Blair wrestling coach Erich Warner earned his 200th dual win Friday during the Bears' home tourney.
His team's victory over Norris — it's 11th win of the season — earned Warner the career mark, which has been accomplished over 16 seasons. He remains first in BHS coaching history with 203 dual wins, while former coach Carroll Huff is second with 144.
A Warner-led team won the Class B Duals State Championship in 2019 with a school record 22 dual victories. Less than a month into the 2020-21 season, the Bears have 14 wins, though there is no state dual tournament due to COVID-19 this February.
Friday at BHS
Team standings: 1, Blair (5-0). 2, Columbus Lakeview (4-1). 3, Millard North (3-2). 4, Glenwood, Iowa (2-3). 5, Norris (1-4). 6, Fairbury (0-5).
BLAIR MATCH WINS
Blair 78, Fairbury 3
BHS wins by pin: Atticus Dick, Shay Bailey, Charlie Powers, Yoan Camejo, Dane Larsen, Braden Hanson, Dex Larsen and Gabe Gaskill
By forfeit: Jesse Loges, Luke Frost, Karter Scott, Landon Templar and Dylan Berg
Blair 50, Norris 22
BHS wins by pin: Powers, Camejo, Berg and Loges
By tech fall: Frost
By decision: Dick, Templar and Dex Larsen
By forfeit: Dane Larsen and Hanson
Blair 47, Columbus Lakeview 18
BHS wins by pin: Powers, Berg, Dex Larsen and Loges
By tech fall: Camejo
By decision: Templar (sudden victory), Dane Larsen, Hanson and Gaskill
By forfeit: Lance Hume
Blair 37, Millard North 33
BHS wins by pin: Dick, Templar, Powers and Loges
By major decision: Camejo
By decision: Berg
By forfeit: Dex Larsen
Blair 53, Glenwood (Iowa) 18
BHS wins by pin: Templar, Powers, Camejo, Hanson, Hume and Dick
By tech fall: Frost
By decision: Berg and Dex Larsen
Blair 138-pound wrestler Landon Templar doesn't mind a little extra mat time.
“No,” the junior said. “I do not.”
After 78-3 and 50-22 dual routs of Fairbury and Norris on Friday night, the Bears found themselves down to Columbus Lakeview 15-0 with Templar in the circle. The BHS standout needed to knock-off highly-ranked Viking Logan Jaixen to get his team on the scoreboard during the middle stages of their second home dual tourney of the season.
The 138-pound bout went to overtime, and the BHS grappler won by sudden victory with a quick takedown. Templar flexed for the family members in attendance and helped push his Bears to a 47-18 dual win.
Overall, coach Erich Warner's Bears went 5-0 for the night. They closed out their tournament title with wins against Millard North (37-33) and Glenwood, Iowa (53-18).
Templar's win against Jaixen was a highlight.
“I'm ranked behind him, so I knew this was a big one,” he said. “It was a big one to win the dual, and I wrestle better when its on the line for my team.”
The overtime victory pulled BHS within 12 team points of Lakeview, but also set off a 10-match winning streak against the Vikings. Charlie Powers and Yoan Camejo followed up Templar's match with a pin and a tech fall, respectively, before another pin by Dylan Berg at 160 pounds.
Dane Larsen then picked up a Blair decision at 170 pounds before Braden Hanson battled Landon Ternus at 182. Hanson led Ternus 5-1 going into the third period, but fell behind 7-5 with less than a minute to go. The Bear reversed out of a precarious situation, however, scoring his own back points as time expired to get a 10-7 victory.
Next, Dex Larsen — who also earned a notable win against Norris' highly-ranked Dylan Meyer — pinned his Vikings foe in 1:53 before Gabe Gaskill earned another down-to-the-wire win at 220 pounds. The BHS wrestler trailed 4-0 going into the third period, but finished the match with a 7-6 decision after cradling Austen Smith for late near fall back points.
“He was tired,” Gaskill said. “We wore each other down and I had to make a risky move to try to win.”
Instead of cradling the Lakeview grappler and rolling him from his butt to his back, he rolled the Viking forward over his head and stacked him up.
“I had to go for it,” the Bear said.
To close out the Blair win, Lance Hume added six points by forfeit before Jesse Loges earned his by pin at 106 pounds.
From there, the Bears edged Millard North by four points — with pins by Atticus Dick, Templar, Powers and Loges — and Glenwood by 35. Powers finished the night with five pins in five matches at 145 pounds, taking just 7:39 to do it.
Camejo, Dick, Loges and Templar added three pins apiece, while Luke Frost notched two tech falls.
The five dual victories pushed Blair's season record to 14-2. The Bears are next scheduled to compete Jan. 2 at Council Bluffs Lewis Central after the holiday break.
Other items that may interest you