TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
On Saturday, March 19, 2022, 19 Merrill wrestlers competed at the Merrill Qualifier, hosted by the Merrill Wrestling Club, for a chance to make it to the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation (WWF) State Youth Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison on March 25 and 26. The top three from each weight class moved on. The 4th place wrestler became an alternate.
Merrill qualifiers
This year 11 area wrestlers qualified for the State Tournament. Brant Suchocki, Jayden Graap, Noah Klug, Willow Bathke, Emersyn Graap, and Madelyn Hunter all went as first place finishers. Mason Fuchs and Remington Skic qualified as second place finishers. Bennett Jacobson, Joshua Gustum, and Kendell Klug all qualified as alternates.
“Merrill is the second largest of eight qualifiers with 511 wrestlers. We have one of the stronger qualifiers, so getting 11 wrestlers to State out of the 19 we had competing was very good,” said Josh Klug, Board Member of the Merrill Wrestling Club. “All the wrestlers competed hard regardless of whether they qualified for State or not. We are proud of all our Merrill wrestlers for all their hard work and effort they put into preparing for this Tournament. The State Tournament is another step for the wrestlers and will be a great opportunity.”
Merrill wrestlers place at State
Of the 11 wrestlers who qualified and went to the WWF State Youth Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament in Madison on March 25 and 26, five of Merrill’s up-and-coming wrestlers placed at State. Madelyn Hunter and Jayden Graap each took home a fourth place finish, Emersyn Graap and Brant Suchocki each took fifth in their weight/age class, and Kendell Klug placed sixth.