TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
On Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, four girls from the Merrill Varsity Wrestling Team competed at the WIAA Girls State Individual Wrestling Tournament at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wis.
“The Merrill girls capped off a great season with two of them taking the podium at the State Tournament in LaCrosse,” Head High School Wrestling Coach Brian Suchocki said. “This was the first ever WIAA Girls State Tournament, and to have two members of our Merrill Wrestling Team place was awesome.”
Assistant Coaches Scott Arneson and Carey Mullenberg coached the girls at State.
Arneson described the Tournament as “top notch” and said the LaCrosse Center “was a great venue.”
“I believe the girls felt special – and the Tournament personnel and the WIAA made the event special,” he said. “It was the right time of the season and the right place for the Tournament.”
“Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports,” Arneson said. “Hopefully the girls in the Merrill community will want to participate in the sport. Merrill has a great wrestling tradition and in time, hopefully we will have a full Varsity line-up of girls.”
“I challenge all the girls in Merrill in grades K-11 to give wrestling a try,” he said. “It is a great TEAM and INDIVIDUAL sport. And I will guarantee that if you join the sport, it will make you a better person – physically, mentally, and socially.”
“I’m very proud of the girls that gave wrestling a try this season,” Suchocki said. “The Girls State Tournament was a great event for them.”
This year, five girls make up the Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team:
Allison Hunter
Allison Hunter is a Sophomore and brings nine years of wrestling experience to the mat, Coach Arneson said.
She was in one of the largest weight classes as far as number of competitors in the Tournament, he added.
“She came out placing in the top 12 in the Tournament, which was great. She gained valuable experience and should be a great leader next year – and should be able to have some lofty goals for next year.” Arneson said.
Adeline Callos
Adeline Callos is a Sophomore and has three years of experience wrestling.
“I told Adeline from the beginning of the season that she could place at the Tournament if she worked hard and focused,” Arneson said. “She did just that and was able to come home with a fourth place finish at the first ever WIAA Girls State Wrestling Tournament.”
Bridget Steinagel
Bridget Steinagel is a Freshman in her first year of wrestling.
“It was awesome that Bridget was able to get a win down at the Tournament,” Arneson said. “She did a nice job this year learning the sport, she was a pleasure to coach, and hopefully she will continue with wrestling and will work hard in the off-season to better herself for next year’s season.”
Alissa Kracht
Alissa Kracht is a Senior who is in her first year of wrestling and wrestles in the 165 class.
“Unfortunately, Alissa was injured the week before the Tournament and could not participate,” Arneson said. “She has an awesome work ethic and wanted to compete, and I believe would have been successful at the Tournament if she would have been able to compete. She is very strong and physical, which obviously helps in the sport of wrestling.”
Brindelyn Eternicka
Brindelyn Eternicka is a Senior who is in her first year of wrestling.
“Brindelyn is very coachable,” Arneson said. “She is hard working, dedicated, and is always trying to improve. If she decides to keep wrestling after high school, I’m sure she will be successful.”
“She did an awesome job competing at State,” he added. “She listened well, executed our strategy, and made it to the Finals as a first year competitor. The girl that she had in the Finals had far more experience.”
“Hopefully, if Brindelyn keeps training, she will get a chance to wrestle the girl at the Girls State Freestyle Tournament in early May,” Arneson said.
Tournament recap
“I was very proud of the girls on how they represented their community, their school, their team, their parents, and themselves,” Arneson said. “They were a class act. They handled their wins and losses in the same manner, and they drew attention to themselves by the way they performed, not by the way they dressed or acted. They represented Merrill Wrestling with Pride and Class – which Coach Suchocki preaches weekly. They did Merrill Wrestling PROUD!”
“The neat thing is they got to participate in something that was ‘the First Time Ever!’” Arneson added. “They got to be pioneers for all of the future female wrestlers that will come through the program, and we are hoping to have a large number of girls representing Merrill yearly at the State Tournament.”
“Hopefully, we will have a full team and will have our own female wrestling team at the high school within three years and we will grow into the best wrestling team in the state,” Arneson said.
“All our girls practiced hard and improved throughout the season. I am so happy for all of them,” Suchocki said. “Talking to them about their experience is exciting.”
“Allison, Adeline, Brindelyn, and Bridget did a great job representing our Merrill Wrestling Team at State,” he said. “The hard work put into the season was worth it.”
“For Brindelyn to make the State Finals was incredible,” Suchocki said. “She has worked very hard all season. It’s so awesome how far she came in one year in wrestling.”
“Adeline is a fighter, and she proved to herself she belongs amongst the best in the state,” he said. “Adeline had some goals set for herself, and she was able to achieve them. I’m very happy for her.”
“As for Allison and Bridget, it was great for them to get wins at State and have this opportunity,” Suchocki said. “Allison is our most veteran wrestler, and she did a great job battling to go 3-2 at the State Tournament. She will continue to work hard to achieve her goals. Bridget improved a lot this year, and it was good to see her grow in the sport.”
Girls Individual State Results for Merrill:
107 – Allison Hunter, (3-2)
138 – Adeline Callos, (2-2) placed fourth.
145 – Bridget Steinagel, (1-2)
185 – Brindelyn Eternicka, (3-1) placed second.