The Blair High School wrestling teams competed at the Mid-America Center on Friday and Saturday, grappling with some of the region's top talent during the Council Bluffs Classic.
The Bears competed across 12 mats, securing 19th out of the 32 girls teams and 28th out of the 43 boys teams. Notably, the Bennington and Waverly boys tied for 12th, while the Bennington, Waverly and Plattsmouth girls earned 30th, 31st and 32nd, respectively.
Altogether, the BHS wrestlers of coaches Erich Warner and Terry Bellamy combined for 40 pins.
Martin secures BHS' top finish
Riley Martin secured the Bears' top finish in Council Bluffs.
The 100-pounder went 4-2, taking fourth after a third-place match loss to Brooklyn DeRocher of LeMars, Iowa. Her first match, though, was a 48-second pin Friday afternoon.
“It was really important because it kind of sets the mood for the rest of the tournament,” Martin said, admitting that she was “in a pretty good mood.”
The BHS wrestler was happy with her hand-fighting in the opening match and was happy with her shot, which, ultimately, led to the quick pin.
“I drove,” Martin said. “I didn't really have it at first, so I kept driving.”
Ali Wheeler and Josie Tilson added top-10 finishes for the Blair girls, too, while Maia Opetaia-Swope, Reata Malmberg, Madi James and Savanah Roan finished in the top-15 of their Classic weight classes.
Wheeler secured her team's most wins during the weekend tournament, going 6-1 at 115 pounds. All six victories were by pin, while James picked up three falls at 145 pounds.
3 Blair boys make podium
Tyson Brown, Blaise Baughman and Atticus Dick led the Blair boys in Council Bluffs with top-eight finishes.
Brown, a senior, was sixth at 138 pounds with a 6-3 record. He bested Class A No. 5 Noah Ingwersen of Lincoln East, 4-2, and had two pins. He's 13-3 this season, according to trackwrestling.com.
Baughman, meanwhile, went 5-3 at 175 pounds for seventh. The Bear had two pins and bested JT Smith of Omaha Creighton Prep in his final match, 3-2, to improve to 11-4 this season.
Dick was 4-4 at 150 pounds for eighth, too. The senior won his first match by sudden victory and his second by 24-second pin. He lost the seventh-place match by 4-3 decision.
Additionally, BHS' Tannon Bellamy (11th at 106 pounds), Wyatt Loftis (16th at 157) and Cornez Tucker Jr. (19th at 285) secured top-20 finishes during the weekend tournament. Bellamy was 3-4, while Tucker Jr. went 4-3.
Loftis was 2-5, winning his first match by 8-4 decision.
“I feel like I did a good job finishing my shots,” he said.
Bears Tate Horacek (two victories), Henry Sullivan (two), Carson Faue (three), Mac Tupa (three) and Thomas Chikos (five) earned match wins in Council Bluffs, too. Dick led the team in pins, though, with three, while Baughman, Faue, Brown, Horacek and Chikos notched two apiece during the two-day event.
COUNCIL BLUFFS WRESTLING CLASSIC
Friday-Saturday at Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs
BOYS
Top-10 teams: Waukee Northwest 427, Fort Dodge 416.5, Lincoln East 307.5, Totino-Grace 292.5, Brandon Valley 284, Glenwood 281, Millard South 280.5, Washburn Rural 280.5, Omaha Creighton Prep 251.5, Columbus 234.5. Also: 28, Blair, 151.5.
Blair Results
(Wrestler, weight: Tourney record, place)
Tannon Bellamy, 106 pounds: 3-4, 11th.
Tate Horacek, 113: 2-4, 22nd.
Henry Sullivan, 120: 2-6, 27th.
Jaxon Logan, 126: 0-2, 30th.
Keenan Wyman, 132: 0-7, 32nd.
Tyson Brown, 138: 6-3, sixth.
Carson Faue, 144: 3-5, 30th.
Atticus Dick, 150: 4-4, eighth.
Wyatt Loftis, 157: 2-5, 16th.
Mac Tupa, 165: 3-5, 27th.
Blaise Baughman, 175: 5-3, seventh.
Griffin Rosterman, 190: 0-4, NA.
Thomas Chikos, 215: 5-4, 21st.
Cornez Tucker Jr., 285: 4-3, 19th.
GIRLS
Top-10 teams: Washburn 550.5, Racoon River 525, Missouri Valley 369.5, Omaha Westside 360.5, Southeast Polk 351, Council Bluffs Lewis Central 348.5, Olathe North 344, Papillion-La Vista 332, Gardner-Edgerton 271, Omaha Skutt 254. Also: 19, Blair, 161.5.
Blair Results
(Wrestler, weight: Tourney record, place)
Riley Martin, 100 pounds: 4-2, fourth.
Josie Tilson, 110: 2-4, 10th.
Ali Wheeler, 115: 6-1, fifth.
Maia Opetaia-Swope, 125: 3-3, 13th.
Savanah Roan, 130: 2-4, 15th.
Karlie Dewitt-Dodd, 135: 2-5, 24th.
Jo Inget, 140: 2-3, 21st.
Madi James, 145: 3-3, 14th.
Jaslyn Raymond, 155: 0-3, 21st.
Reata Malmberg, 235: 2-5, 13th.
