The 16 best girls wrestling teams in the state met to decide who would have bragging rights for the next year.
The GHSA girls state duals tournament took place last Friday and Saturday at the University of West Georgia. Gilmer High was seeded No. 4, and by the time the event was over, GHS finished in fourth place.
Gilmer posted a 3-2 record at the tournament. The Cats earned wins over Northside - Warner Robins (72-12) and Woodward Academy (54-30) before a semifinals defeat at the hands of Carrollton, 45-33. GHS earned its last win versus Lumpkin County (40-39) and fell in the consolation finals to Gainesville, 42-40.
This marks the second year of the girls tournament. GHS has placed both times but had a little more work to do this year.
“I am so proud of these girls,” said head coach Stacy Galloway. “They wrestled amazing both days of the tournament. They cheered on their teammates, and they were there for each other in the wins, the losses and injuries. Although we fell short of our goal to be state champions, these girls gave it everything they had to place fourth for a second year in a row.
“This year’s tournament increased from eight teams last year to 16 teams this year. The level of competition this year far exceeds what last year’s team had to face. Some of the girls were upset that we got fourth again because they know this team is significantly better than last year’s team. They are just not seeing the whole overall improvement in girls wrestling in the entire state.”
In Gilmer’s five matches, wrestlers took the mat for 70 combined bouts. Only five went the distance, and outside of a handful of forfeits, four injury defaults and one disqualification, the rest concluded with pins.
In the first round versus Northside, Gilmer’s 11 pins were secured by Linda Tercero (155 pounds), Amayah Jones (170), Carmelina Tercero (190), Juana Tercero (100), Magdalene Thompson (105) Josephine Royer (110), Sarai Solis (115), Erica Velasquez (125), Leticia Tercero (130), Abelinda Tercero (140) and Margarita Lucas (145). Felisha Yarborough’s (135) hand was raised when her opponent was disqualified.
Pin falls against Woodward Academy belonged to Jones, Juana Tercero, Royer, Velasquez, Leticia Tercero and Abelinda Tercero. Gilmer’s Taylor Schiesser (235), Solis and Linda Tercero each scored six team points when their opponent retired due to injury.
Carrollton scored bonus points with pins in seven of its eight wins to down GHS in the semifinals. Gilmer’s pinners included Schiesser, Royer, Solis and Velasquez. Linda Tercero was victorious by decision, and Andrea Garcia (140) won by injury default.
GHS wrestled Lumpkin County in the consolation semifinals, and the match was even at 39-all after the 14th bout. Criteria was used, and because the Indians committed an unsportsmanlike conduct, GHS was granted the win.
Coming out on top with pins were Royer, Solis, Cindy Hernandez (120), Leticia Tercero, Carmelina Tercero and Schiesser. Linda Tercero earned a win with a decision.
Outside of Abelinda Tercero’s major and Gainesville’s forfeit to Schiesser, Gilmer’s remaining consolation finals wins came via pin by Royer, Solis, Leticia Tercero, Linda Tercero and Carmelina Tercero.
GHS posted a 14-3 seasonal record and were continually tested throughout the season.
“Ten of our 14 wins came against teams that qualified for state duals,” Galloway noted. “Of the three losses, two came against Carrollton (by three points, and the other by 12), and to Gainesville in the third-place match.”
Galloway is confident GHS will continue to improve over the final weeks of the season.
“Last year when we finished fourth at state duals, we went on to place second at the traditional state tournament, and that is where our focus turns to now,” he said. “We have a few injuries from this weekend that we hope end up being minor, since the Area 7 traditional tournament is this coming Friday.”
The area tournament will be at Lumpkin County High School.