RICHLAND CENTER - Seven area wrestlers punched their tickets to state at the WIAA Division 2 Richland Center sectional Saturday.
Monroe had four wrestlers qualify for state: senior Aaron Hesgard at 132 pounds, senior Kevin Klopfenstein (138), senior Trevor Gorr (220) and No. 10 ranked junior Brett Zimmerman (heavyweight).
"It was a great day," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "That is the four we expected to go. We thought a couple of other guys had a chance, but it didn't work out. There were no surprises."
Gorr (46-2), ranked fourth in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, was the sectional champion. The other sectional champions included Brodhead-Juda senior Hunter Colden (47-0), ranked second and fourth-ranked sophomore Logan Maurer (heavyweight). The top three finishers in each weight class qualify for state at the Kohl Center Feb. 21-23. The other area qualifier was Sugar River's Jak Nelson (195).
"He (Gorr) wrestled really well," Jackson said. "He did what he was supposed to do. He took care of business. I think he is starting to figure out what it takes to get to state and get on the podium."
This is Colden's fourth straight trip to state.
"It's the first time he has a teammate to go with him," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "I thought they (Hunter Colden and Maurer) both wrestled well. I thought they would both be the favorites, but you never know."
Klopfenstein, ranked fourth, finished second and pulled off a thrilling 3-2 win in overtime over Sparta's Tristan Zurfluh in his first match. Klopfenstein came through with an escape and then didn't let Zurfluh break loose.
"We knew that would be a tough match," Jackson said of Klopfenstein's match against Zurfluh. "We knew after that it would get a little bit easier for him."
In the semifinals, he defeated Belmont-Platteville's John Hentrich 3-0. Klopfenstein lost the championship match to Mautson's Colin Dolata 6-0. Dolata, who is ranked No. 3, was a state champion two years ago. He ended up with second due to an earlier win against Zurfluh. Klopfenstein is making his third trip to state and Gorr and Hesgard are making their second straight appearance.
Zimmerman (36-10) took second place by going 2-1. He pinned Columbus' Brenden Lillo in 1:15 and edged Mauston's Daryl Waukul 4-2. In the championship match, Maurer edged Zimmerman 3-1. Maurer has defeated Zimmerman three times this year.
"He (Zimmerman) has come a long ways," Jackson said. "Every time he wrestles him (Maurer) he gets better."
Hesgard (38-10) took third place and 2-2. He defeated Wisconsin Dells' Willie Vandenlangenberg 13-4 and beat Cuba City-Southwestern's Josh Donar 8-1. Hesgard lost to Sparta's Brock Dolhamus 12-2 in the finals. Evansville-Albany's Jordan Meyer then beat him 9-4 in the second place match. Hesgard is 1-2 against Meyer this year.
"It's back and forth," Jackson said. "They are both really close as far as talent. Maybe Aaron will get him next week."
Colden, who has set a new single season wins school record, pinned Richland Center's Joshua Kidd in 3:30. Colden then defeated Viroqua's Clay Fitzpatrick 10-8 and edged River Valley's Garrett Riek 5-4. Colden came through with an escape with 17 seconds to go to seal the win.
"The kid was flexible and their styles clashed," Tim Colden said. "Hunter kept his composure and did what he had to do to get the win."
Maurer, (45-2) pinned Lodi's Ryland Crow in 2:50 and pinned Richland Center's Mark Doudra in 2:44. He then pulled out a hard-fought win over Zimmerman.
"He (Maurer) wrestled a smart match," Colden said. "He didn't put himself in bad positions and didn't force things. Heavyweights are a different ballgame than every other weight class. Zimmerman also wrestled a very good match."
Nelson (27-13) defeated Sparta's Daniel Dawley 4-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he pinned Lodi's Cody Dolson in 4:33. In the championship match, River Valley's Zach Koch defeated Nelson 16-2. He finished second by rule since he beat Dawley in the quarterfinals.
Division 3
MINERAL POINT - Black Hawk sophomore Colin Novak finished third place at the WIAA Division 3 Mineral Point sectional to qualify for state.
Novak (34-10) at 113 pounds, went 2-2 at the sectional on Saturday. He assured himself a state berth by winning his first two matches. He pinned Necedah's August Pintarro in 3:21. In the semifinals, Novak defeated Weston-Ithaca's Jordan Rupp 11-0. In the title match, Deerfield's Jared Gilbertson pinned him in 25 seconds. Mineral Point's Reid Suddeth edged him 4-2 in the second-place match.
