Historic Merrill - Sports

Merrill Bluejays

The sports teams at the Merrill High School are known as the Bluejays. The womens sports teams are sometimes referred to as the Lady Jays. The Bluejays have brought several state championships home to Merrill, including the 1964 state high school golf championship. The Merrill Bluejay wrestling team won the 1970 state championship. Whatever the sport and whatever the year, Merrill fans have always supported and been proud of their Bluejays!

 

Merrill Rangers

The Merrill Rangers baseball team thrilled many a fan during their heyday of the 1950s. Athletic Park was the "place to be" to cheer for the hometown heroes. The Rangers were the only team ever to win three consecutive state championships, from 1951 to 1953. Hank Aaron was but one of many outstanding players to compete against the Rangers. As a member of the Eau Claire Bears, he played in Merrill on June 29, 1952. The exploits of the Rangers are documented in the book "The Rangers Reign", by Louis Paetsch and Michael Weckwerth.

 

Fromm Foxes - Merrill Foxes    

The Merrill City team, forerunner to the Foxes, played football in Merrill during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1935,the Green Bay Packers, who toured the state during their training season, offered to come to Merrill and play the Merrill team. To come to Merrill, the Packers needed a guarantee of $300, which was underwritten by the Fromm Brothers Fox Ranch. The team adopted the name Fromm Foxes. On August 31, 1935, the Foxes tangled with the Packers at Athletic Park. The Packers won that game, 34 to 0.

 

The Fromm Foxes were disbanded during World War II. The team resurfaced after the war as the Merrill Foxes. During the 1940s, the team won three straight Wisconsin State Football League titles.