Merrill Varsity Girls take first at Hodag Wrestling tournament

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, the Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team invited their counterparts from both Wausau East and DC Everest high schools to a practice scrimmage. “It was the first chance the majority of the girls were able to unofficially compete against other girls,” said Scott Arneson, Merrill Girls Wrestling Team Head Coach. “The scrimmage was just what the girls needed to get prepared for their first and last competition of 2024.”
The Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team then traveled to Rhinelander on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, for their first competition, competing against 16 other teams in the Hodag Scramble Wrestling Tournament, and the Lady Jays walked away with a phenomenal first place.
Of note since the ladies were competing in Rhinelander, Head Coach Scott Arneson offered up a couple pieces of trivia, confiding that he was formerly a Hodag himself, having graduated from Rhinelander High School, and then noted that his son, Scottie, is the current Head Wrestling Coach for Rhinelander High School.
“Merrill took 14 girls to the individual Hodag Holiday Wrestling Tournament,” Arneson said. “Their efforts were extraordinary, their attitudes awesome, and their performances were ‘above’ par.”
Both Coach Ali Natzke and Coach Arneson said they were very proud of the girls’ performances.
“The girls will practice several times over the Christmas break and get ready for a very busy January full of competition,” Arneson said.
“It is never too late to join our high school girls wrestling team,” he said. “We still have plenty of room for girls looking to get in better shape, who want to work hard while trying something new, and who want to become the best version of themselves.”
“Middle school and elementary age girls, we also have practices for you starting in January,” Arneson said. “Merrill Girls Wrestling is working to be one of the best programs in the state. Join us and be part of the excitement.”

Hodag Scramble 2024 individual results for Merrill:
100 - Natalia Woller took first.
107 - Madlyn Hunter took first and Natalia Woller took third.
114 - Katelynn Grawien took fifth and Gracie Vanvuren took sixth.
126 - Kendell Klug took third.
132 - Adison Clark took first, and Kaylynn Allen took second.
138 - Caroline Durban took third.
152 - Bryanna Doerr took sixth.
165 - Marissa Miles took third, and Liberty Fuchs took sixth.
185 - Merin Yates took third, and Kylee Hoffman took fifth.
235 - Shelby Yates took third.

Team results:
Merrill took first place over the teams from Ashland, Spencer, Chequamegon, Tomahawk, DC Everest, Hayward Community Schools, Kingsford, Amherst, Athens, Crivitz, Elcho, Florence, Lena, Marathon, Phillips, Rosholt, Laona-Wabeno, Wautoma, Wittenberg-Birnamwood, Crandon, Gladstone, Iron Mountain, Northwestern, Menominee (Mich.), and Eau Claire North.