MONROE - Midway through a dual match against Milton, which is the sixth-ranked team in Division 1, the Monroe wrestling team had a one-point lead and looked to be in a position to pull off a stunning upset.
Milton answered by winning seven straight matches to beat the Cheesemakers in the Badger South Conference opener 46-15 Friday night. Monroe drops to 3-3 overall and 0-1 Badger South.
"This is a big showing to other teams in the state knowing we can come in no matter who we have and what our lineup is and compete," Monroe senior Traiten Gorr said. "Even though everyone didn't win, we battled."
Gorr, at 220 pounds, started the dual by pinning Milton's Noah Arneson in 3 minutes, 19 seconds to improve to 6-0 this season. Junior heavyweight Kyle Walter then pulled off a thrilling 3-1 scoring on an a reversal with 5 seconds to go to seal the victory over Milton junior Gavin Chesmore. Walter's win gave the Cheesemakers a 9-0 lead.
"Mr. Witt told us to go 6 minutes in every match," Walter said. "That definitely held true tonight. Coach told us to go out and set the tone for the rest of the match, and I think we did that. Milton beat Oregon 80-0. Just to get 15 on the scoreboard is better than 80-0."
There were a couple occasions in the second period where Chesmore stood up, looking to break loose for an escape, but Walter was able to slam him down to the mat.
"I could feel that he was really strong," Walter said. "In the third period, I knew I had to get out so I could tie it. I could feel he was getting tired. He was getting out of place, and he just opened the door. If we would have had to go to overtime it would have been interesting."
Monroe freshman Gabe Witt lost a hard-fought battle 4-0 to Andrew Wells, and the Cheesemakers forfeited at 113 to tie the match at 9. Monroe junior David Andrews (120) defeated Milton's Tyler Kersten 8-2. Andrews scored on an escape and near fall to take a 4-0 lead in the second period. He added a takedown and a second near fall to extend the lead to 6-0.
"I thought he had the ability to win," Witt said. "I didn't think he would win as easily as he did."
One of the other most exciting matches of the dual meet came when Monroe junior Cole Murray (132) defeated Milton junior Levi Garrett 4-2. Murray scored on a takedown late in the first period and held on for the win. It was a little bit of redemption for Murray who lost to Garrett in the Badger Conference tournament last year on a wrestleback to get to a third place match. With Murray's win, the Cheesemakers took a short-lived 15-14 lead.
"We had the lead 15-14 halfway through the match," Monroe coach Tom Witt said. "That really shows something. I thought the effort was great from top to bottom. As a whole team, I thought we were in better shape."
Witt pointed to Walter's win late in the third period as evidence of the Cheesemakers' conditioning.
"I thought Kyle was in better shape," he said. "In the third period, he wore him down and was able to get that reversal."
At 138, Milton senior Tristan Woods defeated Monroe sophomore Sam Kind 8-1 to start the Red Hawks' streak of seven wins. The Red Hawks got a pin from junior Nick Richards (145) to take a 23-15 lead. Milton senior Evan Whitehead (152) knocked off Monroe senior Ian Salzwedel 9-2, and Milton senior Taylor Prochazka (160) defeated Monroe sophomore Dempzy Foley 9-0. The Cheesemakers forfeited at 170 since senior McKenzy Foley was at the National Power Engine Conference.
At 182, Milton sophomore Jerry Lipke defeated Monroe junior Isaac Allen 11-2. Milton senior Kyle Zucaro (195) pinned Monroe junior Hayden Arneson in 5:31. Arneson scored on an escape late in the third period to cut Lipke's lead to 5-3 before he was turned with 29 seconds to go.
Monroe will wrestle in the Sugar River tournament today in New Glarus.
Milton answered by winning seven straight matches to beat the Cheesemakers in the Badger South Conference opener 46-15 Friday night. Monroe drops to 3-3 overall and 0-1 Badger South.
"This is a big showing to other teams in the state knowing we can come in no matter who we have and what our lineup is and compete," Monroe senior Traiten Gorr said. "Even though everyone didn't win, we battled."
Gorr, at 220 pounds, started the dual by pinning Milton's Noah Arneson in 3 minutes, 19 seconds to improve to 6-0 this season. Junior heavyweight Kyle Walter then pulled off a thrilling 3-1 scoring on an a reversal with 5 seconds to go to seal the victory over Milton junior Gavin Chesmore. Walter's win gave the Cheesemakers a 9-0 lead.
"Mr. Witt told us to go 6 minutes in every match," Walter said. "That definitely held true tonight. Coach told us to go out and set the tone for the rest of the match, and I think we did that. Milton beat Oregon 80-0. Just to get 15 on the scoreboard is better than 80-0."
There were a couple occasions in the second period where Chesmore stood up, looking to break loose for an escape, but Walter was able to slam him down to the mat.
"I could feel that he was really strong," Walter said. "In the third period, I knew I had to get out so I could tie it. I could feel he was getting tired. He was getting out of place, and he just opened the door. If we would have had to go to overtime it would have been interesting."
Monroe freshman Gabe Witt lost a hard-fought battle 4-0 to Andrew Wells, and the Cheesemakers forfeited at 113 to tie the match at 9. Monroe junior David Andrews (120) defeated Milton's Tyler Kersten 8-2. Andrews scored on an escape and near fall to take a 4-0 lead in the second period. He added a takedown and a second near fall to extend the lead to 6-0.
"I thought he had the ability to win," Witt said. "I didn't think he would win as easily as he did."
One of the other most exciting matches of the dual meet came when Monroe junior Cole Murray (132) defeated Milton junior Levi Garrett 4-2. Murray scored on a takedown late in the first period and held on for the win. It was a little bit of redemption for Murray who lost to Garrett in the Badger Conference tournament last year on a wrestleback to get to a third place match. With Murray's win, the Cheesemakers took a short-lived 15-14 lead.
"We had the lead 15-14 halfway through the match," Monroe coach Tom Witt said. "That really shows something. I thought the effort was great from top to bottom. As a whole team, I thought we were in better shape."
Witt pointed to Walter's win late in the third period as evidence of the Cheesemakers' conditioning.
"I thought Kyle was in better shape," he said. "In the third period, he wore him down and was able to get that reversal."
At 138, Milton senior Tristan Woods defeated Monroe sophomore Sam Kind 8-1 to start the Red Hawks' streak of seven wins. The Red Hawks got a pin from junior Nick Richards (145) to take a 23-15 lead. Milton senior Evan Whitehead (152) knocked off Monroe senior Ian Salzwedel 9-2, and Milton senior Taylor Prochazka (160) defeated Monroe sophomore Dempzy Foley 9-0. The Cheesemakers forfeited at 170 since senior McKenzy Foley was at the National Power Engine Conference.
At 182, Milton sophomore Jerry Lipke defeated Monroe junior Isaac Allen 11-2. Milton senior Kyle Zucaro (195) pinned Monroe junior Hayden Arneson in 5:31. Arneson scored on an escape late in the third period to cut Lipke's lead to 5-3 before he was turned with 29 seconds to go.
Monroe will wrestle in the Sugar River tournament today in New Glarus.
