TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Nine Merrill Varsity Wrestlers–eight boys and one girl–traveled to Shawano on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, to wrestle in the Sectional Tournament. While each had high hopes of advancing to the State Tournament, only one will move on to represent Merrill at State. Merrill High School (MHS) Senior Ryder Depies qualified to advance to the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament to be held at the Kohl Center, UW-Madison, from Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 23-25, 2023.
The Sectional Tournament was a tough battleground for all the wrestlers.
The top two competitors in the Boys Tournament qualify for State, and only the top girl qualifies for State from a Sectional from the Girls Tournament, Merrill Varsity Wrestling Head Coach Brian Suchocki said.
“Ryder finished the day in dominant fashion with his third pin of the day,” he said. “Ryder has put so much work in, that he really deserves all his success.”
“Ryder made it to State last year, and now he gets another crack at it,” Suchocki said. “Ryder has been solid all year in his approach to practice and competition, and that will not change this week.”
“Ryder will wrestle Nelson Lueke of Waukesha West for his first match,” he said. “Ryder has some unfinished business. He is looking forward to this challenge. I’m confident in what Ryder will bring to the State Tournament.”
“No matter what happens,” Suchocki said. “I’m proud to be his coach. He is everything you want from a coaching standpoint. He is a good leader, hard worker, and has great character.”
Only one other Merrill wrestler made it past the first round at Sectionals, he said. That was Noah Klug.
“I was very impressed with Noah throughout the competition,” Suchocki said. “During the week leading up to Sectionals, we talked about showing courage even after some adversity. Noah is only a Freshman, but he didn’t wrestle like that. In the first round, he came up big with a pin and then had two heartbreaking losses, but it wasn’t because of lack of effort. I can’t explain how much he improved in the final weeks of the season. Moving forward he will be a force.”
“Jon Hart, Brett Suchocki, Brady Norton, Callum Wheeler, Brian Ball, and Austin Depies came up short of making it to State,” he said. “All of them had an uphill battle going into the Sectional.”
“Going in, we knew Brian would have a tough match-up,” Suchocki said. “Brian had to take on the number two seeded wrestler in the whole state. Brian had a great week of practice, but it wasn’t enough.”
“I’m proud of his approach and leadership throughout the season,” he said. “Brian accomplished many things this season and will have many more big accomplishments going forward. He will be missed as a Senior.”
“All our underclassmen wrestlers gained some very valuable experience at Sectionals,” Suchocki said. “They will all be back and hungry to improve off of this season. These are a great bunch of wrestlers with a bright future.”
“Allison Hunter competed in the first ever Girls Sectional,” he said. “Last year was the first year for the Girls State Tournament, and now this year girls had to qualify for State. The Girls State Tournament is now held alongside the Boys’ at the KOHL center Feb. 23-25.”
“Allison did a great job in her first match, getting the pin, but lost in the final,” Suchocki said. “Going in, Allison knew she would have to wrestle her best, and she competed well, but it wasn’t enough. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to get a wildcard spot either. Allison came up one spot short of being picked to advance to the State Tournament. She is a Junior that will get another chance to prove herself again next season.”
“Overall, I’m proud of all our wrestlers and look forward to the State Tournament,” he said.
Merrill Wrestling: Nine wrestlers go to Sectionals; Ryder Depies moving on to State
TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Nine Merrill Varsity Wrestlers–eight boys and one girl–traveled to Shawano on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, to wrestle in the Sectional Tournament. While each had high hopes of advancing to the State Tournament, only one will move on to represent Merrill at State. Merrill High School (MHS) Senior Ryder Depies qualified to advance to the WIAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament to be held at the Kohl Center, UW-Madison, from Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 23-25, 2023.
The Sectional Tournament was a tough battleground for all the wrestlers.
The top two competitors in the Boys Tournament qualify for State, and only the top girl qualifies for State from a Sectional from the Girls Tournament, Merrill Varsity Wrestling Head Coach Brian Suchocki said.
“Ryder finished the day in dominant fashion with his third pin of the day,” he said. “Ryder has put so much work in, that he really deserves all his success.”
“Ryder made it to State last year, and now he gets another crack at it,” Suchocki said. “Ryder has been solid all year in his approach to practice and competition, and that will not change this week.”
“Ryder will wrestle Nelson Lueke of Waukesha West for his first match,” he said. “Ryder has some unfinished business. He is looking forward to this challenge. I’m confident in what Ryder will bring to the State Tournament.”
“No matter what happens,” Suchocki said. “I’m proud to be his coach. He is everything you want from a coaching standpoint. He is a good leader, hard worker, and has great character.”
Only one other Merrill wrestler made it past the first round at Sectionals, he said. That was Noah Klug.
“I was very impressed with Noah throughout the competition,” Suchocki said. “During the week leading up to Sectionals, we talked about showing courage even after some adversity. Noah is only a Freshman, but he didn’t wrestle like that. In the first round, he came up big with a pin and then had two heartbreaking losses, but it wasn’t because of lack of effort. I can’t explain how much he improved in the final weeks of the season. Moving forward he will be a force.”
“Jon Hart, Brett Suchocki, Brady Norton, Callum Wheeler, Brian Ball, and Austin Depies came up short of making it to State,” he said. “All of them had an uphill battle going into the Sectional.”
“Going in, we knew Brian would have a tough match-up,” Suchocki said. “Brian had to take on the number two seeded wrestler in the whole state. Brian had a great week of practice, but it wasn’t enough.”
“I’m proud of his approach and leadership throughout the season,” he said. “Brian accomplished many things this season and will have many more big accomplishments going forward. He will be missed as a Senior.”
“All our underclassmen wrestlers gained some very valuable experience at Sectionals,” Suchocki said. “They will all be back and hungry to improve off of this season. These are a great bunch of wrestlers with a bright future.”
“Allison Hunter competed in the first ever Girls Sectional,” he said. “Last year was the first year for the Girls State Tournament, and now this year girls had to qualify for State. The Girls State Tournament is now held alongside the Boys’ at the KOHL center Feb. 23-25.”
“Allison did a great job in her first match, getting the pin, but lost in the final,” Suchocki said. “Going in, Allison knew she would have to wrestle her best, and she competed well, but it wasn’t enough. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to get a wildcard spot either. Allison came up one spot short of being picked to advance to the State Tournament. She is a Junior that will get another chance to prove herself again next season.”
“Overall, I’m proud of all our wrestlers and look forward to the State Tournament,” he said.