MONROE - It's hard for Monroe sophomore Dylan Schwitz to envision marching out of the tunnel at the UW-Madison Kohl Center for the WIAA Division 2 state wrestling tournament.
That's the position Schwitz finds himself in, and he's embracing the opportunity with a workman-like attitude.
"It's been tough to think that I'm really going to the state wrestling tournament," Schwitz said. "It's hard to visualize until I get there. Once I get up there, it will sink in.
"It's just overwhelming to think about when they shut off the lights and do the parade of champions. I don't know if I can ever imagine being down on the mat."
Schwitz (30-15) will have a tough road to get into contention for a 135-pound medal. He will wrestle West De Pere senior Mark Puckhaber (39-2), who is ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, in the preliminaries tonight.
"Dylan is going in as the underdog," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "He has no pressure. (Puckhaber) can be beat. That's surprising."
Mosinee senior Andy Mullins (38-4) defeated Puckhaber, 4-3, in a sectional title match last weekend. Now Schwitz wants to repeat the feat. He wants to break through and make a statement.
"I want to win a match," he said. "I have the No. 1 kid in the state. My goal is to go six minutes with him."
Schwitz has made a run to the state tournament that coincides with an improved focus on the little things that often go unnoticed in a wrestling match.
"I have been better on my feet and with my takedowns," he said. "Overall, controlling the match has been key to winning."
Jackson points to a developing wrestler who is growing with confidence.
Jackson said earlier in the year that Schwitz wasn't comfortable with how he wanted to attack opponents on the mat with a various combination of moves.
"What we were saying all year is, 'quit over-thinking it,'" Jackson said. "Now he is just getting confidence back and starting to wrestle. He's a kid that has a lot of talent. He just needs to go out there and trust what he can do."
Sugar River senior Kalvin York (38-0), ranked No. 1 at 145, will be gunning for his first state title. York, a University of Wisconsin recruit who has been the state runner-up the past two years, received a first-round bye and won't wrestle until the quarterfinals at 11:15 a.m. Friday. York will wrestle the winner of today's match between Mosinee senior Dillon Gorman (38-5) and Pewaukee senior Ken Mischker (37-8).
Albany senior Nick Patchen (34-6) also received a first-round bye at 189 after winning a Richland Center sectional title.
DIVISION 3
Darlington junior Devin Malott (119) isn't a stranger to the Kohl Center. Malott, a three-time state qualifier and ranked seventh, is shooting for that elusive first medal.
Malott (38-7) will wrestle a preliminary match tonight against Marathon junior Alex Brickheimer (37-6). If Malott wins, he would wrestle a quarterfinal match against Bruce-Weyerthaeuser's Bubba Gudis (42-1), who is ranked second in the state.
Malott is just the second wrestler in Darlington school history to become a three-time state qualifier, joining Doug Chellevold. Malott holds the school record for most career pins, pins in a season and he eclipsed 100 career wins this year.
"My ultimate goal is to win a state championship," Malott said after finishing third at the Mineral Point sectional. "My goal is to be the best wrestler in Darlington. I just want to win a medal."
Darlington junior heavyweight Mark Brugger (22-11) will open the state tournament today with a preliminary match against Blair-Taylor senior Jeff Erickson (33-2). If Brugger wins his first match, he would wrestle Random Lake's Mason Anklam (31-10) in the quarterfinals.
That's the position Schwitz finds himself in, and he's embracing the opportunity with a workman-like attitude.
"It's been tough to think that I'm really going to the state wrestling tournament," Schwitz said. "It's hard to visualize until I get there. Once I get up there, it will sink in.
"It's just overwhelming to think about when they shut off the lights and do the parade of champions. I don't know if I can ever imagine being down on the mat."
Schwitz (30-15) will have a tough road to get into contention for a 135-pound medal. He will wrestle West De Pere senior Mark Puckhaber (39-2), who is ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, in the preliminaries tonight.
"Dylan is going in as the underdog," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "He has no pressure. (Puckhaber) can be beat. That's surprising."
Mosinee senior Andy Mullins (38-4) defeated Puckhaber, 4-3, in a sectional title match last weekend. Now Schwitz wants to repeat the feat. He wants to break through and make a statement.
"I want to win a match," he said. "I have the No. 1 kid in the state. My goal is to go six minutes with him."
Schwitz has made a run to the state tournament that coincides with an improved focus on the little things that often go unnoticed in a wrestling match.
"I have been better on my feet and with my takedowns," he said. "Overall, controlling the match has been key to winning."
Jackson points to a developing wrestler who is growing with confidence.
Jackson said earlier in the year that Schwitz wasn't comfortable with how he wanted to attack opponents on the mat with a various combination of moves.
"What we were saying all year is, 'quit over-thinking it,'" Jackson said. "Now he is just getting confidence back and starting to wrestle. He's a kid that has a lot of talent. He just needs to go out there and trust what he can do."
Sugar River senior Kalvin York (38-0), ranked No. 1 at 145, will be gunning for his first state title. York, a University of Wisconsin recruit who has been the state runner-up the past two years, received a first-round bye and won't wrestle until the quarterfinals at 11:15 a.m. Friday. York will wrestle the winner of today's match between Mosinee senior Dillon Gorman (38-5) and Pewaukee senior Ken Mischker (37-8).
Albany senior Nick Patchen (34-6) also received a first-round bye at 189 after winning a Richland Center sectional title.
DIVISION 3
Darlington junior Devin Malott (119) isn't a stranger to the Kohl Center. Malott, a three-time state qualifier and ranked seventh, is shooting for that elusive first medal.
Malott (38-7) will wrestle a preliminary match tonight against Marathon junior Alex Brickheimer (37-6). If Malott wins, he would wrestle a quarterfinal match against Bruce-Weyerthaeuser's Bubba Gudis (42-1), who is ranked second in the state.
Malott is just the second wrestler in Darlington school history to become a three-time state qualifier, joining Doug Chellevold. Malott holds the school record for most career pins, pins in a season and he eclipsed 100 career wins this year.
"My ultimate goal is to win a state championship," Malott said after finishing third at the Mineral Point sectional. "My goal is to be the best wrestler in Darlington. I just want to win a medal."
Darlington junior heavyweight Mark Brugger (22-11) will open the state tournament today with a preliminary match against Blair-Taylor senior Jeff Erickson (33-2). If Brugger wins his first match, he would wrestle Random Lake's Mason Anklam (31-10) in the quarterfinals.
