MONROE - The scoreboard didn't tell the whole story of the Monroe wrestling team's 46-31 season-opening loss Tuesday to Sauk Prairie.
The Cheesemakers forfeited three matches with two wrestlers out of the lineup for undisclosed reasons.
"If you look at the scoreboard, it looks like we got thumped on," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "It's just hard giving up three forfeits like we did."
The Eagles won six of the first seven matches, including forfeits at 152 and 160 pounds to take a commanding 34-3 lead.
In one of the best matches Tuesday night at 135, Monroe sophomore Dylan Schwitz rode the momentum of a first-period takedown to defeat Sauk Prairie sophomore Thomas Seiler, 3-1, notching the Cheesemakers' first win.
"That first takedown demoralizes the opponent," Schwitz said. "I think that made him think I am better. It was a great match to get it started for our team."
Monroe sophomore Tyler Moser (125) and freshman Justin Helton (130) made their varsity debuts.
"We were planning on giving up five forfeits," Jackson said. "If Sauk would have had JV wrestlers at 125 and 130, they wouldn't have wrestled (varsity). It's tough starting where we did. It took the crowd out of it a little bit. I knew we were coming back, but not everyone else knew it."
The Cheesemakers stormed back, winning four straight matches to cut the Eagles' lead to 34-26. The run began with Monroe junior Dillon Weckerly at 171 pinning Ben Wiersma in 1 minute, 51 seconds. Senior Michael Ingold followed suit, pinning Casey Peetz in 1:05. Cory Kundert won the 215 match by technical fall over Dante Lewis and senior heavyweight Lucas Leu won by forfeit.
Weckerly said he went into his match looking to strike.
"The main thing is being aggressive and going hard," Weckerly said. "I went in there and fortunately did it. It brought us back."
After forfeiting at 103, Monroe got a win at 112 from senior Gavin Wels, who was fifth place at state last year. He won by technical fall over Sauk Prairie senior Amber Mefford in six minutes.
After graduating Division 1 state champion Matt Gaffney at 130 and state qualifier Brett Ballweg (152), the Eagles are rebuilding with a lineup that features 10 freshmen and sophomores.
The Cheesemakers were not the only short-handed team. Sauk Prairie junior James Wixom, a two-time state qualifier at 160, also didn't wrestle for undisclosed reasons.
The Cheesemakers will wrestle five dual matches Saturday at a seven-team invitational at Reedsburg.
"The guys who are letterwinners have to carry us," Jackson said. "I think we found out we need to be in better shape."
The Cheesemakers forfeited three matches with two wrestlers out of the lineup for undisclosed reasons.
"If you look at the scoreboard, it looks like we got thumped on," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "It's just hard giving up three forfeits like we did."
The Eagles won six of the first seven matches, including forfeits at 152 and 160 pounds to take a commanding 34-3 lead.
In one of the best matches Tuesday night at 135, Monroe sophomore Dylan Schwitz rode the momentum of a first-period takedown to defeat Sauk Prairie sophomore Thomas Seiler, 3-1, notching the Cheesemakers' first win.
"That first takedown demoralizes the opponent," Schwitz said. "I think that made him think I am better. It was a great match to get it started for our team."
Monroe sophomore Tyler Moser (125) and freshman Justin Helton (130) made their varsity debuts.
"We were planning on giving up five forfeits," Jackson said. "If Sauk would have had JV wrestlers at 125 and 130, they wouldn't have wrestled (varsity). It's tough starting where we did. It took the crowd out of it a little bit. I knew we were coming back, but not everyone else knew it."
The Cheesemakers stormed back, winning four straight matches to cut the Eagles' lead to 34-26. The run began with Monroe junior Dillon Weckerly at 171 pinning Ben Wiersma in 1 minute, 51 seconds. Senior Michael Ingold followed suit, pinning Casey Peetz in 1:05. Cory Kundert won the 215 match by technical fall over Dante Lewis and senior heavyweight Lucas Leu won by forfeit.
Weckerly said he went into his match looking to strike.
"The main thing is being aggressive and going hard," Weckerly said. "I went in there and fortunately did it. It brought us back."
After forfeiting at 103, Monroe got a win at 112 from senior Gavin Wels, who was fifth place at state last year. He won by technical fall over Sauk Prairie senior Amber Mefford in six minutes.
After graduating Division 1 state champion Matt Gaffney at 130 and state qualifier Brett Ballweg (152), the Eagles are rebuilding with a lineup that features 10 freshmen and sophomores.
The Cheesemakers were not the only short-handed team. Sauk Prairie junior James Wixom, a two-time state qualifier at 160, also didn't wrestle for undisclosed reasons.
The Cheesemakers will wrestle five dual matches Saturday at a seven-team invitational at Reedsburg.
"The guys who are letterwinners have to carry us," Jackson said. "I think we found out we need to be in better shape."
