Gilmer returned home from the Kids State Wrestling Tournament with three champions.
USA Wrestling’s annual event was March 2-3 in Perry. Twelve of Gilmer’s 15 wrestlers from the season went on to place at state, and champions were Christian Bautista in the 12-under, 180-pound weight class and 14U’s Madden Hopkins (190) and Fabian Perez (235).
Gilmer finished second among club teams in the traditional standings. Both Hopkins and Perez entered the tournament as No. 3 seeds.
“We knew both had a chance of doing well and were even capable of winning it,” said coach Walt Monroe. “They both mirrored each other reaching the finals with tough matches along the way. Madden won a great, exciting match in the finals. His match was decided in the two, 30-second overtime periods, where Madden scored an escape with about eight seconds left in the second period. I told him after the match that it was as exciting of a 14U big-man match that I had seen.
“Fabian’s finals match was just as dramatic as he was in 1-1 tie in the last period of regulation, and he also scored an escape with eight seconds remaining to win. Fabian has worked hard this year. He was undefeated through our regular season through the state duals. To see him cap his season with this state championship as he heads to the high school next season was very satisfying to all the coaches. It was an emotional moment for him and to see him win in the manner he did was an exciting and dramatic culmination to a great season.”
Also advancing to the finals and finishing second were Keigan Brookshire (120) and Parker Settel (150) in 12U, while Dawson Duncan (61) finished fourth. Rojelio Zavala (285) was a runner-up in 14U.
Also taking the mat for Gilmer were Rudy Morales (90) and Jaspar Barr (112) in 12U. Wrestling in the 14U division were Jamey Allen (190), Edgar Soto (190), Caleb Gaspar (190)and David Coursey (210).
Three Bobcats participated in the beginner’s division March 3. Morales, Barr and Coursey placed third, and Gaspar wrestled as well.