MONROE - For Monroe seniors Dylan Schwitz and Nick Walker, their friendship has crossed paths on the gridiron and through wrestling.
It's only fitting that they reach wrestling's biggest stage together - the WIAA Division 2 state tournament. Both Walker and Schwitz are looking forward to preliminary matches at the Kohl Center in Madison tonight.
"We have been through a lot in football," Schwitz said of his friendship with Walker. "We are going out with a bang. We made it to the big show. It's all or nothing now."
Walker (36-10) will open the state tournament tonight with a preliminary match against Luxemburg-Casco's Newton Smerchek. Walker hasn't talked to Schwitz about wrestling at state. However, he has an idea since he was in the stands during last year's state tournament.
"It's a different atmosphere," Walker said. "Once you get out there on the mat, it's just you and the other guy. It's better competition. I'm nervous before a lot of matches because I'm afraid I will lose and because I don't like to lose. Once they blow the whistle, I will be fine."
Viroqua senior Taylor Henry, at heavyweight, is the favorite to repeat as state champion. If Henry wins a state title, he will become the first wrestler to win back-to-back titles at heavyweight.
Walker has racked up 41 takedowns, 22 escapes and 17 pins this year. He's focusing on his first round match. For Walker, who plans to play football at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater next year, this could be his final match.
"I just want to win my first match," Walker said. "If you lose that then you are done. I just want to win the first match, go from there and take it one at a time."
For Schwitz, the 152-pound weight class is more up for grabs. Schwitz (41-6) will wrestle Winneconne senior Nathaneal Miller tonight. He has never wrestled Miller, but he said he must go in with the right mindset.
"Rankings mean nothing," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "It's whoever has a good day. No one is dominant. I couldn't pick someone out and say they are going to win it. Dylan has as good of a chance as any. He has been wrestling on a high."
Schwitz has recorded 64 takedowns, 28 total near falls, 22 escapes, 16 reversals and 13 pins this year. He wrestled at state as a sophomore and he is confident heading to the Kohl Center this year.
"If I wrestle to the best of my ability there's no reason why I can't reach the finals," Schwitz said. "I just have to believe. That's the first step."
Jackson is looking forward to Walker and Schwitz closing out their prep wrestling careers at the pinnacle of the sport.
"You couldn't ask for anything better," Jackson said. "I wish I could bring every senior up here every year. They have both worked hard. You can see it has paid off."
If Schwitz wins his first two matches, he could have another match against Brodhead-Juda sophomore Hunter Colden in the semifinals Friday night. Schwitz has beaten Colden in both regionals and sectionals this year.
Colden will wrestle Kewaskum senior Rob Maertz in a preliminary match today.
"It's a little bit different this year," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said of his son Hunter, who went to state last year as a freshman. "He knows what to expect."
Hunter Colden has never wrestled Maertz, but Tim has seen some of his matches on Badger State Wrestling.
"He's a good wrestler," Tim said of Maertz. "Nobody there is a slouch. I think (Hunter) will be right in the match."
Tim isn't counting out Hunter as far as placing at state.
"I guess you never know," he said. "Sometimes it's whoever gets on a roll. Everyone is so close when you get to this point."
Sugar River senior Mike Nolden (189) will wrestle Whitewater senior Nick Romani (38-2) in a preliminary match. Nolden (35-4) enters the state tournament with confidence after wrestling back and taking third at the Evansville sectional.
"I don't think I have seen the best of Mikey yet," Sugar River coach Peter Swenson said. "I'm sure we will see the best wrestling Mikey has done this weekend. I know he has more in him."
Swenson is confident that Nolden could medal if he can get by Romani.
"I feel like the winner of this match at a minimum can make it to the semifinals," Swenson said. "We have to take care of business in that first match before we can look ahead any further. I think Mike has a darn good chance of being a top five wrestler at state."
It's only fitting that they reach wrestling's biggest stage together - the WIAA Division 2 state tournament. Both Walker and Schwitz are looking forward to preliminary matches at the Kohl Center in Madison tonight.
"We have been through a lot in football," Schwitz said of his friendship with Walker. "We are going out with a bang. We made it to the big show. It's all or nothing now."
Walker (36-10) will open the state tournament tonight with a preliminary match against Luxemburg-Casco's Newton Smerchek. Walker hasn't talked to Schwitz about wrestling at state. However, he has an idea since he was in the stands during last year's state tournament.
"It's a different atmosphere," Walker said. "Once you get out there on the mat, it's just you and the other guy. It's better competition. I'm nervous before a lot of matches because I'm afraid I will lose and because I don't like to lose. Once they blow the whistle, I will be fine."
Viroqua senior Taylor Henry, at heavyweight, is the favorite to repeat as state champion. If Henry wins a state title, he will become the first wrestler to win back-to-back titles at heavyweight.
Walker has racked up 41 takedowns, 22 escapes and 17 pins this year. He's focusing on his first round match. For Walker, who plans to play football at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater next year, this could be his final match.
"I just want to win my first match," Walker said. "If you lose that then you are done. I just want to win the first match, go from there and take it one at a time."
For Schwitz, the 152-pound weight class is more up for grabs. Schwitz (41-6) will wrestle Winneconne senior Nathaneal Miller tonight. He has never wrestled Miller, but he said he must go in with the right mindset.
"Rankings mean nothing," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "It's whoever has a good day. No one is dominant. I couldn't pick someone out and say they are going to win it. Dylan has as good of a chance as any. He has been wrestling on a high."
Schwitz has recorded 64 takedowns, 28 total near falls, 22 escapes, 16 reversals and 13 pins this year. He wrestled at state as a sophomore and he is confident heading to the Kohl Center this year.
"If I wrestle to the best of my ability there's no reason why I can't reach the finals," Schwitz said. "I just have to believe. That's the first step."
Jackson is looking forward to Walker and Schwitz closing out their prep wrestling careers at the pinnacle of the sport.
"You couldn't ask for anything better," Jackson said. "I wish I could bring every senior up here every year. They have both worked hard. You can see it has paid off."
If Schwitz wins his first two matches, he could have another match against Brodhead-Juda sophomore Hunter Colden in the semifinals Friday night. Schwitz has beaten Colden in both regionals and sectionals this year.
Colden will wrestle Kewaskum senior Rob Maertz in a preliminary match today.
"It's a little bit different this year," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said of his son Hunter, who went to state last year as a freshman. "He knows what to expect."
Hunter Colden has never wrestled Maertz, but Tim has seen some of his matches on Badger State Wrestling.
"He's a good wrestler," Tim said of Maertz. "Nobody there is a slouch. I think (Hunter) will be right in the match."
Tim isn't counting out Hunter as far as placing at state.
"I guess you never know," he said. "Sometimes it's whoever gets on a roll. Everyone is so close when you get to this point."
Sugar River senior Mike Nolden (189) will wrestle Whitewater senior Nick Romani (38-2) in a preliminary match. Nolden (35-4) enters the state tournament with confidence after wrestling back and taking third at the Evansville sectional.
"I don't think I have seen the best of Mikey yet," Sugar River coach Peter Swenson said. "I'm sure we will see the best wrestling Mikey has done this weekend. I know he has more in him."
Swenson is confident that Nolden could medal if he can get by Romani.
"I feel like the winner of this match at a minimum can make it to the semifinals," Swenson said. "We have to take care of business in that first match before we can look ahead any further. I think Mike has a darn good chance of being a top five wrestler at state."
