TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Three Lakes dual and Hall of Fame Night
On Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, the Merrill Varsity Wrestlers grappled with the Three Lakes team and also held their Merrill Wrestling Hall of Fame night. In the wrestling … “We had some good performances out of Wyatt Bathke and Callum Wheeler,” Merrill Head Varsity Wrestling Coach Brian Suchocki said. “They both earned pins and led the team. Joey Jensen, Ryder Depies, and Allison Hunter all received forfeits.”
The Merrill Wrestling Program also held their Hall of Fame Night (to be covered in an upcoming edition). Andy Lehman and Jered Severt were both inducted into the Merrill Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Bluejay Challenge
Merrill drew 20 teams to Merrill High School for the Bluejay Challenge Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. Wyatt Bathke led the way for the Bluejays, taking third “in a tough 195-pound weight class,” Suchocki said. “Wyatt continues to wrestle well. It is good to see his years of wrestling paying off on the mat.”
Brian Ball and Austin Depies both finished in sixth place, and Joey Jenson placed eighth, each in their respective weight classes.
“In a tournament this size, it was good to see them competing well,” Suchocki said. “As a team, all wrestlers were able to compete against similar competition and get some valuable mat time.”
Individual Bluejay Challenge results for Merrill:
106: Joey Jensen (14-9) placed eighth and scored 22.0 team points.
126: Brady Norton (9-12) placed 10th and scored 18.0 team points. Jon Hart (14-15) placed 11th.
145: Callum Wheeler (5-5) placed 11th and scored 16.0 team points.
160: Austin Depies (13-7) placed sixth and scored 28.0 team points.
170: Brian Ball (18-11) placed sixth and scored 27.0 team points.
182: Dominic Roper (3-9) placed 13th and scored 10.0 team points.
195: Wyatt Bathke (17-6) placed 3rd and scored 36.0 team points. Jordan Smukowski (1-9) placed 14th.
220: Carson Brooks (2-4) placed 10th and scored 16.0 team points.
220: Mikal Plautz (5-14) placed 12th.
285: Ian Dreikosen (4-9) placed 10th and scored 16.0 team points.
Overall, Merrill finished in 12th place out of the 20 teams, with 189 points. Wausau West Varsity Wrestlers took first place in the tournament with 505 points.
Merrill Wrestlers dual against Wisconsin Rapids
On Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, the Merrill Varsity Wrestling Team traveled to Wisconsin Rapids where the Bluejays took on the Red Raiders in a dual, one-on-one on the mat. Coach Suchocki said the Red Raiders are the number one ranked team, so this was a challenge going into the match, but Merrill did take home a couple of wins.
Wyatt Bathke won his match with a pin over Tanner Gormanson, and Brian Ball won his match 6-4 over Kailar Tritz.
“Both wins were good wins for us,” Suchocki said. “Wyatt continued his solid wrestling. He gave up the first takedown but battled back and eventually ended the match with the pin.”
“Brian had a tough opponent and gave himself a chance to win at the end when he reversed Tritz and put him to his back,” he said.
“Both of them are wrestling really well now. They need to keep building off of each competition. They are doing a nice job leading our young wrestlers.”