The Blair High School girls wrestling team finished second by just three points Friday during the Plattsmouth Invitational.
First-place Schuyler scored 189.5 and coach Terry Bellamy's Bears totaled 186.5 during the 19-team tournament. Auburn was third with 184 points and Lincoln High notched 171.5 for fourth.
BHS' lineup produced three finalists on the Blue Devils' mats with all three finishing second in their weight classes. Siena Smith earned her runner-up status at 105 pounds with a 3-1 tourney record. She started with a 17-7 major decision and a 46-second pin before a 4-0 decision win against 23-8 Nebraska City wrestler Leah Clark secured her a title bout.
Auburn's Aleah Thomas won that match, though, producing a pin in 1:08.
At 120 pounds, Blair's Katie Wheeler went 2-1 in Plattsmouth to take second. She was wobbly on exhausted legs after a pin at 5:26 of her quarterfinals match, but earned a quick, first-period fall during her semifinal with Taylor Bergman of Ralston.
Lincoln High's Evelyn Becher, however, improved to 27-4 when she topped Wheeler in the finals.
The Bears' Emma Belnog lost her 130-pound championship match to Auburn's Addie Henry by 10-7 decision. Prior to that, though, the 34-7 wrestler pinned both hometown Devil Olivia Byrom and Elizabeth Nunez of the champion Warriors.
In addition to its second-place finishers, Blair's Jo Inget, Maddie James and Appelynn Berryman all secured third in their weight classes. Inget, a 140-pounder, came back from a 7-0 deficit to win her first-round match by 10-9 decision, but also won the third-place match by 96-second pin.
James, meanwhile, is 34-4 overall after winning her 145-pound third-place match against Falls City's Gabi Young by 7-0 decision. The Bear faced Young in her first match, too, giving up early back points, but still securing a second-period pin.
Berryman claimed her third-place status with a pin of Ralston's Ashlee Cavender at 155 pounds. The wrestler was 4-1 for the tournament with three pins total.
BHS' Bella Borges (2-2 at 115 pounds), Lily Warren (2-2 at 170) and Reata Malmberg (2-2 at 190) reached the podium with fourth-place results, too, while Emma Himes was 2-2 at 100 pounds for fifth.
Madison Hiles of Blair earned a pair of wins at 135 pounds in Plattsmouth, too, but fell short of a top-six finish in the weight class. Her Bears next wrestle triangular matches 5 p.m. Thursday at Millard West.
PLATTSMOUTH INVITATIONAL
Friday at Plattsmouth High School
GIRLS
Top-10 team standings: Schuyler 189.5 points, Blair 186.5, Auburn 184, Lincoln High 171.5, Ralston 142, Nebraska City 113, Plattsmouth 92, Bellevue East 72, Omaha Buena Vista 69, Omaha Northwest 50.
Top-6 Blair placers: 2, Siena Smith, 105 pounds. 2, Katie Wheeler, 120. 2, Emma Belnog, 130. 3, Jo Inget, 140. 3, Madi James, 145. 3, Applelynn Berryman, 155. 4, Bella Borges, 115. 4, Lily Warren, 170. 4, Reata Malmberg, 190. 5, Emma Himes, 100.
