The 17-time state champion Bobcats enter the wrestling season with one goal in mind, and that is to add more hardware to their trophy case.
Josh Ghobadpoor begins his fifth season as head coach at Gilmer High School, home to one of the proudest wrestling heritages in the state. Gilmer will be one of the favorites to win it all in Class 3A, and from top to bottom, Ghobadpoor believes he has a “murderers’ row” lineup.
“Our expectation is the same as it’s been in the past, and our goal is to win a state championship,” Ghobadpoor said. “I’m so confident in this group that they will do everything in their power to do that. When you get down to the end (of a season), crazy stuff can happen. I think we’re a state championship caliber team, definitely.”
GHS started putting in work back during spring, and voluntary preseason conditioning began Sept. 7. Participation was in the 30s the first week and that number increased to over 40 as the first official day of practice approached Oct. 25.
“That’s (40-plus wrestlers) without football players or cross-country kids, and that was pretty outstanding. All the heavy hitters and the ones you’ll be counting on down the stretch, they had great participation,” Ghobadpoor said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been more confident in a group of wrestlers than the group we have now. It goes back to them willing to put in the work. Going back to spring break, we started to get in shape and wrestled and competed well over the summer and had a lot of participation. They came in hungry and ready to go.”
Participation continued to increase as official practices began. GHS fields a girls team in addition to the Bobcats, and the former appears to be on track as well.
“We have 13 young ladies in the program. This is the best girls group I’ve had. Once all our football players are back, we should have around 51. So we’ll be pushing around 60 to 63 wrestlers,” Ghobadpoor said.
While fundamentals are a key to early season practices, every year and team is different. Ghobadpoor and his staff tailor practices based on the team’s qualities, abilities and experience.
“We want to have toughness, selflessness and just be committed to what we’re doing,” he said. “We want to develop the mentality to be a team other people don’t want to wrestle. Not because we’re going to win every match, but because it will be a tough, physical, grinding match, and we will not quit until the very end.
“Our conditioning is going to be excellent, and that will continue to prove itself as the year goes on. Our toughness in situations to be able to take punishment and dish out punishment is something we’re definitely working on.”
Work ethic, leadership and desire are some of the positive traits he sees in this year’s Bobcats, and Ghobadpoor mentioned another key component.
“Experience is by far one of our best attributes. We have four state finalists, including a state champion, plus three other state placers and two other kids who were one match away from placing,” Ghobadpoor said. “We have another state qualifier on top of that and then you have kids who have been behind these incredible wrestlers.”
Several wrestlers are not currently at their optimal weight, and Ghobadpoor noted it may take until mid to late December before the team resembles what it will be at area and state tournaments.
Ghobadpoor discussed wrestlers who he expects to be starters and contributors. Junior Juan Rafael is the front-runner at 106, and Ghobadpoor expects him to place at state. Sophomore and defending 106-pound state champion from last season, Carson Farist, will take the mat at 113.
Senior state finalist Arturo Gonzalez and junior Leo Domingo will battle it out for the 120-pound spot. Junior Kellen Watts and sophomore Bregan Berry are two of the favorites to wrestle at 126.
Sophomore Alex Raymundo, junior Luis Lucas and senior Carson Bentley are options Ghobadpoor has at the 132-138 range. Senior Miguel Jacinto and junior Frisly Ambrocio will be in the mix at 145 and 152.
Junior state finalist Diego Jacinto, seniors Rolando Raymundo and Daniel Reynoso and sophomore David Tercero are some who will give Ghobadpoor options at 160 and 170 pounds. Juniors Hunter Brown and Felipe Perez and senior Domingo Escobar are in the mix for the 182-pound spot.
Seniors will fill the final three spots and include Owen Moss (195), state finalist Dylan Galloway (220) and Tony Olea (285).
“We have a murderers’ row from 106 to heavyweight,” Ghobadpoor said. “We have so much talent and experience and tough kids. You’re not going to have an easy match against this lineup.
“I think they understand how to win. This group has been in some big matches. They’re battle tested, and they understand what the goal is, they understand how to win, and they’ve got a certain confidence about them because they have put in the work.”