The Blair High School girls wrestling team finished sixth in Bennington on Saturday with Madi James sweeping through her bracket.
The 145-pounder led the Bears with a 4-0 record, topping Auburn's Lucia Campbell in the finals by third-period pin. James secured three more pins on her way to the finals, bringing her quarterfinals match to a quick stop in just 37 seconds.
The Bennington Invite champ was just one of six BHS top-six finishers Saturday for coach Terry Bellamy. Ali Wheeler, a returning state qualifier, went 2-1 at 120 pounds, falling short to Beatrice's Morgan Maschmann in the bracket finale. The Bear did notch two pins first, though, securing a 32-second stoppage in her fist match.
Third-place Kara Rodriguez, meanwhile, went 3-1 at 155 pounds. She had three pins, finishing off her tournament with one against Omaha Westview's Ellyannah Clinton.
Blair's Emma Himes (100 pounds), Stevie Avila (110) and Applelynn Berryman (145) earned fourth-place finishes, too. Himes and Berryman were 2-2 on the day, while Avila went 3-2.
Though they finished shy of top-6 medals, the Bears' Emma Belnog, Bella Borges and Jo Inget notched two pins apiece. Jaslyn Raymond, Vivianne Shelton and Siena Smith scored falls during the Badgers' tournament, too.
BHS next competes Friday and Saturday during The Council Bluffs Classic at the Mid-America Center on the Iowa side of the Missouri River.
Bears split season-opening duals
BHS opened the season two days earlier, Thursday, splitting home duals with Fremont and Council Bluffs Lewis Central.
The Bears topped Fremont 54-30 first with Katie Wheeler, Belnog, Raymond, James and Rodriguez all earning contested victories. All five wins came by pin with Rodriguez (44 seconds) and Belnog (57) taking less than a minute to secure their's.
Inget, Lily Warren, Himes and Smith earned six team points apiece by forfeit, too.
During the 50-27 Lewis Central loss, Belnog, Inget and James won matches. Belnog and Inget secured pins, while James wrestled to a 6-2 decision victory against the Titans' Lindsay Trotter.
BHS' Reata Malmberg and Smith claimed forfeiture points during the dual, too.
BENNINGTON INVITE
Saturday at Bennington High School
GIRLS
Team standings: Yutan 167, Beatrice 149, Missouri Valley 135, Auburn 129.5, Riverside 128.5, Blair 119, Omaha Westview 100, Bennington 81, Columbus 57, Fort Calhoun 45.5, Omaha Northwest 22.
Blair top-6 placers: 1, Madi James, 145 pounds. 2, Ali Wheeler, 120. 3, Kara Rodriguez, 155. 4, Emma Himes, 100. 4, Stevie Avila, 110. 4, Applelynn Berryman, 145.
