When Carson Faue pinned York's Max Erickson to clinch a state wrestling berth, Blair High School coach Erich Warner jumped out of his seat and pumped his fist.
Altogether, eight Bears earned NSAA Boys Wrestling Championship qualifications Saturday during the Class B-3 District Tournament at BHS. The host team took second overall, finishing behind first-place York only.
“That was a lot of fun,” Warner said as the clean-up process began.
The eight qualifiers next compete Thursday during the start of the three-day championship tourney at Omaha's CHI Health Center.
“I'm super excited for the kids that made it and the way that they fought,” the coach said. “I'm just proud of the whole team. Even those guys that didn't make it, they wrestled real well, too.”
Three Blair wrestlers secured their spots with semifinals victories Saturday. Hudson Loges and Blaise Baughman went on to win their weight classes, while Cornez Tucker Jr. secured second at heavyweight with a 2-1 record. He pinned Gering's Richard Roberts in 24 seconds before earning a 19-3 technical fall against Seward's Cooper Fern.
Loges, meanwhile, improved to 47-1 overall at 138 pounds with a 4-0 tournament run. The 2023 state champion had three pins and won his final against York's Colt Eimermann by injury default.
Baughman, who is 41-3 this season, went 3-0 at 190 pounds in B-3 District matches. The junior earned two pins and topped 43-4 Seward wrestler Caden Schadwinkel by 9-4 decision.
The rest of the Blair finalists' teammates to qualify for state, however, had to win heartbreak-round consolation semifinals matches. Tannon Bellamy, Jaxon Logan, Faue, Wyatt Loftis and Griffin Rosterman did just that.
Bellamy had to after sitting out more than a month with an injury. He learned just days before his third-place finish at 126 pounds that he'd be able to compete at all Saturday.
“It was rough,” the now multiple-time state qualifier said. “I just knew I had to give it my all. I didn't want this to be my last match this year.”
Bellamy earned his state spot with a 9-6 overtime victory against Gering's Kael Ramirez. His nose was leaking blood, but he was able to finish the clinching takedown anyway.
Logan, meanwhile, sat back on his heels and looked out into the gathered crowd when he secured his 144-pound Class B qualification.
“Honestly, just relief,” he said when asked what he was feeling in the moment.
The Bear secured his state spot by 20-2 technical fall before he earned third-place finish with a pin of Aurora's Evan Hermanson.
Faue, who is 21-23 this season, beat Erickson to earn his state spot at 150 pounds, but also pinned 30-14 Elkhorn North wrestler Kingston McNeal for third.
“I knew what I was going to have to do,” he said after a 3-1 day. “I knew if I wrestled smart, the way that I have been, I was going to be able beat all of those guys.”
At 165 pounds, Loftis earned another Blair qualification with a 7-1 decision against Elkhorn Mount Michael's Aaron Duran.
“I stuck to what I knew and got that done,” he said after a fourth-place effort.
Rosterman, meanwhile, earned fourth, but at 175 pounds. He rode out the third period to pick up a 1-0 victory against Norris' Hunter Jurgens during the heartbreak round, earning his state spot.
“It was probably the best feeling ever, actually,” the Bear said. “All of that hard work and grinding finally got the job done.”
He explained how staying on the attack, being aggressive and sticking to the basics were key. Those kinds of efforts made it a fun day for BHS at home, too.
After just four qualifications in 2024, the Bears returned to their traditional form and doubled their total in 2025.
CLASS B-3 DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Saturday at Blair High School
Team standings: York 187 points, Blair 148.5, Gering 124.5, Aurora 112, Elkhorn North 112, Seward 111, Elkhorn Mount Michael 107, Nebraska City 89.5, Norris 88, Douglas County West 70.5, Omaha Roncalli 14, Omaha Concordia 6.
Blair Bear Results (top-4 placers qualify for state)
(Weight, wrestler: Tourney record (overall record), place)
120 pounds, Tate Horacek: 0-2 (6-25), NA.
126, Tannon Bellamy: 2-1 (13-4), third.
132, Landon Bernasek: 2-2 (20-12), NA.
138, Hudson Loges: 4-0 (47-1), first.
144, Jaxon Logan: 4-1 (36-15), third.
150, Carson Faue: 3-1 (21-23), third.
157, Mac Tupa: 0-2 (2-20), NA.
165, Wyatt Loftis: 3-2 (28-24), fourth.
175, Griffin Rosterman: 2-2 (34-20), fourth.
190, Blaise Baughman: 3-0 (41-3), first.
215, Michael Buckley: 0-2 (11-16), NA.
285, Cornez Tucker Jr: 2-1 (38-12), second.
