as far as I can and make it out of Thursday for sure. My ultimate goal was to make it to state. Placing would be even better."

If Gorr wins his preliminary match, he would wrestle Pewaukee's Dan Brown (32-17) Friday in the quarterfinals.

Jackson said the key for Gorr will be keeping his intensity up and staying aggressive. He struggles when he's not pushing the issue, Jackson said.

"It's just a mindset that he is going to go out there and you can't stop him," Jackson said. "All you can go by is their record and the name of the school. That doesn't necessarily mean everything. Every great school with a strong tradition doesn't mean (their wrestlers) are all great."

Klopfenstein will wrestle the winner of Luxemburg Casco's Zach Skarda (42-8) versus Osceola's Mitch Dulon (32-10) Friday morning. Ellsworth's Roarke Langer won the title at 125 last year, and he is expected to be a top contender at 132 this year.

Klopfenstein, a two-time state qualifier, hopes to be one as well as he shoots for his first state medal.

"Last year I was hoping to make it back," he said. "I just worked a lot harder this year. It's good to be back. Now my goal is to place."

Klopfenstein wrestled most of the season at 138, but dropped down to 132 for the postseason. In the former weight class stands Southwestern-Cuba City's Jarod Donar, who is looking to become just the 12th wrestler in the history of the state tournament to win four state titles. He hasn't lost a match in his career.

"We thought I had a better shot," Klopfenstein said of the switch to 132. "I feel like I'm stronger at this weight."

Many wrestlers seek information on their opponents by watching some of the live matches on BadgerWrestling.com. It's a tool many use to get an idea of the opponent they will face.

Colden is planning on videotaping the match between Port Washington's Josh Meins and Ellsworth's Gable Frandsen tonight. He will wrestle the winner in the quarterfinals on Friday.

"I will take it home and study it," Colden said. "It definitely will be different. I can just sit back and relax."

If Colden wins the quarterfinal match on Friday, he could face Oconto Falls junior Jacob Morrissey (40-1), who won a state title at 171 last year and is 84-1 the last two years.

"I have a pretty good draw in the quarterfinals," Colden said. "If I win that, then I have tough draw with the defending state champion. If I get there, that means I will medal. That's all I care about now."

Jackson said with the technology now, there are more ways to prepare for a match, but he still relies on execution and fundamentals.

"I don't want to get too caught up in that," Jackson said of watching video. "It's still wrestling."