Bluejay Challenge
On Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, Merrill hosted the Bluejay Challenge Wrestling Tournament. Boys Teams came to compete from Abbotsford, Adams-Friendship, Amherst, Antigo, Athens, Barron Area Schools, Boyceville, Chetek-Weyerhaeuser, Chippewa Falls High School, Colby/Abbotsford (Coop Team), Crandon, Edgar, Elcho, Lakeland Union High School, Marathon, Menominee Indian, Neillsville, Nekoosa, Rhinelander, St Croix Central, Stanley-Boyd, Three Lakes, Tomahawk, Tri-County, Wausau West, and Wittenberg-Birnamwood. Teams competing in the Girls Division came from Adams-Friendship, Almond-Bancroft, Amherst, Antigo, Athens, Barron Area Schools, Boyceville, Chetek/Prairie Farm, Chippewa Falls High School, Colby/Abbotsford (Coop Team), Crandon, Edgar, Lakeland Union, Marathon, Menominee Indian, Neillsville, Pulaski, Rhinelander, Saint Croix Central Elementary/St Croix Central, Stanley-Boyd, Three Lakes, Tomahawk, Tri-County, Wausau West, and Wittenberg-Birnamwood. Wrestlers were there to compete at multiple levels in both Divisions.
From all those teams and schools competing at the Bluejay Challenge, the Merrill Varsity Wrestling Team came away with a fifth place team.
“The Bluejay Challenge was a very competitive mid-season tournament,” said Merrill Varsity Wrestling Team Head Coach Brian Suchocki. “We had some wrestlers do really well. Overall we competed hard, even though some of the results weren’t quite what we wanted as a team.”
“Standing out for us were Callum (Wheeler) and Allison (Hunter) taking second place each, Callum on Varsity and Allison in the Girls Division,” he said. “Callum wrestled well all day. He is competing at a high level. He had a great chance in the finals.”
“Callum is coming out aggressive and using solid technique,” Suchocki said. “I really like how he is working in practice and he continues to get better. I know he wanted to get the win, but he will stay motivated and driven.”
“Allison had another good performance,” he said. “She lost in the finals to a familiar and tough opponent. At one point she tied up the match with a nice technique. Going forward I think this is a tournament Allison can build off of.”
“Noah (Klug) and Remington (Skic) each took third place. Both finished the day strong with great performances,” Suchocki said. “Remington really got after it and eventually pinned his opponent. I’m impressed with Remington’s consistency and work ethic each and every day.”
“Noah is continuing to grow throughout the season,” he said. “Noah was very aggressive in all his matches. Both wrestlers are setting themselves up for future success.”
“Austin (Depies) and Dusty (Schmirler) both took fourth,” Suchocki said. “Dusty had a nice tournament. You can see he is getting better in some positions, and his technique continues to improve.”
“Austin is right there,” he said. “Austin did a great job getting into the semi-finals. He is working to clean up some things moving forward.”
“All Merrill wrestlers competed so that was nice to see them all at the same tournament,” Suchocki said. “Our JV’s did a nice job, too. We had a few Champions – Caden Parham Stevenson, Yandel Carillo Vidal, and Noah Clifford.”
“The tournament was a good marker for us moving later into the season,” he said.
2024 Bluejay Challenge individual results for Merrill:
106 – Dustin Schmirler (24-5) placed 4th and scored 31.5 team points.
114 Girls – Allison Hunter (19-3) placed 2nd.
120 – Jayden Graap (14-3) placed 10th and scored 18.0 team points.
126 – Remington Skic (25-4) placed 3rd and scored 38.0 team points.
132 – Brett Suchocki (19-10) placed 12th and scored 14.0 team points.
138 – Brady Norton (16-8) placed 8th and scored 22.0 team points.
144 – Callum Wheeler (24-5) placed 2nd and scored 42.0 team points.
150 – Will Miemitz (3-9) placed 19th and scored 2.0 team points.
152 Girls – Gemma Malone (1-7) placed 6th.
157 – Ben Gruett (7-11) placed 12th and scored 12.0 team points.
165 – Hunter Opper (23-7) placed 7th and scored 26.0 team points.
175 – Austin Depies (22-7) placed 4th and scored 33.0 team points.
190 – Abrahm Norton (9-6) placed 18th and scored 4.0 team points.
215 – Noah Klug (23-6) placed 3rd and scored 36.0 team points.
285 – Mikal Plautz (22-7) placed 9th and scored 22.0 team points.
SPASH dual
The Merrill Varsity Wrestling Team hosted a dual against SPASH on Jan. 4 and were happy to kick off 2024 with a victory.
“This was a great dual for us to start the new year,” Suchocki said. “We overcame some adversity in our line-up. It was good to see the wrestlers Come out strong. Even in the matches we struggle, we fought hard and made comebacks in the match.”
“It was great for Austin (Depies) to get us started with a solid performance getting us the pin,” he said. “Noah (Klug) followed suit with getting a pin.”
“Jayden Graap wrestled his first Valley Conference Varsity match and wrestled well for us. It was good to get him in the line-up,” Suchocki said. “Remington (Skic) put in another dominate performance.”
“Brett (Suchocki) found himself down late in the match but got a reversal followed by the pin. He did a nice job staying in the match and when the opportunity came, he took it,” he said. Brady (Norton) went out and pinned his opponent with some solid technique.”
“Hunter (Opper) finished the dual out with a nice win,” Suchocki said. “Hunter is wrestling well.” Dusty Schmirler and Allison Hunter received forfeits.
High scorers for Merrill:
190 – Austin Depies (Merrill) over Roc Pecore – 6
215 – Noah Klug (Merrill) over Connor Skarsten – 6
106 – Dustin Schmirler (Merrill) over Unknown (For.) – 6
113 – Allison Hunter (Merrill) over Unknown (For.) – 6
120 – Jayden Graap (Merrill) over Camden Mayek – 3
126 – Remington Skic (Merrill) over Will Mlsna – 5
132 – Brett Suchocki (Merrill) over Jake Roberts – 6
138 – Brady Norton (Merrill) over Sam Riddle – 6
175 – Hunter Opper (Merrill) over Dominik Urrutia – 4
“We need to keep this momentum and take it into the next matches,” Coach Suchocki said. “We face number three state ranked Wisconsin Rapids Jan. 11.” That match will be held in the Merrill High School Fieldhouse, and wrestling fans are invited to come and cheer on the Merrill wrestlers.