VERONA - The Monroe wrestling team went 5-0 and won the Verona Invitational Saturday.
Monroe opened the dual invite by beating Verona 41-31. In Monroe's second match, the Cheesemakers edged Slinger 36-33, then defeated Northern Badger Conference rival Portage 52-28 before knocking off Mequon-Homestead 42-34. Monroe defeated Darlington 46-27 in their final match.
"This is a great confidence builder for the second half of the season," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said.
Monroe freshman Kevin Klopfenstein (119 pounds), senior Mason Goff (152), senior Dillon Weckerly (171) and junior Nick Walker (heavyweight) all went 5-0, Saturday.
Walker beat Slinger heavyweight Jake Schall, who is ranked 12th in Division 1 and also defeated Darlington's Mark Brugger, who was a state qualifier last year and is ranked fourth in Division 3.
"Nick Walker is gaining confidence with every match and looked very impressive during the day," Jackson said. "He just keeps stepping up to the challenge and hasn't backed down from anyone; he has a great attitude about wrestling and always works hard to improve himself. His hard work in all areas is really paying off for him."
Monroe freshman Aaron Hesgard (103), sophomore Cody Stamm (125) and senior Josh Mayer (189) each finished 4-1 on the day.
The senior leaders for the Cheesemakers came up big going a combined 14-1.
"Mason, Dillon and Josh did what seniors should do and that is grind it out and come through for their team," Jackson said.
"The younger guys on the team look up to seniors to be leaders not only by their words but more importantly by their actions and they expect them to go out and perform at a high level each and every week and that is what these three did."
The Cheesemakers are also getting big contributions from freshmen. Hesgard pulled off a big win to propel the Cheesemakers to a win over Slinger. Monroe trailed Slinger by three points going into the final match.
"Kevin and Aaron continue to impress us as freshmen on varsity and are doing a very nice job," Jackson said.
"It came down to Aaron's match against second-place Slinger to get the win. Aaron pulled it out in the end of a very exciting dual to get the pin against Slinger."
Jackson is also excited with the development of Stamm.
"Cody Stamm took some big strides Saturday to go 4-1, he is starting to show some better technique and consistency and that is what he will need to finish out with a good season."
Jackson understands having young wrestlers step up to wrestle in certain weight classes helped the Cheesemakers save critical points.
"Rustin Alton (112), Tyler Moser (130), Justin Helton (135) and Dustin Burkhalter (160) are guys who may lack a little bit of experience and technique on the mat, but they are learning and make up for it with heart and determination," he said.
"These guys work hard and what they do often goes unnoticed.
"They save us team points by going out there in the first place so that the other teams cannot move their lineups around on us."
Monroe opened the dual invite by beating Verona 41-31. In Monroe's second match, the Cheesemakers edged Slinger 36-33, then defeated Northern Badger Conference rival Portage 52-28 before knocking off Mequon-Homestead 42-34. Monroe defeated Darlington 46-27 in their final match.
"This is a great confidence builder for the second half of the season," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said.
Monroe freshman Kevin Klopfenstein (119 pounds), senior Mason Goff (152), senior Dillon Weckerly (171) and junior Nick Walker (heavyweight) all went 5-0, Saturday.
Walker beat Slinger heavyweight Jake Schall, who is ranked 12th in Division 1 and also defeated Darlington's Mark Brugger, who was a state qualifier last year and is ranked fourth in Division 3.
"Nick Walker is gaining confidence with every match and looked very impressive during the day," Jackson said. "He just keeps stepping up to the challenge and hasn't backed down from anyone; he has a great attitude about wrestling and always works hard to improve himself. His hard work in all areas is really paying off for him."
Monroe freshman Aaron Hesgard (103), sophomore Cody Stamm (125) and senior Josh Mayer (189) each finished 4-1 on the day.
The senior leaders for the Cheesemakers came up big going a combined 14-1.
"Mason, Dillon and Josh did what seniors should do and that is grind it out and come through for their team," Jackson said.
"The younger guys on the team look up to seniors to be leaders not only by their words but more importantly by their actions and they expect them to go out and perform at a high level each and every week and that is what these three did."
The Cheesemakers are also getting big contributions from freshmen. Hesgard pulled off a big win to propel the Cheesemakers to a win over Slinger. Monroe trailed Slinger by three points going into the final match.
"Kevin and Aaron continue to impress us as freshmen on varsity and are doing a very nice job," Jackson said.
"It came down to Aaron's match against second-place Slinger to get the win. Aaron pulled it out in the end of a very exciting dual to get the pin against Slinger."
Jackson is also excited with the development of Stamm.
"Cody Stamm took some big strides Saturday to go 4-1, he is starting to show some better technique and consistency and that is what he will need to finish out with a good season."
Jackson understands having young wrestlers step up to wrestle in certain weight classes helped the Cheesemakers save critical points.
"Rustin Alton (112), Tyler Moser (130), Justin Helton (135) and Dustin Burkhalter (160) are guys who may lack a little bit of experience and technique on the mat, but they are learning and make up for it with heart and determination," he said.
"These guys work hard and what they do often goes unnoticed.
"They save us team points by going out there in the first place so that the other teams cannot move their lineups around on us."
