Gilmer wrestling finishes as runners-up for 4th straight season
The Gilmer High School Bobcats have advanced to the duals state finals in 11 straight seasons.
The first seven resulted in state championships for GHS, and over the last four, the Bobcats have settled for second place.
During that four-year span, GHS lost twice in the finals to Jefferson, Georgia’s most storied wrestling program. Over the previous two seasons, Gilmer has squared off against the Woodward Academy War Eagles.
The Atlanta private school topped Gilmer by four points last season and defeated the Cats for the Class 4A title again last Saturday in Macon, 44-24.
“I was just unbelievably proud of our guys,” GHS coach Josh Ghobadpoor said. “This is a tough matchup and a tough team. They’re the defending state champions and have a lot of talented kids.
“It was one of those situations where we had a plan, and if we execute it, we win the dual. It wasn’t anything magical that had to happen, it was about us going out and doing what we’re supposed to, but it didn’t happen, and that’s wrestling.”
Woodward — with an enrollment of 1,082 students and only 52 living inside its district — earned two pivotal victories through three bouts where Gilmer wrestlers appeared poised for wins.
While Bobcat Jacob Cruz (285 pounds) won 4-0, the War Eagles turned the tide of the 220-pound bout in the waning moments of the second period for a pin.
They did the same in the last seconds of the third period in the 106-pound bout for a substantial 12-3 lead.
Carson Bentley (113) got six points back for GHS with a pin in the third period. A commanding 7-3 win by Walter Lopez (120) and a pin by senior captain Lucas Lopez (126) moved GHS ahead, 18-12.
However, Woodward went on a seven-bout winning streak. The War Eagles won via pin at 132, 138 and 152 while earning a technical fall at 145 and decisions at 160 (by a score of 3-2), 170 (14-10) and 182 (5-0) for a 44-18 lead.
Bobcat Dylan Galloway won his 195-pound bout with a pin in 1:38 to end the match.
“This is our fourth second-place finish in a row as a program and third for me (since becoming head coach),” Ghobadpoor said. “We have a lot of these kids coming back next year, and its important they understand what happened and how we have to work to get back and get better. If a couple small things go differently, then we win that dual.
“Woodward is a great team and has a lot of great kids and there’s a lot of talent. We couldn’t make costly mistakes against them but unfortunately we did. Our kids continued to fight and I think we’re the best homegrown team in Georgia right now. It wasn’t what we wanted, but we’re extremely proud of our kids.”
In the semifinals, Gilmer rolled through Central Carroll, 46-27. There was little the Lions could do to stop the wave of points that buried them from the start.
While Central was able to get a pin at 220 pounds, GHS did the same with pins by Galloway, Cruz, Gustavo Morales (106), Bentley (113) and Lucas Lopez (120).
Ahead 30-6, Logan Bentley’s 126-pound bout was stopped when his Lion opponent was disqualified for flagrant misconduct and ejected from the tournament. GHS was awarded six team points, and its lead increased to 36-6 with seven bouts remaining.
Central earned minor decision victories at 132 and 138 before a major decision by Bobcat Diego Jacinto (145). Gilmer forfeited at 152, and CHS picked up six more points at 160.
With a 40-24 Bobcat lead, Central forfeited to Caleb Waddell (170), and the Lions won the final bout with a minor decision at 182 pounds.
The match against Central, as well as Perry in the quarterfinals, got chippy at times. Insults were hurled at Gilmer wrestlers from Central’s bench and from its fans.
Perry wrestlers directed deriding comments to GHS wrestlers and coaches, according to Ghobadpoor, which he called “classless.”
Gilmer wrestlers did not respond in either situation. Instead, they allowed their superior wrestling ability do the talking.
“I feel like it’s a testament to our leadership and our captains and everyone across the board,” Ghobadpoor said. “It’s about what’s between the ears. It’s the mental part and emotional part we have to win because that’s going to take care of the physical (part) and everything else. We didn’t give up any team points (because of unsportsmanlike behavior) and did everything we needed to.
“Against Perry, there were some emotional moments, and all our guys kept their cool and we did what we needed to. Here again, we kept our composure. We trust our guys enough that if that stuff happens, we know how to handle it and deal with adversity and keep moving forward. We want to win and lose the right way with class and dignity.”
Waddell pinned to start the Perry match and Galloway did the same. Perry earned a major at 220 before Cruz won by technical fall. Ahead 17-4, Gilmer lost by decision at 106 and 113 before winning four straight.
Carson Bentley (120) and Lucas Lopez (126) pinned while Miguel Jacinto (132) won via major decision. Brock Sumner (138) also won with a minor as the Cats surged ahead, 36-10.
With the victory secured in Gilmer’s favor, PHS notched a decision at 145 and pinned at 152 before Ghobadpoor opted to forfeit the final two bouts for a 36-31 Bobcat triumph.
Gilmer’s tournament began with a 48-22 first-round win over Flowery Branch. Abel Jacinto (170) Waddell (182), Galloway, Cruz, Carson Bentley, Sumner and Diego Jacinto (145) all pinned and Lucas Lopez won by forfeit.
Gilmer finished its dual season with a 26-3 record. Aside from Woodward, GHS lost to Class 5A state champion Woodland and Cleveland, Tennessee’s No. 1 team.