Hudson Loges, Jaxon Logan and Blaise Baughman all went unbeaten Friday during the Eastern Midlands Conference (EMC) Duals Tournament, which Blair High School wrestling coach Erich Warner called no small task.
“We had a number of guys stand out,” he said.
Altogether, the Bears started 3-0 in Waverly, but finished fourth at 3-2 overall. The Bennington boys beat Hastings in the championship final, 51-23, while Waverly topped BHS 46-27.
Coach Warner's team, however, earned dual victories against Norris (50-25), Elkhorn (53-28) and Elkhorn North (45-33) to earn its way into the third-place matchup with the host Vikings.
A 42-34 loss to the second-place Tigers was all that prevented the Bears from competing for the EMC title against the Badgers.
“We were really happy with how they competed today,” Warner said. “We continue to take steps forward.”
Loges and Logan led Blair during the tourney, going 5-0 in contested matches. Baughman wrestled three times, securing three wins, while picking up 12 team points by forfeit, too.
All of Loges' victories came at 138 pounds. The Augustana University (S.D.) recruit won two matches by first-period by pin and three others by 17-0, 19-2 and 17-2 technical falls.
Logan, meanwhile, wrestled four matches at 144 pounds and a fifth at 150. The Bear secured three pins, earned a 22-7 technical fall against Marcus Wacker of Norris and produced an 18-6 major decision against Waverly's Parker Amen.
Baughman earned a 32-second pin against Waverly and notched 7-2 decision against Norris 190-pounder Eric Hall, but also earned a 215-pound technical fall against Hastings' Zander Lockling.
Additionally, Blair's Cornez Tucker Jr. and Wyatt Loftis went 4-1 in contested matches Friday. Tucker Jr. had four pins in 63 seconds or less at heavyweight, while Loftis split his time at 157 and 165 pounds, securing three pins and an 8-2 decision.
Carson Faue added a 3-1 individual record in Warner's lineup, securing a come-from-behind pin against Elkhorn, while Michael Buckley and Landon Bernasek added two pins apiece during the tournament. Griffin Rosterman earned two decision victories as well.
Boston McKinnis, Tate Horacek and Noah Keough added to their team's point total with forfeit victories, too.
The efforts all secured BHS fourth, but the Bears are still working to get to full strength as the season progresses.
“We’re still missing a couple starters we’re hoping to get back at some point,” Coach Warner said.
Blair is set to compete in a 6 p.m. dual today at Columbus Lakeview before Thursday's 6 p.m. dual at Missouri Valley.
EMC DUALS TOURNAMENT
Friday at Waverly High School
BOYS
Championship Round
1st-place dual: Bennington 51, Hastings 23
3rd-place dual: Waverly 46, Blair 27
5th-place dual: Elkhorn North 44, Gretna East 33
7th-place dual: Norris 38, Gretna 36
9th-place dual: Lincoln Northwest 41, Elkhorn 34
Pool Standings
Pool A: 1, Hastings. 2, Blair. 3, Elkhorn North. 4, Norris. 5, Elkhorn.
Pool B: 1, Bennington. 2, Waverly. 3, Gretna East. 4, Gretna. 5, Lincoln Northwest. 6, Lincoln Standing Bear.
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