MONROE - For Monroe junior Hayden Arneson, wrestling remains as much a mental game as it is a physical sport.
"I have the skill," Arneson said. "I just have to put it in my head that I want to win. I just have to wrestle hard."
Arneson had the will to win on the wrestling mat at an early age. He started wrestling when he was in kindergarten for the Monroe Mat Rats. The allure to wrestling became a motivation because wrestling served as both an individual and team sport.
"It's just only you," Arneson said of wrestling. "You don't have a team to rely on. I love everything about wrestling. We are a family. We are different than everyone else. We are unique."
Arneson (24-9), ranked ninth at 195 pounds in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 2 poll, could wrestle at either 182 or 195 in the regional depending on the status of senior McKenzy Foley. Foley has missed a big chunk of the season due to a knee injury but has returned to practice this week. However, if Foley (170) is able to return, the Cheesemakers could be in a prime position for a showdown with Evansville-Albany for a regional team title and sectional berth.
"A decision has not been made yet," Monroe coach Tom Witt said of Foley. "We are hoping he can wrestle."
Foley was a regional champion and sectional qualifier last year. The Cheesemakers are also hoping to get sophomore Sam Kind back after he missed the Badger Conference tournament due to a knee injury.
"We have to have him (Foley) to have a chance to win the regional," Witt said. "Evansville-Albany is the favorite. If we are going to push Evansville-Albany we need a full lineup."
Arneson's mission is simple. Survive and advance. The main threat for Arneson at the Evansville regional is Evansville-Albany junior Lucius Rinehart who is ranked third. Arneson is not looking past anyone on the mat. He wants to respect each opponent he may face.
"I just can't get in my head," Arneson said. "I just have to go in there and not look at the records. It doesn't matter who they are. I just have to wrestle them one by one and go.
Arneson lost a match to Rinehart 5-0 in a dual meet earlier this year. He's 1-1 in his career against Rinehart.
"I want to go in there, shake things up, take shots and pummel people," Arneson said.
Witt describes Arneson as a relentless wrestler.
"He (Arneson) has a high motor," Witt said. "He's a very conditioned athlete."
Arneson is focused on his fundamentals and wrestling for 6 minutes every match.
"He was at his best at Bi-State," Witt said of Arneson. "If he can do that the next few weekends he will be sitting pretty good no matter what weight he is at."
Arneson placed seventh at the Bi-State Classic in La Crosse earlier this season. If Foley and Kind both return to action, Arneson sees Monroe claiming a regional title.
"If everyone wrestles hard and we wrestle to the best of our ability we will win," he said. "We have the drive and the mindset. We haven't had it (regional title) in a while. We have improved so much as a team the last two years. It's mind blowing."
"I have the skill," Arneson said. "I just have to put it in my head that I want to win. I just have to wrestle hard."
Arneson had the will to win on the wrestling mat at an early age. He started wrestling when he was in kindergarten for the Monroe Mat Rats. The allure to wrestling became a motivation because wrestling served as both an individual and team sport.
"It's just only you," Arneson said of wrestling. "You don't have a team to rely on. I love everything about wrestling. We are a family. We are different than everyone else. We are unique."
Arneson (24-9), ranked ninth at 195 pounds in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 2 poll, could wrestle at either 182 or 195 in the regional depending on the status of senior McKenzy Foley. Foley has missed a big chunk of the season due to a knee injury but has returned to practice this week. However, if Foley (170) is able to return, the Cheesemakers could be in a prime position for a showdown with Evansville-Albany for a regional team title and sectional berth.
"A decision has not been made yet," Monroe coach Tom Witt said of Foley. "We are hoping he can wrestle."
Foley was a regional champion and sectional qualifier last year. The Cheesemakers are also hoping to get sophomore Sam Kind back after he missed the Badger Conference tournament due to a knee injury.
"We have to have him (Foley) to have a chance to win the regional," Witt said. "Evansville-Albany is the favorite. If we are going to push Evansville-Albany we need a full lineup."
Arneson's mission is simple. Survive and advance. The main threat for Arneson at the Evansville regional is Evansville-Albany junior Lucius Rinehart who is ranked third. Arneson is not looking past anyone on the mat. He wants to respect each opponent he may face.
"I just can't get in my head," Arneson said. "I just have to go in there and not look at the records. It doesn't matter who they are. I just have to wrestle them one by one and go.
Arneson lost a match to Rinehart 5-0 in a dual meet earlier this year. He's 1-1 in his career against Rinehart.
"I want to go in there, shake things up, take shots and pummel people," Arneson said.
Witt describes Arneson as a relentless wrestler.
"He (Arneson) has a high motor," Witt said. "He's a very conditioned athlete."
Arneson is focused on his fundamentals and wrestling for 6 minutes every match.
"He was at his best at Bi-State," Witt said of Arneson. "If he can do that the next few weekends he will be sitting pretty good no matter what weight he is at."
Arneson placed seventh at the Bi-State Classic in La Crosse earlier this season. If Foley and Kind both return to action, Arneson sees Monroe claiming a regional title.
"If everyone wrestles hard and we wrestle to the best of our ability we will win," he said. "We have the drive and the mindset. We haven't had it (regional title) in a while. We have improved so much as a team the last two years. It's mind blowing."
