Ten Blair Bears qualified for the NSAA State Wrestling Championships on Saturday during the Class B District 3 Tournament at Minden High School.
Three of those Bears — Landon Templar, and Jesse and Hudson Loges — won bracket titles during the two-day meet, propelling coach Erich Warner's team into a second-place district finish to Hastings. Luke Frost, Yoan Camejo, Charlie Powers, Livai Opetaia, Tyson Brown, Kaden Sears and Seagan Packett-Trisdale played large roles in the finish, too, qualifying for state themselves.
“We are very happy with 10, but feel for the four that didn't make it (to state),” Warner said. “All of our kids wrestled outstanding this weekend. It was fun to watch them perform like they did.”
The Bears next compete 9:30 a.m. Thursday when the state tournament begins in Omaha at the CHI Health Center.
In earning their spots atop the district podium, though, Templar and Jesse Loges won their 100th career matches. The senior, Templar, hit the century mark during a 4-0 tourney stint, which included wins against a pair of top-ranked 145-pounders — Pierce's Jayden Coulter and Omaha Skutt's Adam Kruse.
First, though, Templar advanced to the semifinals with a second-period pin and a 18-6 major decision. He then beat the 37-4 Coulter by 11-0 major decision before a 5-4 overtime tiebreaker win against Kruse in the finals.
“That was great for Landon,” Warner said, complimenting the senior who's lost significant time on the wrestling mat due to injury during his high school career. “He's a leader and set the pace for our team today.”
Loges, meanwhile, reached the state tournament at 120 pounds with wins against Columbus Lakeview's Eli Pilakowski, Schuyler's Brayan Romero and Tucker Adams of Hastings. The finals match win against Adams came by 3-0 decision.
Loges' brother, freshman Hudson Loges, qualified for his first state tournament with a 3-0 district record at 106 pounds. For the second-straight weekend event, the Bear bested Hastings' Cameron Brumbaugh — one of Class B's top 106-pounders. This time, the win was by 1-0 decision.
In addition to Blair's district champions, Frost (113 pounds), Camejo (152), Powers (160) and Opetaia (195) qualified by reaching the finals of their brackets as well. They all finished second, but enter the state tournament with 38, 29, 47 and 31 season wins, respectively.
Frost dropped his title match to Hastings' Hunter Anderson by 5-0 decision, while Camejo was pinned and Powers — a returning state medalist — lost a 5-4 decision to unbeaten Tiger Jett Samuelson.
Opetaia, meanwhile, lost a 10-1 major decision to Hastings' Oaklyn Smith.
Brown, Sears and Packett-Trisdale lost matches in Minden, too, but it didn't thwart the Bears' bids to qualify in Class B either. Brown, a 126-pounder sophomore, lost his second match Friday, but didn't again, finishing third with a 5-1 tourney mark.
Sears also claimed third, doing so with a 3-1 Friday and Saturday record at 170 pounds. The BHS standout is 36-11 this season.
Packett-Trisdale is 31-19 at heavyweight this winter, too. The fourth-place finisher went 2-2, clinching his state spot with a 4-0 decision in the consolation semifinals.
Warner said state preparation will focus on weight management and and keeping the Bears fresh for the season's biggest tournament.
“We are excited for this group of kids this weekend,” he said.
