Matside during the season, sometimes Blair High School wrestling coach Erich Warner has to watch his Bears from afar.
“It is exciting when our wrestlers go out and challenge themselves on the biggest stages,” he told me Monday. “No matter the outcome, the experience they gain is invaluable.”
Sophomore Hudson Loges' newest experience will be as a member of Team USA.
Yeah, you read that right.
The 2023 106-pound Class B state championship recently earned his spot at the U17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, with an unbeaten run through his Greco-Roman bracket at the U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas. He was one of three Washington County wrestlers to compete at the national tourney.
“It is pretty special to have a wrestler in our high school room with that kind of experience since it's not something we have ever had,” Warner said. “Ultimately, it is exciting that Hudson will get to test himself with the best wrestlers in the world, and that he will bring that experience back into our room, which will positively affect all of his teammates.”
Representing MWC Wrestling Academy, Loges won five matches in Las Vegas. The BHS standout won a best-of-three finals with Czar Quintanilla of Washington 9-0 and 9-3.
To reach those bouts, however, the sophomore bested Dominic Bozanic of the Daniel Cormier Wrestling Club in California, Brodie Christmas of Wisconsin and Texan Kody Tanimoto of the Spartan Mat Club.
“Hudson has many qualities that make him a great wrestler,” Warner said, noting the champ's mental approach, his coachable nature, confidence, diet and consistency. “He is very focused and detail oriented in all areas of his wrestling. Hudson is able to adjust during a match or from one match to another.”
But, notably, Greco wrestling is different from what you'll see at the local high school. In Greco, leg attacks aren't allowed, which leads to far more throws — at least in what I've been able to watch.
Fortunately, Loges' focus extends itself across styles. His skills do, too. Warner said the Team USA wrestler is more than proficient in his “positioning, hand fighting, pummeling, changing levels and motion.”
The BHS champion will next test all of those abilities and more from July 31-Aug. 6 in Turkey. I have to believe its going to be an unforgettable experience. Good luck to him.
Jesse Loges, Gilmore compete, too
As I previously mentioned, Loges wasn't alone in Las Vegas last week. His brother, Jesse Loges, and Hunter Gilmore also represented themselves, their teams and Washington County during the U.S. Open.
“It was pretty unique,” Gilmore said of the experience. The former Arlington Eagle — and current Chadron State wrestler — competed in the age 20 and younger Greco-Roman tournament, going 4-2 overall.
“I did alright,” he said, noting it had been two years since he'd competed in Greco. The multiple-time state medalist wasn't able to train specifically for the style going in, but still enjoyed his time on the mat, throwing opponents.
Gilmore lost matches to Gunnar Hamre and Noah Rice, but beat Jaxon Beardon of Team Prestige Wrestling, Big Game Wrestling Club's Kael Scranton, Otto Cate-Cribari of Northern Colorado Wrestling Club and Gold Rush Wrestling's Trevor Wilcox.
While he didn't make Team USA's Worlds team, the former Arlington Eagle did take inspiration from his effort.
“I'll be there next year,” he said.
Jesse Loges, meanwhile, went 0-2 in Las Vegas representing BHS and MWC Wrestling Academy. The senior lost matches to William Dekraker of Integrity Wrestling Club and Region Trainer Center South's Dominic DiTomasso.
The multiple-time state medalist and one-time Class B finalist recently became the fifth wrestler to be inducted into the BHS Hall of Fame for athletic distinction. His prep career was a joy to watch, from start to finish.
