MADISON - Monroe sophomore Dylan Schwitz set a goal of taking the No. 1 wrestler in the state at 135 pounds to the brink with a six-minute match.
Schwitz delivered, taking West De Pere senior Mark Puckhaber (40-2) to three periods before losing a preliminary match 11-3 at the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
"That was my goal," Schwitz (30-16) said of taking Puckhaber to three periods. "I wasn't going to settle for anything less."
Schwitz came up with a clutch reversal to cut Puckhaber's lead to 6-3 with one minute left in the second period. Puckhaber came back to take an 8-3 lead to start the third period.
"I thought if I kept going through him, I might get the five points I needed," he said.
Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson was excited with the way Schwitz wrestled in this first state appearance.
"(Schwitz) wrestled the guy for six minutes," Jackson said. "It's good experience for next year. I'm proud of the way he wrestled tonight."
Jackson said building confidence off the state tournament experience is key, since many will expect a return to state next year.
"He has to believe he belongs with the elite level of wrestlers," Jackson said.
The first state tournament appearance for Schwitz has fueled him for the offseason.
"What I learned is I am probably better than I think I am," he said. "You learn more when you lose like that."
Schwitz plans on getting stronger in the offseason.
"I'm not weak, but I have to get stronger," he said. "You have to have skills, but muscle helps."
Two Division 2 wrestlers - Sugar River senior Kalvin York (145) and Albany senior Nick Patchen (189) will begin to contend for medals today.
York (38-0), ranked No. 1, will be gunning for his first state title. A University of Wisconsin recruit who has finished as the state runner-up the past two years, York will wrestle Mosinee senior Dillon Gorman (39-5) in the quarterfinals. Gorman defeated Pewaukee senior Ken Mischker by technical fall, 19-4, on Thursday.
Patchen (34-6) will wrestle Campbellsport senior Zach Wetzel (29-10) in a quarterfinal match. Wetzel survived a thrilling first round match and beat Baldwin-Woodville senior Corey Spencer, 5-4 on Thursday.
Schwitz delivered, taking West De Pere senior Mark Puckhaber (40-2) to three periods before losing a preliminary match 11-3 at the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
"That was my goal," Schwitz (30-16) said of taking Puckhaber to three periods. "I wasn't going to settle for anything less."
Schwitz came up with a clutch reversal to cut Puckhaber's lead to 6-3 with one minute left in the second period. Puckhaber came back to take an 8-3 lead to start the third period.
"I thought if I kept going through him, I might get the five points I needed," he said.
Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson was excited with the way Schwitz wrestled in this first state appearance.
"(Schwitz) wrestled the guy for six minutes," Jackson said. "It's good experience for next year. I'm proud of the way he wrestled tonight."
Jackson said building confidence off the state tournament experience is key, since many will expect a return to state next year.
"He has to believe he belongs with the elite level of wrestlers," Jackson said.
The first state tournament appearance for Schwitz has fueled him for the offseason.
"What I learned is I am probably better than I think I am," he said. "You learn more when you lose like that."
Schwitz plans on getting stronger in the offseason.
"I'm not weak, but I have to get stronger," he said. "You have to have skills, but muscle helps."
Two Division 2 wrestlers - Sugar River senior Kalvin York (145) and Albany senior Nick Patchen (189) will begin to contend for medals today.
York (38-0), ranked No. 1, will be gunning for his first state title. A University of Wisconsin recruit who has finished as the state runner-up the past two years, York will wrestle Mosinee senior Dillon Gorman (39-5) in the quarterfinals. Gorman defeated Pewaukee senior Ken Mischker by technical fall, 19-4, on Thursday.
Patchen (34-6) will wrestle Campbellsport senior Zach Wetzel (29-10) in a quarterfinal match. Wetzel survived a thrilling first round match and beat Baldwin-Woodville senior Corey Spencer, 5-4 on Thursday.
