Rafael, Jacinto, Schiesser win individual titles
For the 19th time, the Gilmer High Bobcats are wrestling state champions.
On the girls side, Gilmer achieved a school record with four state placers and finished second.
GHS was in Macon last Friday and Saturday for the traditional state tournament. The Bobcats found themselves in hotly-contested battle in Class 3A and came out on top for their second straight traditional state title.
Juan Rafael (106 pounds) ended his GHS career with a two straight individual championship. Fellow senior Diego Jacinto’s title at 190 pounds sealed the Bobcats’ team championship. Taylor Schiesser was the top 190-pound girls wrestler, and she pinned her finals opponent to secure second place in their team standings.
“We had seven qualifiers and we placed five. Everyone scored points and that was very crucial,” head coach Josh Ghobadpoor said of the Bobcats. “Luis Lucas at 144 went 1-2 and scored four team points, and Alex Raymundo (126) went 2-2 and scored three team points. That’s seven points and the difference between first and second place was five. This was a six-team race, and that’s what I told our kids. We had to believe in it and go out there and wrestle our best. It was just an incredible experience.
“We had to root for a lot of teams and a lot of different scenarios with six teams in the hunt. It was so close between us. We went into the second day 10 points behind and battled back. It’s a testament to our kids and coaches for believing in it. We never put our heads down. We just had to go, and that’s what we did.”
All girls compete in the same classification regardless of enrollment, and Gilmer has continued to flourish with the sport.
“Over the past few years, girls wrestling in Georgia has grown tremendously,” said coach Stacy Galloway. “Each year the level of competition has increased, so for these girls to be able to finish as the GHSA girls traditional state runners-up is amazing.
“I am so proud of these young ladies. Their hard work and dedication has led to an historic and record-breaking year. We placed four of the five girls that qualified for state, which is a school record.”
Rafael’s journey was paved with a bye and pin before a major decision in the semifinals. The title match pitted Rafael against Coahulla Creek’s Adonnis Sanchez. It was a rematch of last year’s state finals, and Rafael won with a takedown in overtime for a 6-4 sudden victory.
“He was giving me a lot of pressure, so I knew if I was able to get a sweep really fast, I would be able to get the takedown, so that’s what I did,” Rafael said.
The victory improved Rafael’s record to 45-3 for the season, and he capped his GHS career with consecutive state championships.
“This really means a lot,” Rafael said. “It’s really hard to beat the same person twice. I thought I was going to lose because he got really strong (since last season).”
Ghobadpoor noted, “Juan beat him in the closing seconds in state finals last year. This year, he got down and tied it up with 15 seconds left and won it in overtime . . . amazing. It was an exceptional match.”
Jacinto received a first-round bye and stormed his way to the finals with a major decision and pin. He was then tasked with facing Wesleyan’s Trent DeBow for the third week in a row. The two had previously wrestled in the area and sectional finals, and Jacinto continued to be on the winning end at state.
Their match needed overtime as well, and Jacinto’s takedown led to a 7-5 sudden victory. As a three-time state finalist, the victory was especially sweet.
“This means a lot to me,” said Jacinto, who finished the season with a 42-3 record. “Sophomore year I came up so short, and junior year it happened again. This has been my goal since I was 8 years old, and I finally achieved it today. I couldn’t be more proud of my coaches and teammates for believing in me.”
Jacinto’s victory sealed Gilmer’s team title over second-place Pickens.
“Last year, we were a pretty powerful team coming in and won it,” Jacinto said. “This year, we didn’t qualify as many for state. But for the seven guys who came to state, we all scored points and that means a lot. In the end, we came out victorious.”
Jacinto surpassed 150 career wins this season and is in elite company as a four-time state placer.
“He’s a state champion and one of the most accomplished wrestlers we’ve had at Gilmer,” Ghobadpoor said. “He’s one of only four or five four-time state placers, and now he’s a state champion.”
Schiesser pinned all of her opponents at the tournament following her opening-round bye. Her first two matches ended with first-period pins. In the finals, Chestatee’s Jaden Lee met her demise 35 seconds into the second round.
Schiesser posted a 47-1 record on the season and defeated four nationally-ranked wrestlers.
