Class 3A duals champion used ineligible wrestler
Gilmer High was defeated by North Hall in the state duals wrestling finals Jan. 30, and the Trojans used an ineligible wrestler.
The wrestler in question was later disqualified in the middle of the traditional state tournament Feb. 10 when the school realized what it called a “procedural error,” according to Hall County School’s director of communications Stan Lewis.
North Hall reported the infraction to the Georgia High School Association.
In a press release last Friday, the school announced it had to vacate its duals state championship, pay a $500 fine and was placed on “severe-warning status” for one year by the GHSA.
Gilmer High hoped it would be granted the championship as it lost by 10 points to North Hall in the finals. The GHSA indicated that would not be the case. The school initially planned to appeal the GHSA’s decision.
“I had the opportunity to speak with (GHSA executive director) Dr. Robin Hines this afternoon,” GHS principal Carla Foley said Monday. “Once the decision came out that North Hall would not have the title and that we would not be moved into the championship, coach (Josh) Ghobadpoor asked if we were willing to appeal. I asked (superintendent) Dr. (Shanna) Downs, and we all agreed we should appeal.”
However, those plans died immediately.
“We were told we wouldn’t be able to appeal because the ruling that was made had nothing to do with Gilmer High School. It was strictly a ruling that involved North Hall. That didn’t fully make sense to me,” Foley added.
The GHSA conferred with its attorneys and cited bylaw 2.63 (f), which states: “The minimum penalty for allowing an ineligible athlete to participate in an interscholastic contest is forfeiture of the game(s). Fines or other penalties may also be imposed” and (g) “A team shall forfeit any team standing or points toward team honors when an ineligible student participates in a contest.”
Foley asked the GHSA, “Doesn’t the word ‘forfeit’ imply there is a winner and a loser?”
“No, it does not,” they replied. “The forfeit simply means we’ve taken the championship away from North Hall and it has nothing to do with Gilmer.”
Foley added, “We’re all disappointed and we feel like we should at least be able to come to the GHSA’s meeting in April and (have them) hear us out. Dr. Hines said this is consistent with precedents in the past.”
The GHSA previously vacated victories in the 2012 soccer and 1987 basketball state tournaments after it was learned ineligible players participated.
Gilmer’s loss to the Trojans in the finals does not count against the Bobcats’ final record. GHS will retain its second-place standing, the highest finish of any team in Class 3A.
“You always want to fight for your kids. We’re always here for them and want to give them the best opportunities,” Foley said. “In this particular situation, our kids weren’t even given the opportunity because they were wrestling someone who was ineligible. We would like to go one extra step and plead our case on that and it’s disheartening they’re not even giving us that opportunity.”
GHS lost to 37-27 to North Hall in the state finals. At the top of the sport, matches are often decided based on where wrestlers take the mat. Strategy to minimize losses and maximizes wins for bonus points is always a priority.
The Trojans’ ineligible wrestler was one of their best. Had he been excluded from North Hall’s state duals roster, it would have altered Gilmer’s approach to the bout and surrounding bouts.
“I’m still gathering my thoughts,” Ghobadpoor said. “I thought we’d at least have an appeal. It’s frustrating and upsetting. It’s one of those things where we didn’t get to wrestle on a fair playing field.
“All our athletes did everything they needed to on the mat, off the mat and in the classroom. I can’t say the same for North Hall. It was a contributing factor, and if you take that wrestler out of their lineup, I think we win the state championship. They’ll be hard-pressed to tell me otherwise.
“We fought for our wrestlers and took it as far as we could. The outcome isn’t what we wanted or hoped for, but at least we fought for our kids. That’s something that I, and I hope our administration, will continue to do in the future.”
Ghobadpoor said he plans to use the situation as s teaching moment for his wrestlers. He noted that at this point, all they can do is focus on the future.
“I’m really proud of the young men and ladies on this team. We did our best, and ultimately, we’re going to have to work harder and get ready for next year it looks like,” he said.