RICHLAND CENTER - Kyle Klopfenstein proved again that sometimes hitting rock bottom is the best thing for a true competitor.
The Monroe senior had one of his worst days of wrestling at this year's Badger Conference Tournament and now is heading to the WIAA State meet at the Kohl Center after placing second Saturday's in the 145-pound bracket of the sectional meet in Richland Center.
Since that fateful two-day tournament and Monroe head coach Jeriamy Jackson's decision to move Klopfenstein up one weight class, the senior has gained a head of steam and a full plate of confidence that's propelled him to high-school wrestling's biggest stage.
"I feel excellent. I have tons of confidence," Klopfenstein said. "It started at regionals, right after all those loses at conference."
Klopfenstein went 2-1 on the day, finishing second to two-time state champion Cole Schmitt of Sugar River. Klopfenstien, along with 103-pound sectional champion, junior Gavin Wels, will get to compete at the state meet for the first time in his career.
He started the tournament against Lodi's Dakota Cable and wore down the sophomore into a pin after 5:03 of sound technical wrestling. Klopfenstein wasted little time in his semifinal match and took down Westby's Nick Klum in 1:49, much to his surprise.
"The first match was harder than the second match," Klopfenstein said. "I went out, took him down and pinned him right away."
Klopfenstein's finals match with Schmitt was a re-do from the regional final, and while the future Badger pinned the Cheesemaker 1:35 into the first period, "Klop" was more than satisfied with the outcome.
"My goal was to last longer than I did at regionals and I did...five seconds," Klopfenstein said with a laugh. "Still it's more and I got a point on him (on an escape)."
Jackson and his staff look like geniuses after making the weight class upgrade for Klopfenstein and Jackson is proud of how the Cheesemaker lone senior upped his game during the postseason.
"He's done some of the best wrestling I've ever seem him do the last two weeks," Jackson said. "This is a guy coming off taking fifth at conference, kind of laying an egg there, and then coming on and wrestling just fantastic for regionals and sectionals."
The junior Wels earns the title of Monroe's only sectional champion during the 2007-08 season after two solid wins and a little luck going his way in the championship match against Evansville-Albany's James Boley.
Boley had a 5-4 leading with one minute left in the third period, but Wels was awarded points because Boley stalled (by riding both Wels hips) and interlocked his wrists, giving Wels a 6-5 victory and a sectional championship.
"I really got lucky today," Wels said.
Wels earned a first-round bye and will start his quest for a state title Friday at the Kohl Center and is in great position to get on the podium on Saturday.
"He's one win away now from placing at the state as a junior which is an amazing accomplishment for him," Jackson said. "He's just come a long way. I just like to see him have a little more confidence in himself when he's wrestling these guys because he does belong there. He's one of the elite wrestlers in the state."
In only his third year on the mat, Wels is ready to get back to practice as the memory of the Boley match - and the possibility of seeing Boley again this weekend - is still fresh.
"I got to do a lot of work," Wels said. "That kid had me beat. He really did."
Cheesemaker freshman Dylan Schwitz took two tough losses and will have to wait until next year to make state tournament. Schwitz was visibly upset with the defeats and Jackson knows that will only make Schwitz a better wrestler for next season.
"He hates losing and he thinks that he should be better all the time," Jackson said. "I love that out of him because he'll just keep working harder. And I know that he'll get there one day."
The Monroe senior had one of his worst days of wrestling at this year's Badger Conference Tournament and now is heading to the WIAA State meet at the Kohl Center after placing second Saturday's in the 145-pound bracket of the sectional meet in Richland Center.
Since that fateful two-day tournament and Monroe head coach Jeriamy Jackson's decision to move Klopfenstein up one weight class, the senior has gained a head of steam and a full plate of confidence that's propelled him to high-school wrestling's biggest stage.
"I feel excellent. I have tons of confidence," Klopfenstein said. "It started at regionals, right after all those loses at conference."
Klopfenstein went 2-1 on the day, finishing second to two-time state champion Cole Schmitt of Sugar River. Klopfenstien, along with 103-pound sectional champion, junior Gavin Wels, will get to compete at the state meet for the first time in his career.
He started the tournament against Lodi's Dakota Cable and wore down the sophomore into a pin after 5:03 of sound technical wrestling. Klopfenstein wasted little time in his semifinal match and took down Westby's Nick Klum in 1:49, much to his surprise.
"The first match was harder than the second match," Klopfenstein said. "I went out, took him down and pinned him right away."
Klopfenstein's finals match with Schmitt was a re-do from the regional final, and while the future Badger pinned the Cheesemaker 1:35 into the first period, "Klop" was more than satisfied with the outcome.
"My goal was to last longer than I did at regionals and I did...five seconds," Klopfenstein said with a laugh. "Still it's more and I got a point on him (on an escape)."
Jackson and his staff look like geniuses after making the weight class upgrade for Klopfenstein and Jackson is proud of how the Cheesemaker lone senior upped his game during the postseason.
"He's done some of the best wrestling I've ever seem him do the last two weeks," Jackson said. "This is a guy coming off taking fifth at conference, kind of laying an egg there, and then coming on and wrestling just fantastic for regionals and sectionals."
The junior Wels earns the title of Monroe's only sectional champion during the 2007-08 season after two solid wins and a little luck going his way in the championship match against Evansville-Albany's James Boley.
Boley had a 5-4 leading with one minute left in the third period, but Wels was awarded points because Boley stalled (by riding both Wels hips) and interlocked his wrists, giving Wels a 6-5 victory and a sectional championship.
"I really got lucky today," Wels said.
Wels earned a first-round bye and will start his quest for a state title Friday at the Kohl Center and is in great position to get on the podium on Saturday.
"He's one win away now from placing at the state as a junior which is an amazing accomplishment for him," Jackson said. "He's just come a long way. I just like to see him have a little more confidence in himself when he's wrestling these guys because he does belong there. He's one of the elite wrestlers in the state."
In only his third year on the mat, Wels is ready to get back to practice as the memory of the Boley match - and the possibility of seeing Boley again this weekend - is still fresh.
"I got to do a lot of work," Wels said. "That kid had me beat. He really did."
Cheesemaker freshman Dylan Schwitz took two tough losses and will have to wait until next year to make state tournament. Schwitz was visibly upset with the defeats and Jackson knows that will only make Schwitz a better wrestler for next season.
"He hates losing and he thinks that he should be better all the time," Jackson said. "I love that out of him because he'll just keep working harder. And I know that he'll get there one day."
