Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
Merrill hosted their annual Northern Exposure wrestling tournament on Thursday and Friday. The Bluejays had two wrestlers go undefeated and one wrestler with one loss in the tournament, and placed ninth as a team.
Jake Spoehr was one of the Merrill wrestlers to go undefeated. Spoehr got his first win against Manawa as he pinned his opponent in 1:43. He would then go on to win by forfeit before pinning his next three opponents from Waukesha South, Sauk Prairie, and Marquette. After going 5-0 the first day, Spoehr started off the second day with a pin against East Troy and then finished off the tournament with a pin against Menomonie.
Noah Bolling would also go undefeated for the Bluejays as he started out the tournament with a forfeit before pinning his next opponent. Bolling would then get another forfeit victory against Waukesha before beating his opponent from Sauk Prairie 2-0. Bolling’s day would end with another forfeit win against Marquette. In day two Bolling pinned his opponents from East Troy and Menomonie to finish off the tournament.
Bradley Leiskau finished the tournament with only one loss going 6-1. He would win his first match against Manawa by a score of 8-0. Leiskau would then win by fall in only 1:20 before taking his one loss to Waukesha South. Leiskau would then bounce back and pin his opponents from Sauk Prairie and Marquette to finish his day 4-1. In day two Leiskau pinned both opponents, winning in 1:22 against East Troy and in 2:22 against Menomonie.
The following is the rest of the Merrill individual results: Trevor Schenzel 2-5, Tanner Depies 4-3, Alex Gerhke 5-2, Jacob Woller 3-4, Brody Gehrke 5-2, Casey Hoffman 4-2, Carter Bayer 4-2, Cody Depies 1-0, Wyatt Koehler 2-4, Ethan Cordova 0-1, Tyler Leistikow 2-5, Walker Bathke 3-4, Vaughn Albrecht 3-4.
Merrill will be wrestling again on Saturday as they host another invite with weigh-ins at 8 a.m.