Monroe had four wrestlers qualify for state: senior Aaron Hesgard at 132 pounds, senior Kevin Klopfenstein (138), senior Trevor Gorr (220) and No. 10 ranked junior Brett Zimmerman (heavyweight).
"It was a great day," Monroe coach Jeriamy Jackson said. "That is the four we expected to go. We thought a couple of other guys had a chance, but it didn't work out. There were no surprises."
Gorr (46-2), ranked fourth in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online poll, was the sectional champion. The other sectional champions included Brodhead-Juda senior Hunter Colden (47-0), ranked second and fourth-ranked sophomore Logan Maurer (heavyweight). The top three finishers in each weight class qualify for state at the Kohl Center Feb. 21-23. The other area qualifier was Sugar River's Jak Nelson (195).
"He (Gorr) wrestled really well," Jackson said. "He did what he was supposed to do. He took care of business. I think he is starting to figure out what it takes to get to state and get on the podium."
This is Colden's fourth straight trip to state.
"It's the first time he has a teammate to go with him," Brodhead-Juda coach Tim Colden said. "I thought they (Hunter Colden and Maurer) both wrestled well. I thought they would both be the favorites, but you never know."
Klopfenstein, ranked fourth, finished second and pulled off a thrilling 3-2 win in overtime over Sparta's Tristan Zurfluh in his first match. Klopfenstein came through with an escape and then didn't let Zurfluh break loose.
"We knew that would be a tough match," Jackson said of Klopfenstein's match against Zurfluh. "We knew after that it would get a little bit easier for him."
In the semifinals, he defeated Belmont-Platteville's John Hentrich 3-0. Klopfenstein lost the championship match to Mautson's Colin Dolata 6-0. Dolata, who is ranked No. 3, was a state champion two years ago. He ended up with second due to an earlier win against Zurfluh. Klopfenstein is making his third trip to state and Gorr and Hesgard are making their second straight appearance.
Zimmerman (36-10) took second place by going 2-1. He pinned Columbus' Brenden Lillo in 1:15 and edged Mauston's Daryl Waukul 4-2. In the championship match, Maurer edged Zimmerman 3-1. Maurer has defeated Zimmerman three times this year.
"He (Zimmerman) has come a long ways," Jackson said. "Every time he wrestles him (Maurer) he gets better."
Hesgard (38-10) took third place and 2-2. He defeated Wisconsin Dells' Willie Vandenlangenberg 13-4 and beat Cuba City-Southwestern's Josh Donar 8-1. Hesgard lost to Sparta's Brock Dolhamus 12-2 in the finals. Evansville-Albany's Jordan Meyer then beat him 9-4 in the second place match. Hesgard is 1-2 against Meyer this year.
"It's back and forth," Jackson said. "They are both really close as far as talent. Maybe Aaron will get him next week."
Colden, who has set a new single season wins school record, pinned Richland Center's Joshua Kidd in 3:30. Colden then defeated Viroqua's Clay Fitzpatrick 10-8 and edged River Valley's Garrett Riek 5-4. Colden came through with an escape with 17 seconds to go to seal the win.
"The kid was flexible and their styles clashed," Tim Colden said. "Hunter kept his composure and did what he had to do to get the win."
Maurer, (45-2) pinned Lodi's Ryland Crow in 2:50 and pinned Richland Center's Mark Doudra in 2:44. He then pulled out a hard-fought win over Zimmerman.
"He (Maurer) wrestled a smart match," Colden said. "He didn't put himself in bad positions and didn't force things. Heavyweights are a different ballgame than every other weight class. Zimmerman also wrestled a very good match."
Nelson (27-13) defeated Sparta's Daniel Dawley 4-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he pinned Lodi's Cody Dolson in 4:33. In the championship match, River Valley's Zach Koch defeated Nelson 16-2. He finished second by rule since he beat Dawley in the quarterfinals.
Division 3
MINERAL POINT - Black Hawk sophomore Colin Novak finished third place at the WIAA Division 3 Mineral Point sectional to qualify for state.
Novak (34-10) at 113 pounds, went 2-2 at the sectional on Saturday. He assured himself a state berth by winning his first two matches. He pinned Necedah's August Pintarro in 3:21. In the semifinals, Novak defeated Weston-Ithaca's Jordan Rupp 11-0. In the title match, Deerfield's Jared Gilbertson pinned him in 25 seconds. Mineral Point's Reid Suddeth edged him 4-2 in the second-place match.
