MONROE - Every Mat Rat wrestler that displayed their skills before Monroe's match against Milton was able to see first hand how the Cheesemakers measured up against one of the state's premier programs.
For decades, Milton has been a wrestling power. The Red Hawks, ranked eighth in the Division 1 Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, are a perennial contender to win the Badger South Conference and overpowered the Cheesemakers 52-21 Thursday night.
"I was hoping they would come out wrestle hard and compete," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "Tonight had a different feel. I didn't think we wrestled our best. We have lost matches this year, but we have always battled. Tonight we made some silly mistakes."
The Red Hawks have five wrestlers ranked in the top five in the Division 1, including a trio of No. 1-ranked wrestlers - senior John Wells (113 pounds), junior Garrett Whitehead (132) and senior Ian Johnson (182).
Monroe (7-8, 1-3 Badger South) won three of the 11 matches wrestled. The Red Hawks posted five pins, including Whitehead (132), Sam Ryan (145), Jeff Meyer (152), Nate Hoffman (170) and Johnson (195).
Monroe junior Jesse Keizer pinned Milton freshman Alex Chesmore in 3 minutes, 23 seconds at 120 pounds.
"He came out and got in a bad position, but he was able to turn it around," Jackson said. "He came back and got a nice pin. That is one of the matches I thought coming in that we could win. He went out and got the job done."
Monroe sophomore Ryan Hughes (160) defeated Milton's Randy Lipke 9-2 and junior Trevor Gorr (220) pinned Artan Rushiti in 1:08.
"We came out and did the best we could against a team that is really good," Gorr said.
Gorr looks forward to wrestling the top team in the conference.
"Even though Milton isn't in our regional, next week at conference there will be a lot of competition that will help get us ready for regionals, sectionals and hopefully for state for a lot of us."
Monroe junior Aaron Hesgard (126) lost to Milton senior Landon Shea 11-5. Shea finished third at state last year.
"Aaron has been on a roll," Jackson said. "I have no concerns about Aaron."
Hesgard scored on a takedown at the end of the second period to tie the match at 4-4. Shea came through with a takedown early in the third period and Hesgard answered with an escape to cut the lead to 6-5. Shea was able to put the match away with a takedown and near fall.
"At the end he was working for that takedown and (Shea) got some back points," Jackson said. "That made it seem worse than what it really was."
After trailing 5-0 early, Monroe junior Kevin Klopfenstein (138) battled back and lost 9-6 to Milton's Kyle Hinners.
Jackson pointed out that the Cheesemakers made several critical mistakes by wrestling with their elbows up and sitting on the mat that left them in a vulnerable position.
"I thought we just had some lapses," Jackson said. "We will have to go back and fix those mistakes. We shouldn't be making those mistakes at this point in the season. We will have to go back to the drawing board and fix those mistakes."
It will be a quick turnaround for Monroe, which wrestles at Fort Atkinson tonight.
"It will be tough," Jackson said. "They (Fort Atkinson) are the second best team in the conference behind Milton. I hope we can fix those mistakes. It won't be easy."
For decades, Milton has been a wrestling power. The Red Hawks, ranked eighth in the Division 1 Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, are a perennial contender to win the Badger South Conference and overpowered the Cheesemakers 52-21 Thursday night.
"I was hoping they would come out wrestle hard and compete," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "Tonight had a different feel. I didn't think we wrestled our best. We have lost matches this year, but we have always battled. Tonight we made some silly mistakes."
The Red Hawks have five wrestlers ranked in the top five in the Division 1, including a trio of No. 1-ranked wrestlers - senior John Wells (113 pounds), junior Garrett Whitehead (132) and senior Ian Johnson (182).
Monroe (7-8, 1-3 Badger South) won three of the 11 matches wrestled. The Red Hawks posted five pins, including Whitehead (132), Sam Ryan (145), Jeff Meyer (152), Nate Hoffman (170) and Johnson (195).
Monroe junior Jesse Keizer pinned Milton freshman Alex Chesmore in 3 minutes, 23 seconds at 120 pounds.
"He came out and got in a bad position, but he was able to turn it around," Jackson said. "He came back and got a nice pin. That is one of the matches I thought coming in that we could win. He went out and got the job done."
Monroe sophomore Ryan Hughes (160) defeated Milton's Randy Lipke 9-2 and junior Trevor Gorr (220) pinned Artan Rushiti in 1:08.
"We came out and did the best we could against a team that is really good," Gorr said.
Gorr looks forward to wrestling the top team in the conference.
"Even though Milton isn't in our regional, next week at conference there will be a lot of competition that will help get us ready for regionals, sectionals and hopefully for state for a lot of us."
Monroe junior Aaron Hesgard (126) lost to Milton senior Landon Shea 11-5. Shea finished third at state last year.
"Aaron has been on a roll," Jackson said. "I have no concerns about Aaron."
Hesgard scored on a takedown at the end of the second period to tie the match at 4-4. Shea came through with a takedown early in the third period and Hesgard answered with an escape to cut the lead to 6-5. Shea was able to put the match away with a takedown and near fall.
"At the end he was working for that takedown and (Shea) got some back points," Jackson said. "That made it seem worse than what it really was."
After trailing 5-0 early, Monroe junior Kevin Klopfenstein (138) battled back and lost 9-6 to Milton's Kyle Hinners.
Jackson pointed out that the Cheesemakers made several critical mistakes by wrestling with their elbows up and sitting on the mat that left them in a vulnerable position.
"I thought we just had some lapses," Jackson said. "We will have to go back and fix those mistakes. We shouldn't be making those mistakes at this point in the season. We will have to go back to the drawing board and fix those mistakes."
It will be a quick turnaround for Monroe, which wrestles at Fort Atkinson tonight.
"It will be tough," Jackson said. "They (Fort Atkinson) are the second best team in the conference behind Milton. I hope we can fix those mistakes. It won't be easy."
