Blair wrestlers Hudson Loges and Cole Welte earned All-American status last week during USA Wrestling's Junior and 16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
Both age 16 and younger grapplers reached the finals of their Greco-Roman weight classes, finishing second as a record 6,646 athletes competed during the week-long event.
Loges, a soon-to-be Blair High School sophomore, earned a technical fall during the semifinals to reach the 100-pound final against Lincoln Sledzianowski of Naples, Fla. The Bear fell short, but continues to add to a wrestling resume that includes 2021 14U national championships in freestyle and Greco-Roman. The 15-year-old was also a 2020 Preseason National Middle School champion, who finished third at 106 pounds during last February's NSAA State Championships.
Welte, meanwhile, will attend Omaha Skutt next wrestling season after finishing second at 94 pounds in Fargo. In addition to his Greco-Roman accomplishment, the former BHS Bear earned All-American status in freestyle during last week's tournament.
Welte also earned a technical fall to reach his finals match. The 16-year-old becomes a Skyhawk after 2022's victories, but also those in 2021 when he claimed seventh in freestyle and eighth in Greco-Roman during U15 Nationals competition.
BHS standout Jesse Loges, Hudson's older brother, also left Fargo with a winning record on the mat. He went 4-2 in Greco-Roman.
Blair graduate Charlie Powers, and Fort Calhoun's Ely and Lance Olberding, competed at USA Wrestling's event, too. All three participated in freestyle competition.
