The Waverly Vikings hosted and dominated the Eastern Midlands Conference Duals on Friday.
The 5-0 wrestling champs outscored their league foes by a combined score of 321-39, leaving Bennington second and coach Erich Warner's Blair Bears third.
BHS started 3-0 across pool competition, but faded against the Badgers and Vikings. While the Bears — who also competed Saturday in Iowa — bested Elkhorn (77-0), Hastings (41-29) and Elkhorn North (59-13), they also lost to Bennington (41-30) and their hosts (54-9) by a combined scored of 95-39.
Individually, though, Blaise Baughman and Brock Templar went unbeaten for Blair. Baughman was 4-0 at 175 pounds and 1-0 at 190. He secured four pins — including three in the first period against Hastings, North and Bennington — and added a 9-4 decision against Waverly's Camden Chaffin.
Templar, meanwhile, added the Bears' only other victory against the Vikings. He pinned 165-pounder Aden Smith in 1:58, while also notching pins against the Tigers and Badgers.
BHS 138-pounder Tyson Brown added a 4-1 match record across five EMC duals, too. The senior had three pins and beat Hastings' Jaden Meyer, but dropped a notable match with Waverly's highly-regarded Brayden Canoyer, 5-3.
The Bears' Wyatt Loftis (3-1 tourney record), Griffin Rosterman (3-1), Atticus Dick (3-2) and Henry Sullivan added three wins apiece, too, while Tannon Bellamy (2-1), Thomas Chikos (2-2), Cornez Tucker Jr. (2-3), Jaxon Logan (2-3) and Keenan Wyman (2-3) tallied two each.
Defending state champion Hudson Loges returned from injury to win his season debut by major decision against Elkhorn, but left his second match with Zane Thomsen after only 16 seconds with apparent shoulder discomfort.
Blair's Carson Faue added a victory himself, while Brady Thomas, Logan Sibson and Mac Tupa also represented their team on the mat in Waverly.
Twenty-four hours later, the Bears finished competition in Atlantic, Iowa, during the Rollin Dyer Invitational. They were fourth as a team, finishing behind first-place Bondurant-Farrar, the runner-up Omaha Skutt Skyhawks and Sergeant Bluff-Luton.
Baughman dominated and won the 175-pound weight class, securing four pins in 21, 51, 40 and 54 seconds. He earned a fall against Dyllon Carpenter of Omaha Skutt in the finals.
Templar, meanwhile, took second at 165 pounds, but by medical forfeit when he was unable to compete against the Skyhawks' Riley Johnson.
Brown, Dick and Tucker Jr., meanwhile, took third in Atlantic. Brown improved to 32-5 overall with his wins, while Dick is 27-9 and Tucker Jr. is 22-12.
Bellamy and Sullivan were fifth during the Rollin Dyer, too, helping Blair outscore 14 teams Saturday.
JV wrestlers excel in Lincoln
Three Blair High School wrestlers earned first-place finishes Jan. 3 during the Spartan JV Invite at Lincoln East as well.
Bears Michael Buckley and Brock Hamm won their individual 190-pound brackets, while Trevor Furchert was first at 215 pounds. Buckley and Hamm each went 3-0, while Furchert scored two wins.
In addition, BHS' Tate Horacek, Graysen Waltke, Lakodah McKinnis, Aaden Reinders, Randall Frederick and Hayden Berg took second in their weight classes.
BLAIR BOYS WRESTLING RESULTS
Rollin Dyer Invitational
Saturday at Atlantic, Iowa
Top-10 team standings: Bondurant-Farrar 214, Omaha Skutt 212.5, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 169.5, Blair 144, Humboldt 134.5, Atlantic 126.5, Underwood 105.5, Carroll 105, Central DeWitt 99.5, Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln 74.5.
Top-6 Blair finishers: 1, Blaise Baughman, 175 pounds, 4-0 tournament record. 2, Brock Templar, 165, 2-1. 3, Tyson Brown, 138, 4-1. 3, Atticus Dick, 150, 4-1. 3, Cornez Tucker, 285, 3-1. 5, Tannon Bellamy, 106, 3-2. 5, Henry Sullivan, 120, 3-2.
Eastern Midlands Conference Duals
Friday at Waverly High School
Team standings: 1, Waverly. 2, Bennington. 3, Blair. 4, Hastings. 5, Elkhorn North. 6, Norris. 7, Lincoln Northwest. 8, Elkhorn.
Blair Dual Scores
Round 1: Blair 77, Elkhorn 0
Round 2: Blair 41, Hastings 29
Round 3: Blair 59, Elkhorn North 13
Round 4: Bennington 41, Blair 30
Round 5: Waverly 54, Blair 9