“I didn’t believe I won at first,” Schiesser said. “This means everything because I know my work meant something. It’s like your biggest dream come true. Everyone I’ve met on this journey has been amazing, and I couldn’t ask for more.”
Galloway added, “From the beginning of the year, the expectation was for Taylor to end the year as state champion. She put in the work and made it happen. She is now Gilmer’s first three-time girls state placer, and she will be back next year to defend her title.”
Carson Farist (120) found himself in the finals for the third year in a row. After a bye, he won by pin and an 8-3 decision. Columbus’ Jonathan McDaniel awaited Farist in the finals for their third matchup of the season. McDaniel came out victorious once more with a 9-4 decision.
“Carson is a three-time state finalist and won it as a freshman,” Ghobadpoor said. “He battled every second he was on the mat and just had a tough guy who was just a little better this time around. He’s the heart and soul of our wrestling team and really battled for us.”
Leo Domingo (113) pinned his first two opponents before losing in the semifinals. He pinned his next opponent in the consolation semifinals, and secured third place with a 3-2 decision over White County’s Davin Lightsey.
“Leo pinned his way back to his third and fourth place match,” Ghobadpoor said. “He already lost to Lightsey twice (including the previous day at state), but beat him this time. He’s a first-year starter and ends up getting third in state.”
After a bye, Bregan Berry (132) narrowly lost, 2-1. He then went on a four-match winning streak in the consolation bracket. Three straight pins preceded his 3-2 decision over Hudson Moss of Ringgold.
“Bregan had a great season,” Ghobadpoor said. “He battled back, same as Leo. He ends up getting third and it was just incredible, and we needed him to win to get those points.”
Leticia Tercero (125) was Gilmer’s next highest girls placer in fourth. She won by injury default and lost by decision in the quarterfinals. Wins by pin and two decisions came next. Millie Hughes of Jefferson secured a victory via decision in the consolation finals.
Linda Tercero (140) and Sarai Solis (110) were both 2-2 at the event and won with a pin and decision. Matches to decide fifth and sixth place are not wrestled at state so they both defaulted to fifth.
Josephine Royer (105) suffered an overtime loss in the opening round and was also defeated in the second round of the consolation bracket.
Bobcats Raymundo and Lucas scored valuable points for GHS. Raymundo earned wins with a pin and decision, while Lucas pinned his first-round foe.
Storied history
The title was the Bobcats’ 10th traditional state championship since 2005 and second in a row.
“Last year’s was a relief,” Ghobadpoor said. “We’ve come so close so many times and faced heartbreak so many times because it hurts. Every time you lose it hurts, but you accept that because you know when you win and that time does come, it’s going to be the best feeling in the world.
“We graduated 11 seniors and seven state placers from last year, and it was a different team this year. I think a lot of people wrote us off this year with what we brought to state. We were truly underdogs this year, and a lot of people never thought we had it. Then all of a sudden, Gilmer just scored some more points and is in first place.”
At the area level, GHS has won 19 straight traditional championships. On the duals side, Gilmer has nine state titles to its name and has reached the state duals finals in 14 straight seasons. The Bobcats have won area duals 11 consecutive times.
“When you take into account what our women’s team also did this year, you could argue we had the most successful program in the state of Georgia. We’re the only team in the state that placed in the top four at state duals for guys and girls. We both also finished in the top two at state in traditional, and nobody did that. What a year for our program.
“It was an experience I’ll never forget. We’ve had some things not go our way in the past, and this time it did. I’m just so proud of the kids, and what they worked so hard for came to fruition. I’m proud for everyone who gave their time, energy and effort and put love into our kids.”
Class 3A Team Scores
1. Gilmer 115.0
2. Pickens 110.0
3. Bremen 108.0
3. Ringgold 108.0
5. Franklin Co. 107.0
6. Columbus 104.5
7. Lumpkin Co. 93.0
8. Pike Co. 75.0
9. Monroe Area 65.0
10. Coahulla Creek 61.0
Girls Team Scores
1. Chestatee 82.0
2. Carrollton 52.0
2. Gilmer 52.0
4. Jackson Co. 44.0
5. Lumpkin Co. 39.0
6. Greenbrier 38.0
7. Woodward Academy 36.0
8. Columbus 34.0
9. White Co. 31.0
10. Newton 23.0