MONROE — The Monroe Mat Rats continue to compete in area tournaments as the season starts winding down with regional qualifiers right around the corner.

Eight Monroe Mat Rats wrestled in two area tourneys March 3. Gage Ostby (10-under, 49-53 lbs) wrestled in the Dodgeville Youth Tournament and placed first in his age and weight bracket. 

Eight Mat Rats wrestled in the Verona Classic Youth Tournament. In the 2004-05 bracket, Jack Dubach (97-102 lbs) placed first. In the 2006-07 bracket, Payton Weckerly (99-105 lbs) placed eighth. In the 2008-09 bracket, Gage Jelle (70-76 lbs) placed fifth. In the 2010-11 brackets, Kaydon Proctor (46-51 lbs) placed fourth and Patrick Harms (73-78 lbs) was also fourth. In the 2012-13 brackets, Gabrielle Harms (46-49 lbs) placed seventh and Maverick Meighan (55-58 lbs) placed fifth.

Some of the Mat Rats will be heading off to the Dominate in the Dells Tournament March 9. Regional qualifiers are March 16, where the top two place winners in each age and weight class qualify for the Youth State Championships held March 22-23 at the Alliant Energy Center.