Two full seasons into program history, Ali Wheeler and Savanah Roan are the only two Blair girls to earn 50 career wrestling victories.
On Friday night, Roan became the first Bear to secure a NSAA state tournament medal at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. The senior pinned Alyssa Thomas of Wood River to do it, capping an improbable day where the 130-pound bracket's lowest seed won three-straight matches.
“I was coming into it thinking I wouldn't do the best this year,” the Southeast Community College volleyball recruit said. “But, I've really surprised myself.”
In the end, Roan finished sixth overall Saturday morning. Coach Terry Bellamy's first medalist went 3-3 in Omaha and finished 28-13 this season.
The senior did it all with her father, coach John Roan, matside, leading her through every match scenario the NSAA Championships presented.
“It meant a lot to me to have him in my corner,” Savanah said, a tear rolling down her cheek.
The 130-pounder opened the tournament Thursday against Omaha Westside finalist Regan Rosseter, who continued her unbeaten season with a third-period pin.
The next day, though, Roan went on her tear through the weight class. She first earned a 10-0 major decision against Miriam Deanda of Schuyler before the come-from-behind win that truly launched her medal campaign.
Trailing 39-10 Grand Island wrestler Bella Arrants 7-1 in the third period, the Bear snatched a cradle and leaned back with the Islander trapped. Roan held strong and scored the pin at the 4:40 mark before launching herself into her dad's arms on the side.
The victory set up a heartbreak round match with Thomas.
“(Arrants) was the No. 2 seed here at the tournament, while I'm the last seed,” Roan said. “I just knew if I could beat her, then I could beat this girl, honestly.”
The senior did — in 1:33. She then went 0-2 Saturday, concluding a two-year high school career on the medal stand. All she'd wanted to do for sure was qualify this season.
“I made it,” Roan said. “This was my one goal, to make it.”
She left it all out on the mat and earned a medal in the process, exceeding her own expectations.
“I really had nothing to lose,” Roan said. “It's my senior year.”
Wheeler, meanwhile, fell just short of a 115-pound medal with a 2-2 tournament. She pinned both Kaniya Watkins of Omaha Westview and Sandhills Valley's Marianne Zuniga, but lost by pin twice, too.
Wheeler, a junior, started wrestling before the BHS girls' team officially began in the fall of 2022.
“She's just taken leaps. Not steps, but leaps,” coach Bellamy said. “She works her tail off in practice and does everything we ask her to do. She wants to know more every day.”
He appreciates her approach to the work.
“She's just a good, hard worker,” Bellamy said. “She earns everything she gets.”
Altogether, the coach was pleased with his second- and third-ever state qualifiers in Omaha.
“They're right up there with the best,” he said. “Super proud of both of them.”
NSAA STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
GIRLS
Thursday-Saturday at CHI Health Center, Omaha
Top-10 team standings: Omaha Westside 111 points, Grand Island 110, Omaha Skutt 77, South Sioux City 71, Stanton 60, Papillion-La Vista 58, Omaha North 55, Summerland 48, Ralston 41, Lincoln East 39. Also: 34, Arlington, 20. 39, Blair, 18.
Blair Results
(Weight: wrestler, tournament record (overall record))
115 pounds: Ali Wheeler, 2-2 (33-7)
130: Savanah Roan, 3-3 (28-13), sixth place
