LA CROSSE - Monroe junior heavyweight Nick Walker is still in contention for a championship at the 28th annual Bi-State Classic.
Walker went 4-0 Monday on the first day of the tournament to earn a berth in the semifinals Tuesday. Walker opened the tournament by pinning Adams Friendships' Andrew Collins in 1 minute, 59 seconds. He followed that up with a pin over La Crescent's Ike Vesel in 6:00.
Walker pulled out a thrilling 6-4 overtime win over Baraboo's Jordan Mukite in the third round. Walker earned a trip to the semifinals after he pinned Viroqua's Taylor Henry in 29 seconds in the quarterfinals.
The Cheesemakers have two other wrestlers alive trying to wrestle for third place including freshman Kevin Klopfenstein (119 pounds) and junior Dylan Schwitz (145). Both Klopfenstein and Schwitz went 3-1 on the first day of the tournament.
After receiving a bye, Klopfenstein pinned Portage's Alex Peterson in 2:00. Then, he defeated Ithaca's Nick Laack 13-3. In the quarterfinals, Wisconsin Rapids' Keegan Einerson defeated Klopfenstein 16-3.
Schwitz pinned New Richmond's Jacob Gills in 1:30 in the first round and pinned West Salem-Bangor's Shane Craig in 1:01. Schwitz defeated Holmen's Luke Medinger 8-6 in the third round. In the quarterfinals, Schwitz was pinned by South Saint Paul's Jesse Munos in 1:25.
Monroe senior Dillon Weckerly (171) finished the day 3-1. He started the tournament with a technical fall 15-0 win over Dodgeville's Tony Lease. Ellsworth's Parker Hines squeaked out a 4-3 win over Weckerly in the second round. In the consolation round, Weckerly pinned Loyal's Trevor Bauer in 2:38. He followed that up with a 3-1 overtime win over Marshfield's Kody Wilson.
At 189 pounds, senior Josh Mayer pinned Holmen's Ben Fiers in 1:59 in the second round after a bye in the first round. After a consolation round bye, Mayer won by an injury default over Cudahy-St. Francis' Jake Gerasch.
Fellow senior Cory Kundert (215) lost to DeSoto's Chad Johnson 17-2 in the second round. Kundert then rebounded and pinned Cuba City-Southwestern's Nate Poll in 2:06. In the third round of the consolations, Kundert lost a tight match 7-6 to Athens' Hunter Frahm.
Monroe freshman Aaron Hesgard (103) finished 2-2 Monday. After receiving a first round bye, he was pinned by Portage's Austin Vesely in 2:49. In a consolation match, Hesgard defeated Mauston's Jason Tomaloff 4-0. Hesgard then lost an overtime match 15-13 to Dodgeville's Trevor Wunnicke. Monroe senior Mason Goff finished 1-2 at 152 pounds.
Walker went 4-0 Monday on the first day of the tournament to earn a berth in the semifinals Tuesday. Walker opened the tournament by pinning Adams Friendships' Andrew Collins in 1 minute, 59 seconds. He followed that up with a pin over La Crescent's Ike Vesel in 6:00.
Walker pulled out a thrilling 6-4 overtime win over Baraboo's Jordan Mukite in the third round. Walker earned a trip to the semifinals after he pinned Viroqua's Taylor Henry in 29 seconds in the quarterfinals.
The Cheesemakers have two other wrestlers alive trying to wrestle for third place including freshman Kevin Klopfenstein (119 pounds) and junior Dylan Schwitz (145). Both Klopfenstein and Schwitz went 3-1 on the first day of the tournament.
After receiving a bye, Klopfenstein pinned Portage's Alex Peterson in 2:00. Then, he defeated Ithaca's Nick Laack 13-3. In the quarterfinals, Wisconsin Rapids' Keegan Einerson defeated Klopfenstein 16-3.
Schwitz pinned New Richmond's Jacob Gills in 1:30 in the first round and pinned West Salem-Bangor's Shane Craig in 1:01. Schwitz defeated Holmen's Luke Medinger 8-6 in the third round. In the quarterfinals, Schwitz was pinned by South Saint Paul's Jesse Munos in 1:25.
Monroe senior Dillon Weckerly (171) finished the day 3-1. He started the tournament with a technical fall 15-0 win over Dodgeville's Tony Lease. Ellsworth's Parker Hines squeaked out a 4-3 win over Weckerly in the second round. In the consolation round, Weckerly pinned Loyal's Trevor Bauer in 2:38. He followed that up with a 3-1 overtime win over Marshfield's Kody Wilson.
At 189 pounds, senior Josh Mayer pinned Holmen's Ben Fiers in 1:59 in the second round after a bye in the first round. After a consolation round bye, Mayer won by an injury default over Cudahy-St. Francis' Jake Gerasch.
Fellow senior Cory Kundert (215) lost to DeSoto's Chad Johnson 17-2 in the second round. Kundert then rebounded and pinned Cuba City-Southwestern's Nate Poll in 2:06. In the third round of the consolations, Kundert lost a tight match 7-6 to Athens' Hunter Frahm.
Monroe freshman Aaron Hesgard (103) finished 2-2 Monday. After receiving a first round bye, he was pinned by Portage's Austin Vesely in 2:49. In a consolation match, Hesgard defeated Mauston's Jason Tomaloff 4-0. Hesgard then lost an overtime match 15-13 to Dodgeville's Trevor Wunnicke. Monroe senior Mason Goff finished 1-2 at 152 pounds.
