The Gilmer Bobcats are gearing up for the Region 7-3A duals tournament.
GHS was scheduled to wrestle in events ahead of both Christmas and New Year’s Day, but only the former came to fruition. In what was originally scheduled to be a 10-team dual tournament at White County High School Dec. 30, was trimmed down to four as teams started to drop out.
Gilmer coach Caleb Waddell was then informed it would only be the host Warriors and Bobcats in attendance, and he opted not to make the long trip for one match.
“We’re not driving further than (it takes time to wrestle),” Waddell said. “It’s tough, especially when you’re obviously trying to get ready for area and state. We wanted to get some duals in because we got in a bunch of traditional stuff, which was good. That’s just how it goes sometimes.
“We’ve just been simulating live matches and live stuff and just putting them through situations to get them prepared for scenarios they’re going to be in. Today (Monday) we’re doing live matches, so we’re just doing simulations and trying to get them prepared. You can’t simulate a live wrestling match, but we’re trying to.”
Even without a final tune-up, Waddell is confident the team is ready for the weekend. The Bobcats have compiled a 19-1 record on the season and have a handful of top-five finishes at traditional events. When it comes to region teams, GHS has only faced Northwest Whitfield, and the Bobcats won without any trouble.
“Everybody’s getting down to the correct weight. This week should be the last week of everybody’s descent plan,” Waddell said. “We should be pretty solid.
It’s going to be super cool to see them. There’s a couple of decent teams in the region, and every team has got five or six solid guys. It is going to come down to who can put the most complete team together.
“Right now we’re exactly where I want them to be. They’re doing everything that I ask them to do, and they’re wrestling hard, and it’s going to have to translate over to some wins.”
The top two teams from each region will earn a trip to the Class 3A state duals, which will be comprised of 16 teams.
“We have to stay off our back when we’re wrestling a guy that might be a little better wrestler than us and keep it to a decision and not give up a pin,” Waddell said when asked what key factor will play into a successful day at region duals.
“And that’s something that we talked about at the beginning of the year, and then we have to be able to finish a match and capitalize.
When a guy gives us an opportunity to get a pin, we need to get it and get six points for the team.”
The seven-team Region 7-3A duals will be at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.