The Blair wrestling team finished one point shy of a NSAA State Duals Championship on Saturday at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney.
The top-seeded Bears bested Minden and Hastings, but lost the 33-32 final to Eastern Midlands Conference rival Bennington. Third-place Waverly also competes in the six-team EMC.
The championship dual came down to the final two matches with Blair ahead 29-27. Kaden Sears won his 182-pound match against the Badgers' Blane Boehmer, 3-1, but the decision was not quite enough to hold onto the Class B title.
Bennington's top-ranked 195-pounder, Luke MacDonald, stepped into the circle for the final match and earned a state-winning, six-point fall.
Earlier in the day, the Bears started their state run with a 51-21 victory over Minden. The Whippets pulled within 28-21 at one point, but coach Erich Warner's wrestlers won the last five matches. Yoan Camejo clinched the first round victory at 152 pounds when he earned a 6-3 decision against Evan Smith.
Livai Opetaia, Jesse Loges, Landon Templar and Sears earned Blair pins against Minden, while Hudson Loges, Luke Frost and Charlie Powers won by technical falls. Josh Rogge also earned a 3-1 decision, while Seagan Packett-Trisdale claimed six team points by forfeit.
Then, in the semifinals, Powers and Sears earned pins in the last two matches to beat fourth-seeded Hastings 33-28. BHS trailed 28-21 after 12 dual matches, but beat the Tigers after 14.
Powers' pin at 170 pounds took just 1:50 before Sears stuck his opponent in just 57 seconds.
Opetaia, Packett-Trisdale, Hudson Loges, Jesse Loges, Brock Templar and Landon Templar also contributed wins as the Bears advanced to their first Class B finals since winning it all in 2019.
For the full story on the state dual tournament and additional photos, check out Tuesday's Washington County Pilot-Tribune or check back here at enterprisepub.com/sports that same day.
