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Bellwood-Antis senior Nate Claar has surpassed the District tournament in wresting and now has his eye on the PIAA Southwest Regional tournament.

Claar has posted a 28-7 record this season at the 160-pound weight class.

During the district tournament last weekend in Altoona, he only lost two bouts, one coming in the district semi-finals, and the other getting handed to him in the consolation finals. But the matches he did win were enough for him to advance to regionals.

“I showed some good things, but the matches I lost I knew that both times it was because of one move that made a difference,” said Claar.

Seeded No. 3, Claar got pins in his first two matches before falling to No. 2 Larry Brown fro Moshannon Valley.

He then beat Huntingdon’s Drew Simpson 6-1 in the consolation semifnials before falling to Richland’s Dan Verhovsek in the consolation finals.

Claar shared with us the hardships of losing in the semifinals of Districts, but still being able to move on to regionals.

“It was definitely a setback, but I knew I had to look past it and get the next one,” he said.

Wrestling coach Ron Wilson had nothing but positive things to say about Nate Claar’s weekend at Districts.

“Nate wrestled very well this past weekend,” said Coach Wilson. “The top six wrestlers in Nate’s weight class were all quality wrestlers and the order of their finish could be completely reversed at the regional tournament.”

Claar has already won against several past state qualifiers during the course of the season. Nate has the ability to beat state-caliber wrestlers, and Coach Wilson is confident he will wrestle well at the regional tournament.

The regional tournament is March 4 and 5  at Canon McMillian HS

Good luck to Nate on his trip to the Regional Tournament!