Three Blair Bears earned 2-0 starts Thursday during the first day of the NSAA State Boys Wrestling Championships, securing semifinals spots and guaranteeing themselves Class B medals in Omaha.
Hudson Loges (138 pounds), Blaise Baughman (190) and Cornez Tucker Jr. (285) — who were three of 19 Washington County wrestlers who competed at the CHI Health Center on Thursday — will next compete 6 p.m. Friday during the fifth session of the state tournament.
Loges notched a 17-2 technical fall and a 75-second pin during the first two rounds, while Baughman earned a 37-second pin and an 8-1 decision in the quarterfinals. Tucker Jr. reached 40 wins for the season Thursday with two pins, including one against 21-5 McCook wrestler Spencer Steinbeck.
Bears Jaxon Logan and Griffin Rosterman earned wins during the opening round, too, but are 1-1 through one day in Omaha. Tannon Bellamy, Carson Faue and Wyatt Loftis are 0-1.
All five one-loss BHS wrestlers — who helped their team to a fifth-place standing in B — will compete next 12:30 p.m. Friday in elimination consolation matches during the fourth session of the state tournament.
Fort Calhoun wrestlers Lucas DeMilt, Merritt Olberding and Alex Schuler all advanced during Class B’s first round, too, but finished the day 1-1. Pioneers Presley Olberding, Levi Lasher, TJ DeMilt and Ray Caruso started the state tourney 0-1.
Arlington’s Jake Flesner, Braxton Soll, Ben Flesner and Tate Johannes wrestled Class C first-round matches Thursday as well, but they all fell short. Like the Class B wrestlers, they’ll next compete 12:30 p.m. Friday in Omaha.
Editor’s Note: Online updates will be posted at the end of each night of the NSAA State Wrestling Championships at enterprisepub.com/sports. Full girls wrestling coverage will appear in Friday’s Washington County Enterprise, while boys’ coverage is scheduled to appear in next Tuesday’s Washington County Pilot-Tribune edition.
