Supermen in singlets

The Blair wrestling team's regular season record of 11-2 only begins to show the extent of the Blazers' record-breaking season. The team qualified for the regional dual meets for the first time in school history in the sixth year of Coach Jake Scott's tenure, and many Blazers placed in the county, regional and state individual tournaments as well.

Senior co-captain Mario Bracamontes went the farthest, placing fifth in the state tournament on Mar 2 in the 125-pound weight class. Bracamontes took first place in both the county and regional tournaments this year on Feb 16 and Feb 23 respectively and also placed high at several of the regular season invitational tournaments. "I think I had a successful season," he said. "I was satisfied."

Though Bracamontes was the only Blazer to place at States, three others qualified for the state tournament by placing fourth or higher at Regionals. Co-captain and 130-pound senior Cuong Vo and 103-pound sophomore Scott Nguyen placed third, and 135-pound senior co-captain Mike Immerman placed fourth.

Out of 23 schools, Blair placed third at the county tournament held at Blair on Feb 15 and 16, in which eight individual Blazers placed sixth or higher. Immerman placed second, Vo and Nguyen placed fourth, 171-pound sophomore Hansel Cedeno and 140-pound senior Gibb Witham placed fifth, and 160-pound senior Junior Gossin and 189-pound senior Zach Davis placed sixth.

The Blazers wrestled at a high level throughout the season. Both of Blair's losses were by a margin of 12 or fewer team points, and Blair reached 50 or more team points in nine of its 11 wins, including a 54-6 rout of Springbrook High School in the first part of the tri-meet that ended the regular season on Feb 2.

Blair edged past Sherwood High School in the second leg of the tri-meet in its closest meet of the regular season to qualify for the regional duals. Sherwood was one of Blair's most formidable opponents, even placing higher than Blair at the regional tournament. Down 13 points with three matches to go, the Blazers needed big wins from their three captains, the self-entitled "three amigos." Bracamontes got the pin, Vo won by decision and Immerman wrapped up the meet with a pin to win the meet, 30-27, and earn Blair a berth at the regional duals.

If the Blazers' had any high points in their consistent season, one was taking first place at Springbrook's Grapple at the 'Brook Tournament on Jan 28. Two Blazers took first, one took second and four took third in their respective weight classes.