The Blair and Fort Calhoun girls wrestling teams opened a new year of competition Tuesday during the Spotlight on Girls Wrestling at Conestoga.
While BHS notched 10 top-6 individual finishes altogether, three FCHS wrestlers fell short of the podium. Of the three Pioneers, Tacey Belina notched the lone victory for coach Lilly Gossman's team. She was 1-2 at 155 pounds, besting Central City's Aaliyah Mason by second-period pin. The fall came at the 3:55 mark.
Coach Terry Bellamy's Bears, meanwhile, finished ninth out of 25 teams during the event won by Crete. Riley Martin secured her team's top finish, going 2-1 at 100 pounds. She earned two first-period pins before unbeaten Omaha North wrestler Joshyonna Coppage-Dortch bested her by 8-2 decision in the first-place match.
Blair's Katie Wheeler and Josie Tilson, however, met during the third-place match at 110 pounds. Tilson earned the win, pinning her teammate in 2:57.
Additionally, the Bears' Ali Wheeler and Savanah Roan were fifth in their weight classes, while Isabella Matney, Jo Inget and Madi James took sixth in their's.
Ali Wheeler and Roan led BHS in pins with three apiece — the same total earned by both Taryn Bellamy and Emma Belnog in “B” bracket competition. The latter two Bears took first at 115- and 125-pounds, respectively.
FCHS competes at Millard West
Two Fort Calhoun wrestlers competed Saturday at Millard West, too.
Ali Dill led the way, claiming sixth at 130 pounds with a 3-2 record. With her teammates and coaches matside, she pinned her first opponent in 69 seconds. From there, she lost to unbeaten Omaha Westview wrestler Kalynn Lyons before picking up two more pins against Kelly Tran of Lincoln North Star and Millard North's Ava Rose.
Dill then went the distance with Omaha Marian's Kennedy Grace during the fifth-place match, falling by 10-6 decision. The Pioneer is 8-13 overall this season after Tuesday's tournament.
Anna Rae Hartline of FCHS also competed during the Wildcats' tourney Saturday. She was 0-3 at 145 pounds.
SPOTLIGHT ON GIRLS WRESTLING
Tuesday at Conestoga High School
Top-10 team standings: Crete 152, Millard South 140, Omaha Skutt 130, Omaha North 125, Adams Central 115, Louisville 109, Millard North 109, Glenwood (Iowa) 85, Blair 83, Millard West 76.5. Also: 24, Fort Calhoun, 2.
Top-6 Blair finishers: 2, Riley Martin, 100 pounds, 2-1 tournament record. 3, Josie Tilson, 110, 2-1. 4, Katie Wheeler, 110, 2-1. 5, Ali Wheeler, 115, 3-1. 5, Savanah Roan, 125, 3-1. 6, Isabella Matney, 100, 2-2. 6, Jo Inget, 140, 2-2. 6, Madi James, 145, 1-2. B bracket: 1, Taryn Bellamy, 115, 3-0. 1, Emma Belnog, 125, 3-0.
Top-6 Fort Calhoun finishers: NA.
