TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

On Saturday, Jan. 30, the Merrill Bluejay Wrestling team traveled to DC Everest for the regional wrestling tournament. The top two wrestlers in each weight class qualified for the sectional tournament to be held at Wausau East High School on Saturday, Feb. 6.
Ryder Depies and Wyatt Bathke each took second place in their weight class. In the 182 weight class, Depies (8-3) placed second and scored 21 team points. Bathke wrestled in the 195 weight class (4-2), placed second, and scored 20 team points.
“Ryder wrestled a solid tournament,” said Coach Brian Suchocki. “It’s great to see him get the chance to compete next week. Ryder has put a lot of time and effort into the sport. He had a very nice win in a wrestle back to advance to the sectional. This week he will put everything into it, as he always does.”
“Wyatt had a nice throw on a 7th ranked state wrestler in the semi final match,” Suchocki said. “The throw was well timed and it was a highlight of the day. Wyatt is improving down the stretch of the season and it’s good to see.”
Tavius Morris (11 team points), Mikal Plautz, Brian Ball (3 team points), Nik Zastrow (11 team points), Tristan Brewington (10 team points), and Jon Hart (7 team points) also competed.
“Unfortunately the other 6 wrestlers seasons ended Thursday,” Suchocki said. “We had some young and inexperienced wrestlers competing, but they battled hard this season and wrestled well at the regional. In a normal season, four wrestlers qualify from the regional to the sectional. If that would have been the case this year, we would have qualified six to next week. John Hart, Tristan Brewington, Nik Zastrow and Tavius Morris all placed 4th at the regional. Tavius and Nik wrestled their last matches as a Bluejay. Both seniors will be missed. Nik gave us everything he had. Tavius put a lot into making the line-up. The character and how they represented Merrill is first class. Merrill wrestling wishes them and all the seniors the best in their future pursuits. Thank you seniors!”
Two wrestlers out of the 29 schools represented in the sectional tournament on Feb. 6 will advance to the state tournament. Good luck to Ryder and Wyatt!

Ryder Depies has his opponent off the ground.

Wyatt Bathke