Merrill Varsity Girls Wrestling Team takes second at Waukesha West Holiday Tournament

The Merrill Varsity Girls Wrestling Team competed in a 31-team tournament at Waukesha West on Monday, Dec. 30, 2025, and came away with a second-place finish.
“Merrill wrestled consistent and persistent in all of its matches and was very resilient and relentless in their effort during the tournament,” said Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team Head Coach Scott Arneson.
Eighteen Merrill girls competed in the Holiday Tournament. Girls wrestling in Wisconsin has 12 weight classes, and to determine the team champion, the tournament director decided to have eight girls represent a team, meaning that each team’s best eight point scorers were used to calculate team scores.
Merrill finished with 141.5 points, just nine points behind champion Janesville Parker’s 150.5 points and well ahead of third-place West Allis Hale’s 118 points.
The tournament featured both Gold Division and Silver Division competition, with Merrill wrestlers earning medals across both divisions.

Individual results for Merrill
100 - Calleigh Berlik - 7th Place - Gold Division
100 - Evelyn Reinhardt - 3rd Place - Gold Division
100 - Natalia Woller - 5th Place - Gold Division
107 - Lola Klug - Did not place

114 - Gracie Vanvuren - Did not place
120 - Kendall Klug - 7th Place - Gold Division
120 - Madie Geiss - 2nd Place - Silver Division
126 - Lauren Hoffman - 4th Place - Gold Division
126 - Malaika Brown - 3rd Place - Silver Division
132 - Adison Clark - Champion - Gold Division
132 - Honysti Brown - Champion - Silver Division
138 - Kaylynn Allen - 5th Place - Gold Division
138 - Caroline Durbin - 2nd Place - Gold Division
145 - Abbie Krueger - 4th Place - Gold Division
145 - Mylie Kufahl - 2nd Place - Silver Division
145 - Morgan Sterzenegger - Champion - Silver Division
165 - Marissa Miles - 3rd Place - Gold Division
185 - Liberty Fuchs - 5th Place - Gold Division

“The ladies represented Merrill with class — we received many compliments on the size of our team, on how well the girls compete, and how they are aggressive and do a great job pinning people,” Arneson said. “As a coaching staff, we are going to get dialed in on skills and techniques we need to do in practice to keep making improvement steps daily.”

“We need to wrestle our best matches in February, and with what we are seeing from the girls in steady improvement in skills, attitude, and effort,” he said. “Hang on to your hats, as there is no telling how much better these girls can improve by February.”

Team Standings
1. Janesville Parker - 150.5 points
2. Merrill - 141.5 points
3. West Allis Hale - 118 points

4. Kenosha Bradford - 113.5 points
5. Mukwonago - 112 points
6. Wisconsin Lutheran - 102.5 points
7. Muskego - 83 points
8. Brown Deer - 75 points
9. Hamilton - 75 points
10. Evansville - 69 points

Arneson noted the Merrill Wrestling Program is always looking for more girls who are interested in joining. Junior Jays wrestling is for grades K-5, and the PRMS Boys and Girls Wrestling season started on Jan. 5, 2026.
The Merrill High School Girls Wrestling Team is also “looking for more girls who are disciplined and have a desire to become the best version of themselves,” Arneson said. “We definitely need girls for the 152, 165, 185, and 235 weight classes,” he said. “Wrestling is an awesome sport; it allows for any and all makes and models of individuals.”
On Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, the Merrill Girls will compete in a 16-team dual meet tournament at UW-Stevens Point, hosted by Wausau West, starting at 4 p.m.