TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Bluejays wrestle some Tigers
On Thursday, Dec. 16, the Merrill Bluejays traveled to Marshfield to take on the Marshfield Tigers in the Marshfield High School Fieldhouse. The Merrill wrestlers had a tough adversary in the Marshfield team.
“We wrestled hard against the sixth state ranked Marshfield Tigers,” Merrill High School Head Wrestling Coach Brian Suchocki said. “We were able to pick up four individual victories on Varsity. Joey Jenson started us off with a nice victory for his first time wrestling on Varsity. Joey hasn’t wrestled in a few years but he is doing well regardless. Joey is a great team wrestler and works hard in the wrestling room.”
“Jon Hart was able to pick up a forfeit,” he added.
“Ryder Depies had the only pin in a very dominant performance,” Suchocki said. “Ryder is doing a nice job out on the mat.”
“Lastly, Kieran Hehling did a nice job in his match. Kieran hasn’t wrestled since his Freshman year, but he did the things we worked on in practice, and that helped him get the win.”
“Wyatt Bathke and Brian Ball had hard fought matches, as well,” he added. “With the young team, our older wrestlers are asked to lead and show the way. Everyone is working hard to make improvements each week.”
Box Score
Merrill 18 @ Marshfield 55
2021 Papermaker Invitational Wrestling Tournament
The Merrill Bluejay Varsity Wrestlers competed at the 2021 Papermaker Invitational in Kimberly, Wis. on Saturday, Dec. 4.
“At the first tournament of the year, Merrill placed 11th out of 16 teams,” Suchocki said. “5 of the 6 wrestlers competing placed in the top 10.”
“Leading the way was Ryder Depies (4-2), taking second place,” he said. He scored 44.0 team points. “Ryder did a nice job getting to the finals. In the finals, he faced the Division 2 Returning State Champion. Ryder is at a new weight class this year, and he is adjusting to it. Ryder works extremely hard, and this was a solid tournament for him.”
“All wrestlers competed hard and were able to pick up their first win of the season,” Suchocki said. “This was a great first tournament to measure ourselves. Three of the teams in the tournament have won State titles in the last two to three years.”
Other top Merrill scorers in their respective weight classes:
John Hart (2-4) placed eighth and scored 22.0 team points.
Brian Ball (3-3) placed sixth and scored 25.5 team points.
Dominic Roper (2-4) placed 14th and scored 10.5 team points.
Wyatt Bathke (3-3) placed seventh and scored 26.0 team points.
Kieran Hehling (2-4) placed 10th and scored 19.0 team points.