MADISON - Enough tears have flown in the doldrums of the Kohl Center the first two days of the WIAA State Individual Tournament to create a sixth ocean.
But after Monroe's Gavin Wels came up on the wrong side of 6-1 decision Friday to Luxemburg-Casco freshman Justin Mudlaff in the 103-pound semifinals, the Cheesemaker junior returned to the locker rooms as calm as a lake.
"I made it, I'm happy this year," Wels said.
Wels will have to wait until next year to get into the state finals and will likely see the young Mudlaff down the road. The tiny waterbug took down Wels for two points in the first five seconds and kept the Cheesemaker flat on his stomach for nearly the entire first period. In the second period, the two tangled from the upright position until Wels took a shot at Mudlaff and spun into the freshman's waiting arms which wrought him down again for a 4-0 lead.
The score stayed 4-0 until 36 seconds left in the third period when Wels hooked Mudlaff's leg, but he lost control and Mudlaff dropped Wels back to the mat. Wels earned a last-second escape, literally, before the horn sounded.
"He's very technically sound," Wels said. "He was better than me. He really was."
The loss sends Wels to the consolation bracket and the best place he can hope for is third place. Wels picks up his state tournament run this morning at 11 a.m. versus another freshman in Tyler Van Rite of Denmark.
Monroe head coach Jeriamy Jackson usually has a checklist of little mistakes that Wels would make in a given match, but had nothing but compliments for his lightweight grappler. He stressed to Wels and senior Kyle Klopfenstein to drink in the sights and sounds of the sports' biggest stage since the pressure of making it to Madison was in the rear-view mirror.
"Now it's about doing as good as we can," Jackson said. "(We said) take time to look around and enjoy the accomplishment."
Senior Klopfenstein - wrestling at the state tournament for the first time - saw his quest for the 145-pound championship brought to a sudden halt when Tommy Dobbs of Melrose-Mindoro/Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau pinned the Cheesemaker in 1:06.
With the hopes of reaching the pinnacle of the podium dashed, Klopfenstein didn't find refuge in a dark corner of the Kohl Center. He went out, got some fresh air and some sustenance.
"We went to the Nitty Gritty and had some lunch. Just (ate) a Nitty Gritty burger," Klopfenstein said.
That extra protein came in handy when Klop turned an 8-5 deficit against Valders junior Austin McCulley into a 10-8 advantage with just 18 seconds left in the second period. A bloody-nosed Klop started in the down position at a restart with 18 ticks and quickly broke McCulley's wrist-waist lock for an escape. Klop then dragged McCulley to the ground and a nearly got the pin before the period buzzer sounded.
"I got both of his hands and he didn't have any control on me. I just kicked out and got him down real quick," Klopfenstein said.
The Monroe captain started the final period in the down position and was an awarded a point as McCulley rode Klop's neck. With 36 seconds, Klopfenstein reversed the advantage to put the match away at 13-8 and grinded the last half-minute out.
Jackson's emotions were changing with every move during Klop's match and the skipper was elated when the senior secured a spot on the podium tonight with at least a six-place finish, if not a bronze medal for third. Klopfenstein will begin climbing the ladder for third today at 11 a.m. versus Pewaukee junior David Phillips.
"That was a topsy-turvy match, but he wrestled well," Jackson said. "Now were still going into tomorrow and we're still going for third. He's guaranteed a medal here now. It's just unbelievable."
But after Monroe's Gavin Wels came up on the wrong side of 6-1 decision Friday to Luxemburg-Casco freshman Justin Mudlaff in the 103-pound semifinals, the Cheesemaker junior returned to the locker rooms as calm as a lake.
"I made it, I'm happy this year," Wels said.
Wels will have to wait until next year to get into the state finals and will likely see the young Mudlaff down the road. The tiny waterbug took down Wels for two points in the first five seconds and kept the Cheesemaker flat on his stomach for nearly the entire first period. In the second period, the two tangled from the upright position until Wels took a shot at Mudlaff and spun into the freshman's waiting arms which wrought him down again for a 4-0 lead.
The score stayed 4-0 until 36 seconds left in the third period when Wels hooked Mudlaff's leg, but he lost control and Mudlaff dropped Wels back to the mat. Wels earned a last-second escape, literally, before the horn sounded.
"He's very technically sound," Wels said. "He was better than me. He really was."
The loss sends Wels to the consolation bracket and the best place he can hope for is third place. Wels picks up his state tournament run this morning at 11 a.m. versus another freshman in Tyler Van Rite of Denmark.
Monroe head coach Jeriamy Jackson usually has a checklist of little mistakes that Wels would make in a given match, but had nothing but compliments for his lightweight grappler. He stressed to Wels and senior Kyle Klopfenstein to drink in the sights and sounds of the sports' biggest stage since the pressure of making it to Madison was in the rear-view mirror.
"Now it's about doing as good as we can," Jackson said. "(We said) take time to look around and enjoy the accomplishment."
Senior Klopfenstein - wrestling at the state tournament for the first time - saw his quest for the 145-pound championship brought to a sudden halt when Tommy Dobbs of Melrose-Mindoro/Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau pinned the Cheesemaker in 1:06.
With the hopes of reaching the pinnacle of the podium dashed, Klopfenstein didn't find refuge in a dark corner of the Kohl Center. He went out, got some fresh air and some sustenance.
"We went to the Nitty Gritty and had some lunch. Just (ate) a Nitty Gritty burger," Klopfenstein said.
That extra protein came in handy when Klop turned an 8-5 deficit against Valders junior Austin McCulley into a 10-8 advantage with just 18 seconds left in the second period. A bloody-nosed Klop started in the down position at a restart with 18 ticks and quickly broke McCulley's wrist-waist lock for an escape. Klop then dragged McCulley to the ground and a nearly got the pin before the period buzzer sounded.
"I got both of his hands and he didn't have any control on me. I just kicked out and got him down real quick," Klopfenstein said.
The Monroe captain started the final period in the down position and was an awarded a point as McCulley rode Klop's neck. With 36 seconds, Klopfenstein reversed the advantage to put the match away at 13-8 and grinded the last half-minute out.
Jackson's emotions were changing with every move during Klop's match and the skipper was elated when the senior secured a spot on the podium tonight with at least a six-place finish, if not a bronze medal for third. Klopfenstein will begin climbing the ladder for third today at 11 a.m. versus Pewaukee junior David Phillips.
"That was a topsy-turvy match, but he wrestled well," Jackson said. "Now were still going into tomorrow and we're still going for third. He's guaranteed a medal here now. It's just unbelievable."
