RICHLAND CENTER - Despite having a short-handed squad, the Monroe wrestling team took fourth place at the Richland Center Invite on Saturday. Monroe racked up 207.5 total team points, just three behind third-place Reedsburg.
"We had a pretty good day," said Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson. "We had two wrestlers out sick, who didn't wrestle at all, and quite a few who wrestled through sickness. So finishing fourth overall with only 10 guys wrestling, compared to 14 that the three teams ahead of us had, is pretty good."
Seniors Kevin Klopfenstein (138) and Trevor Gorr (220) both took home individual titles. It was Klopfenstein's third title at this tournament. Aaron Hesgard (132) and Brett Zimmerman (285) both took second place.
Jackson said both Hesgard and Zimmerman wrestled well despite feeling under the weather.
"They both looked very good, especially since they were both fighting through illness, and hacking and coughing the whole day," Jackson said. "To still take second when you are feeling this way is a pretty good accomplishment."
Jackson said that he is proud of the way his team has handled adversity early in the season.
"I'm proud of the team, up and down the line-up, that are fighting through whatever is thrown at them and wrestling hard," he said.
Jackson is hopeful is team will be healthy soon.
"The biggest problem we are facing right now is getting healthy; we just can't seem to shake it," he said. "We have a dual meet at home this Thursday against Edgerton and hopefully we are healthy by then."
Sugar River and Darlington also competed at the invite.
Sugar River took ninth place at the event with 123 points. Kody Popenfus (120), Anthony Chiarello (138), Brett Grinder (145), and Young-Chun Vetterli (152) each took home fourth place in their respective weight class.
Darlington only had five wrestlers compete Saturday, and the Redbirds took 15th place. Zach Wolf was the highest finisher for the Redbirds, taking fourth place at 220 pounds.
"We had a pretty good day," said Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson. "We had two wrestlers out sick, who didn't wrestle at all, and quite a few who wrestled through sickness. So finishing fourth overall with only 10 guys wrestling, compared to 14 that the three teams ahead of us had, is pretty good."
Seniors Kevin Klopfenstein (138) and Trevor Gorr (220) both took home individual titles. It was Klopfenstein's third title at this tournament. Aaron Hesgard (132) and Brett Zimmerman (285) both took second place.
Jackson said both Hesgard and Zimmerman wrestled well despite feeling under the weather.
"They both looked very good, especially since they were both fighting through illness, and hacking and coughing the whole day," Jackson said. "To still take second when you are feeling this way is a pretty good accomplishment."
Jackson said that he is proud of the way his team has handled adversity early in the season.
"I'm proud of the team, up and down the line-up, that are fighting through whatever is thrown at them and wrestling hard," he said.
Jackson is hopeful is team will be healthy soon.
"The biggest problem we are facing right now is getting healthy; we just can't seem to shake it," he said. "We have a dual meet at home this Thursday against Edgerton and hopefully we are healthy by then."
Sugar River and Darlington also competed at the invite.
Sugar River took ninth place at the event with 123 points. Kody Popenfus (120), Anthony Chiarello (138), Brett Grinder (145), and Young-Chun Vetterli (152) each took home fourth place in their respective weight class.
Darlington only had five wrestlers compete Saturday, and the Redbirds took 15th place. Zach Wolf was the highest finisher for the Redbirds, taking fourth place at 220 pounds.
