Nine Merrill Varsity Wrestlers place in the top six at Kimberly Papermaker Invitational Tournament

Ryder Depies working to get the upper hand in a match.

TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

2022 Papermaker Invitational Wrestling Tournament
The Merrill Bluejay Varsity Wrestlers competed at the 2022 Papermaker Invitational in Kimberly, Wis. on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, and Merrill took 6th out of 16 teams.
Nine Merrill wrestlers placed in the top six for the Varsity Team at the 2022 Varsity Papermaker: Ryder Depies (second), Brian Ball (second), Jon Hart (fourth), Allison Hunter (fourth), Callum Wheeler (fifth), Brady Norton (fifth), Joey Jenson (sixth), Austin Depies (sixth), and Noah Klug (sixth).
“This was a good start to our season,” said Brian Suchocki, Merrill Varsity Wrestling Head Coach. “Seniors Brian and Ryder led the way for the team. These two are great leaders and did a great job on the mat Saturday.”
“Brian has become more explosive this season,” he said. And “Ryder is constantly looking for ways to improve.”
“Unfortunately, he gave up a quick five points in the opening seconds of his finals match against a returning State finalist,” Suchocki said. “Ryder kept fighting back, but it was too much to overcome.”
“Jon and Allison made the semi-finals and had really good showings,” he said. “Allison gained some confidence, and Jon is able to compete at a high level.”
“All the Merrill wrestlers did a nice job doing the things we are working on, and I felt we were in good shape to start the season,” Suchocki said. “One of the things our coaching staff is looking for is that wrestlers do what we are doing at practice. We accomplished that.”
“Now we need to work on refining our technique and being able to chain wrestle,” he said. “We have a big dual against Wausau West on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.”
2022 Papermaker Invitational Results for Merrill with weight class:
106: Allison Hunter (2-3) placed fourth and scored 11.0 team points. (Lost in Championship bracket and third place matches.)
120: Joey Jensen (3-2) placed sixth. (Lost in fifth place match; won in consolation bracket by fall.)
120: Jon Hart (3-2) placed fourth and scored 33.0 team points. (Lost by decision in both third place match and Championship bracket.)
138: Brady Norton (4-1) placed fifth and scored 33.5 team points. (Won by fall in both fifth place match and consolation bracket.)
145: Callum Wheeler (4-1) placed fifth and scored 33.5 team points. (Won by fall in both fifth place match and consolation bracket.)
170: Brian Ball (4-1) placed second and scored 43.5 team points. (Won by fall in Championship bracket and lost by fall in first place match.)
182: Carson Brooks (3-2) placed seventh. (Won by fall in seventh place match and lost by decision in consolation bracket.)
182: Austin Depies (3-2 placed sixth and scored 27.5 team points. (Lost by fall in fifth place match; won by decision in consolation bracket.)
195: Ryder Depies (4-1) placed second and scored 44.0 team points. (Won by fall in Championship bracket and lost by decision in first place match.)
220: Noah Klug (3-2) placed sixth and scored 29.5 team points. (Lost by decision in fifth place match and won by fall in consolation bracket.)
285: Mikal Plautz 1-4) placed 14th. (Lost by decision in 13th place match and won by fall in consolation bracket.)
285: Ian Dreikosen (2-3 placed 10th and scored 17.0 team points. (Lost by fall in ninth place match; won in tie breaker in consolation bracket.)