MONROE - Taking on the No. 1 wrestler in the state can be a daunting task.
For Monroe sophomore Kevin Klopfenstein, his 6-2 win over Cuba City-Southwestern's Bob Donar in the 125-pound championship match Saturday was the highlight of the Monroe Invitational and helped the Cheesemakers repeat as champions.
Klopfenstein (29-6), ranked ninth in the Division 2 Wrestling Online Poll, pulled off his biggest win of the year over Donar (16-1), ranked No. 1 and last year's state runner-up. Klopfenstein finished the tournament 3-0 and was voted the most outstanding wrestler of the invitational.
"He has always beaten me," Klopfenstein said. "It was my turn to do it this time. It gives me a lot of confidence to know I can wrestle with anyone and beat anybody."
The Cheesemakers had a banner day with six wrestlers reaching the finals and three winning titles as they outdistanced Clinton 153.5-141 for the title. In addition to Klopfenstein, senior Dylan Schwitz (152) and sophomore Trevor Gorr (215) won championships. The Cheesemakers had three wrestlers take second - sophomore Aaron Hesgard (119), freshman Ryan Hughes (160) and senior heavyweight Nick Walker.
"It shows that we can win it even though we were without four wrestlers," Klopfenstein said. "We felt like we could be up there again."
Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said the key to Klopfenstein's win in the championship was when he scored on a reversal after Donar had eased up riding him.
"Kevin has known he can beat and wrestle anyone in the state," Jackson said. "We will see him (Donar) again in three weeks at the sectional, assuming we make it there."
Jackson had a feeling the Cheesemakers were capable of repeating as champions, even with just 10 wrestlers.
"I knew we could," he said. "I knew it would obviously be hard. Coming in without four weights, it was a tough road to hoe."
Schwitz (30-4), after a first round bye, defeated Orfordville-Parkview's Derek Gerber in a technical fall 16-0 in the semifinals. He pinned Cuba City-Southwestern's Tyler Bass in 3:29 in the title match.
"He (Schwitz) had a weight class where he was by far the champ and class of it," Jackson said. "He did what he is supposed to do."
Gorr, at 215, finished the tournament 3-0 and in the championship match he pinned Belmont-Platteville junior David Stoney, who won a title last year at the tournament. With the win, Gorr improves to 26-5. Gorr pinned Clinton's Nathan Poll in 1:55 in the first round and defeated Darlington senior Brandon Heins 5-0 in the semifinals.
"I'm always nervous no matter what match I wrestle," Gorr said. "We have a pretty good group of wrestlers. I was pretty confident we could be in good standing."
Hesgard (119) finished 2-1 at the invitational and improved his record to 24-8. He lost in the finals 14-5 to Clinton senior Daniel Banh, who was the state runner-up last year.
"He wrestled him hard," Jackson said. "He got a couple of throws in there."
Both Hughes and Walker finished 2-1. Hughes opened the invitational by pinning Darlington senior Nick Chiaverotti in 1:54. He then edged Orfordville Parkview sophomore Ryan Triplett 3-2. Hughes (19-13) lost in the title match to Dodgeville's Beau Smith 2-0.
"He's coming along and being aggressive," Jackson said of Hughes.
After a first round bye, Walker pinned Cuba City-Southwestern junior Michael Loeffelholz in 1:08 to get to the finals. Walker (27-7) lost 7-1 to Big Foot's Garret Cary in the title match.
Monroe sophomore Dusty Burkhalter (171) took fourth after falling to Big Foot's Bo Croswell 6-1 in a third-place match.
Darlington took ninth place as a team. Darlington senior Colton Hackett finished second at 189-pounds. He went 2-1 and posted two pins. Whitewater's Nick Romani pinned Hackett in the championship match in 1:45. Fellow senior Heins (215) went 3-1 and took third place. Heins recorded three pins, but lost in the semifinals to Gorr.
Darlington's Matt McDaniel (145) took third and Scott McDaniel (140) finished fourth. Matt McDaniel finished the invitational 3-1 and pinned Poynette's Lucas Morse in 2:29 to take third.
