Gilmer High wins home tourney, improves to 14-1
Gilmer High wrestlers welcomed eight schools to its gym last week for the Bobcat Duals.
The tournament attracted multiple teams who found themselves at the state tournament across different classifications last season. One of those teams was GHS, as were all four of its opponents, and the Bobcats posted a 4-0 record to claim first place.
Gilmer began the day by downing South Forsyth (48-18) before defeating Lumpkin County in grand fashion, 66-9.
The Bobcats tangled with Ola next, who placed third in Class 5A last season, and GHS came out on top, 33-29. Gilmer’s day ended by defeating Central Carroll, 49-26.
The Cats’ matches against South Forsyth and Lumpkin were pool matches before Gilmer was grouped with the event’s top teams.
The matchup against Ola gave GHS one of its toughest tests of the season.
“It was a very tight dual and they were up most of the time,” coach Josh Ghobadpoor said. “They’re a very tough team and a perennial powerhouse in wrestling.
“Overall, we wrestled pretty well. There were times when we have to do a better job of not giving up bonus points, and there were times where we did give up bonus points but it wasn’t a pin or a tech. Minimizing those bonus points was a key for us.”
Wrestling against Ola began at 132 pounds and GHS found itself in a hole through the early bouts.
Bobcat Gaspar Perez (138 pounds) got Gilmer’s first win via decision, but the Cats did not win again until 170 pounds where Ola forfeited to Caleb Waddell.
Behind 17-9, Abel Jacinto (182) and Dylan Galloway (195) secured consecutive pins for Gilmer’s first lead of the match, 21-17.
Mike Owens won by minor decision at 220 before Ola did the same at 285. Ola forfeited at 106 and got an overtime victory at 113.
GHS was pinned at 120, and Ola cut the gap to 30-29 with one bout remaining. Gilmer senior captain Lucas Lopez took the mat at 126 pounds and earned a 7-5 victory over a state placer to seal the Bobcats’ victory.
“This isn’t where we’ve typically found ourselves this season, and we try to prepare the guys for winning these close matches,” Ghobadpoor said. “We’ve got to win the big ones, but sometimes when you haven’t had a close match in awhile, and haven’t had to dig deep like that, you have to understand everyone has to do their part, and we’re not going to win every match.”
Against Central, Gilmer’s winners included Diego Jacinto (152, pin), Waddell (pin), Abel Jacinto (decision), Galloway (pin), Gustavo Morales (106, forfeit), Walter Lopez (113, pin), Carson Bentley (120, pin), Logan Bentley (126, pin) and Gabe Reimer (132, tech fall).
“They want to beat us and we want to beat them,” Ghobadpoor said of Central, who GHS defeated in the semifinals of the state duals last season.
The Bobcats’ varsity dual record is 14-1.
Gilmer’s junior varsity also received matches as did its girl wrestlers. The JV posted a 4-0 record with wins over North Forsyth, Kell, Northwest Whitfield and Fannin County.
“We’re happy to see our young guys and girls get mat time,” Ghobadpoor said. “Anything can happen in an instant, and we may have to rely on one of those wrestlers to be ready and have the mat time and awareness to step up.
“We had 36 girls come to the tournament, and this is the most girls I’m anticipating until we get to the state level. We were excited about that, and our parents and volunteers did a great job helping set up and run the tournament.”
Gilmer’s varsity wrestlers will make their way to Jackson County Friday and Saturday for the Panther Invitational.