The Merrill wrestlers dropped a 49-17 home match to Valley-leading Wis. Rapids last Thursday, then posted an eighth-place finish in Saturday’s elite Pulaski Invite.
The Jays put eight grapplers in the top six at Pulaski, but only two made the top four – champions Scott Arneson (132) and Mason Reinhardt (170). Arneson (35-1) was named the Outstanding Wrestler for knocking off a pair of top-ranked wrestlers, and Reinhardt (35-1) pinned his way through his class.
“We’re shooting for a top-five, top-four finish every year,” MHS coach Scott Arneson said. “We were in the upper half and it’s a very high-level tourney.
“The same in the Valley. We’re right in the middle. Can we step up out of the middle? That’s the question.”
The Jays will get a shot at that in Saturday’s WVC Meet at Marshfield.
Arneson pulled big wins over 30-3 (#13) Scott Cook (3:16) and 30-3 (#1) Tres Leon (10-2 MD). Only one of Reinhardt’s foes made it out of the first period.
“Scottie is wrestling well. Any time you get Most Valuable, that’s a compliment,” Arneson said. “Mason is getting after it.”
Finishing fifth were Devon Schultz (120, 31-5) and Tanner Pettit (145, 23-13). Placing sixth were Aidan Ball (113, 28-10), Hunter Welch (138, 16-7), Collin Zoellner (220, 17-16) and Christian Kleinschmidt (285, 22-14).
Team standings– Freedom 181, Bay Port 173.5, Kaukauna 163, Pulaski 162.5, Luxemburg-Casco 145, Oconto Falls 130, Coleman 129.5, Merrill 124, Denmark 111.5 Hortonville111, Port Washington 83.5 New London 81, Seymour 70, Peshtigo 39, Valders 30, Neenah 18.
Rapids transit
The Jays managed four wins in Thursday’s Senior Night match – Arneson (18-3 TF), Welch (5-0), Reinhardt (182, forf.) and Schultz (4-2, OT).
“We’re a little disappointed because we’d like to get a win for all our seniors,” Arneson said. “
Losses came from Pettit (5-2), Brandon McCarthy (152, 3:47), Lee (170, 5-0), Riley Kurtz (195, 15-3), Zoellner (1:27), Kleinschmidt (1:03), Ball (3-2) and three forfeits.