Blair wrestler earns 2nd-straight state qualification
Blair senior Ali Wheeler celebrates her second state qualification Saturday at Crete High School.
Grant Egger
Blair senior Ali Wheeler, top, wrestles Saturday during the Class A-1 District Tournament at Crete High School.
Grant Egger
Blair Bears Emma Belnog, from left, Reata Malmberg and Ali Wheeler qualified for the 2025 NSAA Girls Wrestling Championships on Feb. 8 during a district tournament in Crete.
Grant Egger
Blair wrestler Ali Wheeler, left, wrenches her Gretna opponent's arm into a pin Saturday during the Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament at Elkhorn High School.
Grant Egger
Blair's Ali Wheeler, facing, takes her opponent to the mat Saturday at Gretna East High School.
Grant Egger
Blair High School wrestling seniors Ali Wheeler, from left, Jaslyn Raymond, Karlie DeWitt-Dodd, Jo Inget, Siena Smith and Riley Martin pose for a photo Friday with the 2 River Ruckus traveling trophy.
Grant Egger
Ali Wheeler, front left, wrestles Siena Smith on Thursday during a Blair High School wrestling practice.
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Blair Bear Ali Wheeler, facing, works to turn her opponent Friday in Omaha.
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Blair's Ali Wheeler, left, faces Omaha North's Chelsey Robinson during the quarterfinals Thursday in Omaha.
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Blair 115-pounder Ali Wheeler, right, sprawls out of a takedown attempt by Omaha North's Chelsey Robinson on Thursday in Omaha.
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Blair's Ali Wheeler, left, works to break the grip of Omaha Westview's Kaniya Watkins on Thursday in Omaha.
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Blair 115-pounder Ali Wheeler has her hand raised after a first-round pin Thursday during the NSAA State Wrestling Championships in Omaha.
Grant Egger
Blair wrestler Ali Wheeler has her hand raised after securing a state tournament berth Friday during an NSAA District Tournament at York High School.
Grant Egger
Blair wrestlers Savanah Roan, left, and Ali Wheeler qualified for the NSAA State Wrestling Championships during the District 2 Tournament at York High School.
Grant Egger
Blair's Ali Wheeler, top, puts Falls City's Paige Young to the mat Friday at Plattsmouth High School.
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Blair's Ali Wheeler, top, pins her opponent Saturday at Bennington High School.
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Josie Tilson grabs a leg and takes Ali Wheeler, left, to the mat Nov. 15 during practice at Blair High School.
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Blair's Ali Wheeler, top, latches onto the wrist of Millard North's Kloee Mitcham on Friday at Fremont High School.
Grant Egger
Blair 115-pounder Alison Wheeler, top, pins Elkhorn's Sydney Ferzely on Saturday during the Eastern Midlands Conference Tournament at Bennington High School.
Grant Egger
Blair's Alison Wheeler, top, wrestles Millard South's Addison Bundy on Monday at Conestoga High School.
Grant Egger
Blair's Alison Wheeler, top, works to turn Annie Gallegos of Washburn on Friday at the Mid-America Center.
Grant Egger
Members of the first NSAA-sanctioned Blair High School girls wrestling team pose for a photo Tuesday afternoon during just their second day of practice. They are Maia Opetaia-Swope, front row, from left, Ali Wheeler, Jaslyn Raymond, Riley Martin, Josie Tilson, Brooklynn Cziria and Lindsey Bennett. Middle row: Abigail James, Savanah Roan, Payton Smith, Karlie Dewitt-Dodd, Najmina Ahmadzada, Josie Biffar, Jo Inget and manager Calli Barbre. Back row: Bailey Domann, Lizzy Flynn, Shelby Kain, Ella Andahl, Emily Loerzel, Madi James, Bri Matzen and Lauren Stambaugh.
Nannen Physical Therapy Athlete of the Week Ali Wheeler is the first Blair girl to qualify for two NSAA state wrestling tournaments. The 28-9 Bear was honored this week alongside wrestlers Callee Shearer of Arlington and Fort Calhoun's Madi Larrick.