For Monroe sophomore Kevin Klopfenstein, his 6-2 win over Cuba City-Southwestern's Bob Donar in the 125-pound championship match Saturday was the highlight of the Monroe Invitational and helped the Cheesemakers repeat as champions.
Klopfenstein (29-6), ranked ninth in the Division 2 Wrestling Online Poll, pulled off his biggest win of the year over Donar (16-1), ranked No. 1 and last year's state runner-up. Klopfenstein finished the tournament 3-0 and was voted the most outstanding wrestler of the invitational.
"He has always beaten me," Klopfenstein said. "It was my turn to do it this time. It gives me a lot of confidence to know I can wrestle with anyone and beat anybody."
The Cheesemakers had a banner day with six wrestlers reaching the finals and three winning titles as they outdistanced Clinton 153.5-141 for the title. In addition to Klopfenstein, senior Dylan Schwitz (152) and sophomore Trevor Gorr (215) won championships. The Cheesemakers had three wrestlers take second - sophomore Aaron Hesgard (119), freshman Ryan Hughes (160) and senior heavyweight Nick Walker.
"It shows that we can win it even though we were without four wrestlers," Klopfenstein said. "We felt like we could be up there again."
Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said the key to Klopfenstein's win in the championship was when he scored on a reversal after Donar had eased up riding him.
"Kevin has known he can beat and wrestle anyone in the state," Jackson said. "We will see him (Donar) again in three weeks at the sectional, assuming we make it there."
Jackson had a feeling the Cheesemakers were capable of repeating as champions, even with just 10 wrestlers.
"I knew we could," he said. "I knew it would obviously be hard. Coming in without four weights, it was a tough road to hoe."
Schwitz (30-4), after a first round bye, defeated Orfordville-Parkview's Derek Gerber in a technical fall 16-0 in the semifinals. He pinned Cuba City-Southwestern's Tyler Bass in 3:29 in the title match.
"He (Schwitz) had a weight class where he was by far the champ and class of it," Jackson said. "He did what he is supposed to do."
Gorr, at 215, finished the tournament 3-0 and in the championship match he pinned Belmont-Platteville junior David Stoney, who won a title last year at the tournament. With the win, Gorr improves to 26-5. Gorr pinned Clinton's Nathan Poll in 1:55 in the first round and defeated Darlington senior Brandon Heins 5-0 in the semifinals.
"I'm always nervous no matter what match I wrestle," Gorr said. "We have a pretty good group of wrestlers. I was pretty confident we could be in good standing."
Hesgard (119) finished 2-1 at the invitational and improved his record to 24-8. He lost in the finals 14-5 to Clinton senior Daniel Banh, who was the state runner-up last year.
"He wrestled him hard," Jackson said. "He got a couple of throws in there."
Both Hughes and Walker finished 2-1. Hughes opened the invitational by pinning Darlington senior Nick Chiaverotti in 1:54. He then edged Orfordville Parkview sophomore Ryan Triplett 3-2. Hughes (19-13) lost in the title match to Dodgeville's Beau Smith 2-0.
"He's coming along and being aggressive," Jackson said of Hughes.
After a first round bye, Walker pinned Cuba City-Southwestern junior Michael Loeffelholz in 1:08 to get to the finals. Walker (27-7) lost 7-1 to Big Foot's Garret Cary in the title match.
Monroe sophomore Dusty Burkhalter (171) took fourth after falling to Big Foot's Bo Croswell 6-1 in a third-place match.
Darlington took ninth place as a team. Darlington senior Colton Hackett finished second at 189-pounds. He went 2-1 and posted two pins. Whitewater's Nick Romani pinned Hackett in the championship match in 1:45. Fellow senior Heins (215) went 3-1 and took third place. Heins recorded three pins, but lost in the semifinals to Gorr.
Darlington's Matt McDaniel (145) took third and Scott McDaniel (140) finished fourth. Matt McDaniel finished the invitational 3-1 and pinned Poynette's Lucas Morse in 2:29 to take third.
