Fourteen Merrill youth and middle school wrestlers joined a massive group of 540 participants in the folkstyle state wrestling qualifier in Merrill on Saturday, March 21.
The top two wrestlers in each weight and age group qualify for the state tournament to be held at the Aliant Energy Center in Madison this Friday and Saturday, March 27-28.
Merrill kids E.J. Weix, Carson Brooks, Tristan Brewington and Holden Smith all captured their classes, and Allison Hunter and Wyatt Bathke grabbed runner-up spots. Vaughn Albrecht (third) will be going as an alternate.
“The brackets were difficult but these wrestlers found a way to move on to state,” Merrill coach Brian Suchocki said. “Bradley Leiskau, Trevor Schenzel, Austin Mosher, Brian Ball, Walker Bathke, Hunter Hintze and Ryder Depies all had good showings and represented Merrill well, but fell short of making it to state.
“Overall, the Merrill wrestlers really competed well. We won three overtime matches and three other one-point matches. When you do that, you know had to work for everything you get. They all represented the community of Merrill well.”