LA CROSSE - Four Monroe wrestlers stilll have the opportunity to earn medals after the first day of the Bi-State Classic Thursday at the La Crosse Center.
The quartet of wrestlers still in the medal hunt are David Andrews at 120 pounds, Cole Murray (138), Hayden Arneson (195) and Kyle Walter (heavyweight).
"It was a really good day for us," Monroe coach Tom Witt said. "After the first session and first three rounds we were in 20th place in the top one-third (out of 60 teams) and eighth in Division 2. That was a really good positive."
The Cheesemakers are sixth in Division 2 out of 20 teams heading into the final day of the tournament.
Walter went 4-0 the first day of the tournament. He defeated Athens' Tyson Sommer 3-2 after scoring on a takedown with 18 seconds to go in the third period. Walter will wrestle in the semifinals today. With the win in the quarterfinals, Walter assured himself of a top-six finish. Walter will wrestle Brandon Kimek, the No. 2 seed who finished in the top three at the Bi-State Classic last year.
After a first-round bye, Walter edged Wausau West's Daniel Froehlich 1-0. He then clipped Riverdale's Garrett Wilmot 1-0.
"To me his first two matches were a little disappointing," Witt said of Walter. "It was just typical Kyle. He never wants to make a mistake, and he got the escape to win. At times he struggles on his feet to get takedowns, and he doesn't work on his tie-ups. In the quarterfinals, he wrestled much better."
Murray and Arneson each won their first three matches to assure themselves of a medal and a top-12 finish.
Murray pinned Hillsboro's Cameron Haas in 48 seconds. In a second-round match, Murray pinned Muskego's Tyler Huckstorf in 4 minutes, 54 seconds. He then pinned Lancaster's Collin Lull in 1:45. In a quarterfinal match, Middleton's Kevin Meicher pinned Murray in 4:25.
Arneson was just as impressive, cruising to his first three wins. Arneson pinned Dodgeville's Jonathon Geisking in 41 seconds. Arneson then pinned Westby's Austin Klum in 1:51. Arneson then defeated Holmen's Jack Westcott 7-1. Riverdale's Caleb Johnson defeated Arneson in a quarterfinal match 12-6.
"He (Arneson) didn't wrestle really well in the quarterfinals," Witt said.
Andrews at 120 also received a first-round bye. He pinned Goodhue's Bjorn Otterness in 2:24 in a second-round match. Luxemburg-Casco's Bryce Bosman pinned Andrews in 54 seconds. Andrews rebounded to beat Brant Hall of Nekoosa/Assumption/Port Edwards 10-4. Andrews has to win one more match to assure himself of a medal.
Monroe freshman Bodie Minder went 3-2 at 220 and senior Isaac Allen was 3-2 at 182. Freshman Alex Witt (132), junior Travis Wolf (145), junior Sam Kind (160) and junior Dempzy Foley (170) each went 2-2.
"My goal for all of our kids was to have them go at least 2-2, .500 or better for the tournament," Witt said. "For Bodie to finish 3-2 as a freshman, and Alex to finish 2-2 as a new guy and as a freshman is really good at those weights."
The quartet of wrestlers still in the medal hunt are David Andrews at 120 pounds, Cole Murray (138), Hayden Arneson (195) and Kyle Walter (heavyweight).
"It was a really good day for us," Monroe coach Tom Witt said. "After the first session and first three rounds we were in 20th place in the top one-third (out of 60 teams) and eighth in Division 2. That was a really good positive."
The Cheesemakers are sixth in Division 2 out of 20 teams heading into the final day of the tournament.
Walter went 4-0 the first day of the tournament. He defeated Athens' Tyson Sommer 3-2 after scoring on a takedown with 18 seconds to go in the third period. Walter will wrestle in the semifinals today. With the win in the quarterfinals, Walter assured himself of a top-six finish. Walter will wrestle Brandon Kimek, the No. 2 seed who finished in the top three at the Bi-State Classic last year.
After a first-round bye, Walter edged Wausau West's Daniel Froehlich 1-0. He then clipped Riverdale's Garrett Wilmot 1-0.
"To me his first two matches were a little disappointing," Witt said of Walter. "It was just typical Kyle. He never wants to make a mistake, and he got the escape to win. At times he struggles on his feet to get takedowns, and he doesn't work on his tie-ups. In the quarterfinals, he wrestled much better."
Murray and Arneson each won their first three matches to assure themselves of a medal and a top-12 finish.
Murray pinned Hillsboro's Cameron Haas in 48 seconds. In a second-round match, Murray pinned Muskego's Tyler Huckstorf in 4 minutes, 54 seconds. He then pinned Lancaster's Collin Lull in 1:45. In a quarterfinal match, Middleton's Kevin Meicher pinned Murray in 4:25.
Arneson was just as impressive, cruising to his first three wins. Arneson pinned Dodgeville's Jonathon Geisking in 41 seconds. Arneson then pinned Westby's Austin Klum in 1:51. Arneson then defeated Holmen's Jack Westcott 7-1. Riverdale's Caleb Johnson defeated Arneson in a quarterfinal match 12-6.
"He (Arneson) didn't wrestle really well in the quarterfinals," Witt said.
Andrews at 120 also received a first-round bye. He pinned Goodhue's Bjorn Otterness in 2:24 in a second-round match. Luxemburg-Casco's Bryce Bosman pinned Andrews in 54 seconds. Andrews rebounded to beat Brant Hall of Nekoosa/Assumption/Port Edwards 10-4. Andrews has to win one more match to assure himself of a medal.
Monroe freshman Bodie Minder went 3-2 at 220 and senior Isaac Allen was 3-2 at 182. Freshman Alex Witt (132), junior Travis Wolf (145), junior Sam Kind (160) and junior Dempzy Foley (170) each went 2-2.
"My goal for all of our kids was to have them go at least 2-2, .500 or better for the tournament," Witt said. "For Bodie to finish 3-2 as a freshman, and Alex to finish 2-2 as a new guy and as a freshman is really good at those weights."
