Five Gilmer High School girls are area wrestling champions.
A runner-up and three more placers helped Gilmer finish second as a team at last Saturday’s Area 7 traditional tournament. The 38-team event was held at Lumpkin County High School, and the host Indians clipped GHS for the area title, 222-207. Cedartown (127) was third followed by Pepperell (92) and Southeast Whitfield (87) to round out the top-five teams.
“Our goal was to be area champions, and we fell just short of that losing to Lumpkin,” said head coach Stacy Galloway. “Lumpkin had two champions where we had five, but they did really well on the backside of the bracket. They placed 12 out of 13, and we placed nine out of 12.
“I am still really pleased with the results. Every girl scored points toward the team score, and they all wrestled well. We just needed one or two more wins on the backside, and we could have won the area championship. Overall, it was a great night of wrestling.”
Unlike the boys division, which splits wrestlers into classifications, all of the girls teams compete in a single classification. The tournament was one of eight across the state, and a top-four placement was needed to qualify for the upcoming sectional tournament.
All of Gilmer’s five champions compiled 3-0 records, and all of their victories were secured with pins. Area champions included Josephine Royer (105), Leticia Tercero (130), Linda Tercero (155), Amayah Jones (170) and Taylor Schiesser (235).
All three of Jones’ pins were in the first period, and she had the quickest pin of Gilmer’s five champions in 21 seconds.
Sarai Solis (110, 2-1 record) placed second for Gilmer, and four more advance to the consolation finals and placed fourth. Those wrestlers included Gilmer’s Abelinda Tercero (135, 2-1), Andrea Garcia (140, 2-1) and Carmelina Tercero (190, 3-2).
Juana Tercero (106, 2-2) landed in sixth place. Erica Velasquez (125, 2-2), Maria Raymundo (145) also competed for Gilmer and both won two of their four matches.
Friday’s sectional tournament will be at Harris County High School. Those who place in the top six of their respective weight class will advance to the state tournament.