MONROE - The last time Monroe sophomore Traiten Gorr wrestled Stoughton's Austin Benton came in seventh grade and he didn't know what to expect against the family friend in a rematch Friday.
Gorr at 182 pounds stormed back from a 7-5 deficit. He pulled off a reversal with 1 minute, 42 seconds left in the third period to tie the match at 7. Gorr then came through with a thrilling takedown with 7 seconds to go to seal a comeback 9-8 win.
"We have known each other for a while," Gorr said. "I didn't know if he had changed his wrestling style. I was pretty relieved. I'm not very much of a shooter. After that I knew I had to hold him down for those remaining seconds. My coaches have always yelled at me to be an offensive wrestler. They said if I wanted to set a goal I could be a more offensive wrestler."
Stoughton, ranked No. 8 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 1 team poll, rolled past Monroe 65-6 in the Badger South Conference dual meet. The Cheesemakers won two of the 10 matches wrestled. In addition to Gorr, Monroe sophomore McKenzy Foley (145) won 6-0. The Cheesemakers gave up 24 points forfeiting four weight classes including 113, 120, 220 and heavyweight. Both teams were missing key wrestlers. Monroe senior heavyweight Brett Zimmerman, ranked No. 4 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 2 poll, didn't wrestle because he's still recovering from a nagging back injury and Stoughton was without Joe Nelson, ranked No. 1 in Division 1 at 145. Eight of the 10 wrestlers in the Cheesemakers' lineup were freshmen or sophomores.
"You have to go through some growing pains sometimes," Monroe coach Tom Witt said. "Hopefully, they will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though we might not win, we want to keep on improving and I think we are doing that."
One example of that improvement is Foley who has won six of his last seven matches at 145.
"Early on, he was struggling on his feet to get shots and to finish them," Witt said. "For him to go 0-0 on his feet after the first period tonight is progress. McKenzy has got better on his feet."
Foley was able to deliver a cross face that led to a near fall at the end of the second period to take a 3-0 lead. He sealed the win with a takedown with 45 seconds to go in the third period.
"Early on, the matchups were tough," Witt said of Foley. "He was wrestling kids who were state ranked."
Witt has also seen improvements in Gorr. Benton was able to have a five-point swing against Gorr with a reversal near fall to take a 7-3 lead.
"He (Gorr) did a nice job of battling back," Witt said. "He got back on his feet and he was able to pull it out. As a shooter, he's getting better."
The Vikings had four pins. Stoughton freshman Brandon Klein (106) pinned Monroe freshman David Andrews in 4:57 and Stoughton junior Zach Hasselberger (126), ranked No. 2 in the state in Division 1, pinned Monroe freshman Cole Murray in 4:38. At 132, Stoughton's Kaleb Louis pinned Monroe sophomore Ian Salzwedel in 2:38 and Stoughton's Gunnar Helland (152) pinned Monroe freshman Isaac Allen in 1:44.
Stoughton sophomore Collin Kraus, ranked No. 3 in Division 1 at 126, knocked off Monroe sophomore Jarod Amacher in a technical fall in 4:14. Kraus took third place at state last year at 113. Stoughton's Patrick Reilly (160) defeated Monroe junior Mitch Swanson 11-3 and Monroe senior Austin Minder (195) lost to Stoughton's Brian Wagner 6-2.
"We are still young," Witt said. "I think if they keep battling tough and continue to work hard in the weight room, they will get better."
Gorr at 182 pounds stormed back from a 7-5 deficit. He pulled off a reversal with 1 minute, 42 seconds left in the third period to tie the match at 7. Gorr then came through with a thrilling takedown with 7 seconds to go to seal a comeback 9-8 win.
"We have known each other for a while," Gorr said. "I didn't know if he had changed his wrestling style. I was pretty relieved. I'm not very much of a shooter. After that I knew I had to hold him down for those remaining seconds. My coaches have always yelled at me to be an offensive wrestler. They said if I wanted to set a goal I could be a more offensive wrestler."
Stoughton, ranked No. 8 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 1 team poll, rolled past Monroe 65-6 in the Badger South Conference dual meet. The Cheesemakers won two of the 10 matches wrestled. In addition to Gorr, Monroe sophomore McKenzy Foley (145) won 6-0. The Cheesemakers gave up 24 points forfeiting four weight classes including 113, 120, 220 and heavyweight. Both teams were missing key wrestlers. Monroe senior heavyweight Brett Zimmerman, ranked No. 4 in the Wisconsin Wrestling Online Division 2 poll, didn't wrestle because he's still recovering from a nagging back injury and Stoughton was without Joe Nelson, ranked No. 1 in Division 1 at 145. Eight of the 10 wrestlers in the Cheesemakers' lineup were freshmen or sophomores.
"You have to go through some growing pains sometimes," Monroe coach Tom Witt said. "Hopefully, they will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though we might not win, we want to keep on improving and I think we are doing that."
One example of that improvement is Foley who has won six of his last seven matches at 145.
"Early on, he was struggling on his feet to get shots and to finish them," Witt said. "For him to go 0-0 on his feet after the first period tonight is progress. McKenzy has got better on his feet."
Foley was able to deliver a cross face that led to a near fall at the end of the second period to take a 3-0 lead. He sealed the win with a takedown with 45 seconds to go in the third period.
"Early on, the matchups were tough," Witt said of Foley. "He was wrestling kids who were state ranked."
Witt has also seen improvements in Gorr. Benton was able to have a five-point swing against Gorr with a reversal near fall to take a 7-3 lead.
"He (Gorr) did a nice job of battling back," Witt said. "He got back on his feet and he was able to pull it out. As a shooter, he's getting better."
The Vikings had four pins. Stoughton freshman Brandon Klein (106) pinned Monroe freshman David Andrews in 4:57 and Stoughton junior Zach Hasselberger (126), ranked No. 2 in the state in Division 1, pinned Monroe freshman Cole Murray in 4:38. At 132, Stoughton's Kaleb Louis pinned Monroe sophomore Ian Salzwedel in 2:38 and Stoughton's Gunnar Helland (152) pinned Monroe freshman Isaac Allen in 1:44.
Stoughton sophomore Collin Kraus, ranked No. 3 in Division 1 at 126, knocked off Monroe sophomore Jarod Amacher in a technical fall in 4:14. Kraus took third place at state last year at 113. Stoughton's Patrick Reilly (160) defeated Monroe junior Mitch Swanson 11-3 and Monroe senior Austin Minder (195) lost to Stoughton's Brian Wagner 6-2.
"We are still young," Witt said. "I think if they keep battling tough and continue to work hard in the weight room, they will get better."
