Ali Wheeler was the first Blair High School wrestler to qualify for state Friday during the NSAA District 2 Tournament at York High School.
Her arms shot up in the air and a smile spread across her face.
Savanah Roan was second. The referee raised her hand, but she quickly made her way into her father's arms from there.
“I was crying. It just felt so cool because it's my senior year,” she said. “Volleyball didn't make it to state and I felt like I needed to do this for myself this year.”
Led by coach Terry Bellamy, the two Bears — who finished seventh as a team in York — represent the second and third female state qualifiers in school history — Abigail James was first last year. They'll next compete 3 p.m. Thursday during the first round of the NSAA State Wrestling Championships at Omaha's CHI Health Center.
“After last year and almost making it, I really wanted to make it to state,” Wheeler said before earning a district title at 115 pounds.
The 31-5 wrestler earned her qualification with a semifinals pin of Bellevue East's Kaliyah Evans. She then topped 33-7 Neligh-Oakdale wrestler Josslyn Hoefer by pin in the finals.
“I feel like I've passed a milestone,” Wheeler said.
The Bear overcame a shoulder injury earlier in the season to become Bellamy's second-year program's first wrestler to hit 50 overall wins and 30 in a season. She was slowed by injury last year, too, but failed to earn a spot at sate.
“I would wrestle on one foot last year,” Wheeler said. “It just affected my whole season, so I was scared this shoulder thing would also affect me all season.”
The district champ toughed it out and healed, however, and is headed to Omaha.
So is Roan, who enters the state tournament 25-10 at 130 pounds. The Southeast Community College volleyball recruit was 2-2 in York on Friday, securing her state bid with a 59-second pin of Payton Whited of Ord in the consolation semis.
“She was pretty heavy on my head and I saw the leg, so I figured I might as well take it,” the BHS standout said. “Then, I almost got caught and I almost got flipped, so I had to keep battling through it.”
She earned the fall — her second of the tournament — before dropping her third-place match to Columbus Lakeview's Emma Glendy, 2-1.
Altogether, six Blair wrestlers qualified for the district tournament through subdistrict competition in Omaha seven days earlier. Josie Tilson was unable to compete at 105 pounds Friday, but Katie Wheeler and Madi James both picked up victories before heartbreak round losses.
Wheeler — Ali's younger sister — finished the season 18-9 overall, while James — 2023 state qualifier Abigail's sister — was 22-12 this winter.
Reata Malmberg also competed in York, but dropped both of her matches at 235 pounds. She closes the season 7-23.
“Now, I've got to worry about state,” said Ali Wheeler, who'd briefly felt relief after earning her NSAA Championships qualification.
NSAA DISTRICT 2 TOURNAMENT
Friday at York High School
Top-10 team standings: Columbus Lakeview 92, Omaha Skutt 92, Summerland 78, Stanton 68, Scribner-Snyder 46, Adams Central 43, Blair 42, West Point-Beemer 42, Wayne 38, Louisville 37.
Blair Results
(Weight: wrestler, tourney record (overall record))
110 pounds: Katie Wheeler, 1-2 (18-9)
115: Ali Wheeler, 3-0 (31-5), state qualifier (first place)
130: Savanah Roan, 2-2 (25-10), state qualifier (fourth place)
145: Madi James, 1-2 (22-12)
235: Reata Malmberg, 0-2 (7-23)
