Gilmer Bobcat wrestlers tested their mettle once more.
GHS was in Rome last Wednesday and Thursday for the Garvin Edward’s Hall of Fame Classic. The 24-team event was fiercely competitive at the top of each bracket, and GHS finished fifth as a team with 136 points.
Bobcats Leo Domingo (113 pounds) and Carson Farist (126) each navigated their way through their weight class and walked away as champions.
“It was a tough overall tournament for us, and we were tested in a lot of ways,” said head coach Josh Ghobadpoor. “Some guys were tired after just wrestling at Coal Mountain, and some have had to make weight for several weeks now. I feel like we finished strong in the middle of the tournament and bounced back.
“We still have some guys who have to figure it out. We’re telling them exactly what to do, but they’re having a hard time executing on the mat. Until they start to do that, they’ll continue to have tough matches. For some of our experienced guys, it was good to see them have three or four tough matches.”
The Bobcats were still not at 100 percent. Juan Rafael (106) was limited by an injury, and Bregan Berry (132) withdrew from the tournament after the first day due to injury. GHS was without a 215 pounder and a reserve took the mat at heavyweight.
“We had that, and in a couple of places, we just didn’t wrestle well,” Ghobadpoor said. “We could’ve very easily been third in this tournament.”
Domingo, who was unseeded, won handily in his finals match, 14-0. Farist was seeded No. 1 and pinned his opponent in the first period of the finals.
“This is the second tournament Leo has won in a row,” Ghobadpoor said. “He’s been on the team a long time and had to kind of wait his turn and has really come around. He’s looked really good, and he’s come really far since senior night and has won two really tough tournaments.
“Carson had another loaded bracket with multiple state champions and state placers. His toughest match was in the semifinals against Cedartown’s Adam Payton, the defending state champion in 4A. They had a battle, it was 2-2 in the third period, and Carson got a takedown with 10 seconds left. It was a huge win, and Carson really stunned the other guy because he’s a great wrestler, too.”
Rafael gutted it out to finish third, and teammate Alex Raymundo (120) placed fifth.
“He (Rafael) was hurting and kept wrestling,” Ghobadpoor said. “He came back and got third and was tough for us. He was the No. 1 seed, but still, injuries and different things happen.
“Alex came out and wrestled well. He beat the No. 2 seed then later made some mistakes in the consolation semis. He came back and got fifth, and I thought that was great. He’s a great kid and a hard worker who has been waiting his turn.”
Bobcats Berry, Kellen Watts (126), Llesion Puac (138), Luis Lucas (144), Frisly Ambroscio (150), Blakely Andrews (157), Jovani Raymundo (165), Hunter Brown (175) and Diego Jacinto (190) all secured wins on the day for Gilmer.
Trion (298) ran away with first place ahead of runner-up McCallie, Tenn. (185). Toombs (146), Pike (145.5) and Gilmer (136) rounded out the top five.
“While we didn’t wrestle as well as we could have in a couple spots, we had some guys really step up and wrestle well,” Ghobadpoor said. “Some young guys stepped up and wrestled well so that was fun to watch.”
Gilmer will host the annual Bobcat Duals Friday beginning at 10 a.m.