’20-’21 Seasonal Preview
The Gilmer Bobcats’ wrestling trophy case is stocked with hardware from 17 state championships.
This season the Bobcats’ conquest for more will start in a new region and culminate in a new classification after GHS dropped to 3A this fall.
But no matter the year or opponents, Gilmer’s goal remains unchanged.
“Our goal, and always has been, that if you’re a starter on this team the expectation is you’re going to state and are going to fight to get on that podium,” head coach Josh Ghobadpoor said. “With that, our goal is to bring 14 guys to state. That’s our driving force and that’s our goal.”
With new challenges ahead, the Bobcats got a late start on the season’s preparations. COVID-19 wiped out all offseason work during the spring and summer months.
“We didn’t get any mat time over the summer and were restricted to the weight room and conditioning,” Ghobadpoor said. “We had great participation but were really limited compared to what we typically do.
“What we normally have is a mini wrestling season in June. We missed out on that and went straight to weights.”
Aside from being unable to wrestle, the program dealt with many uncertainties and new experiences. COVID-19 guidelines meant the sport could have been shut down at any time if an exposure occurred.
“The biggest part was not being around the team and having everyone holding each other accountable,” Ghobadpoor said of the summer months.
“You’re unable to do off the mat stuff and you don’t realize how important it is. Things like making sure grades are right and attitudes are right and making sure they’re still doing what they need to so they’re ready when we were able to come back ... it’s easier to do in a structured setting.”
To make up for lost time, Ghobadpoor started workouts earlier than usual. In August, wrestlers were able to work with Gilmer’s USA Wrestling coaches ahead of the official start to Gilmer’s practices.
“Through USA Wrestling, we were able to have more than four wrestlers working out at a time as opposed to what I’m held to with a GHSA standard,” Ghobadpoor said. “We really tried to put an emphasis on our USA wrestling to where we could have 15 to 20 at a time going three days per week if they chose to. We also bumped our time up from an hour to an hour and a half.”
Close to 40 wrestlers attended those voluntary sessions each time to get prepared for the high school season.
Dealing with COVID-19 was only part of Gilmer’s bumpy preseason. All assistants from last year’s team left the program.
Scott DeGraff left for Chestatee to be the War Eagles’ head coach. Charles Higdon is now Woodland’s head strength coach, while the plan is for Brent Berry to be part of the program in some regard.
“When you have great coaches, they’re going to get great opportunities,” Ghobadpoor said of DeGraff and Higdon. “With coach Berry’s work schedule, it looks like he is going to be a lay coach for us. He has been with me the three years I’ve been at GHS. His situation changed a little, but we’re actively looking to get him back on board.”
After the state cut the system’s budget by nearly $4 million dollars, a hiring freeze was initiated. Ghobadpoor only had one assistant for all of the offseason, and his second assistant was approved last month.
Joining the staff are Stacy Galloway and recent GHS graduate Dan Puac. Since the program is down a coach, Ghobadooor had to limit the number of wrestlers on the roster.
There are currently 52 wrestlers in the program, which includes nine girls. The Bobcats landed in second place at state duals and traditional in Class 4A last season. Ghobadpoor mentioned what the team’s focus has been since mandatory practice began.
“Discipline is first and foremost,” he said. “Because you have to have the discipline and mentality of improving on a daily basis. We’ve talked so little about winning a state championship and those types of things. We’re more focused on the day-to-day aspects and getting better as a team.
“We’re not a team that is going to be loaded. We’re not getting move-ins and this that and the other. We’re not the type of team who can stop getting better every day. If we use our work ethic and improve our talent, we’re going to be right where we want to be at the end of the season.”
Fundamental work and technique have also been some of the focal points of early practices. The Bobcats seek to be one of the top conditioned teams on a yearly basis, which is always a vital component to Gilmer’s seasonal framework.
Ghobadpoor discussed some of the wrestlers he expects GHS to depend on this season. GHS returns state placers Brock Sumner, Dylan Galloway, Diego Jacinto, Miguel Jacinto and Abel Jacinto.
Freshman Carson Farist has emerged as the top 106 pounder and placed third at the Big Kids state tournament as an eighth grader.
Junior Arturo Gonzalez will take the mat at 113 pounds, and he will be backed up by freshman Bregan Berry. Sophomores Leo Domingo and Juan Rafael will compete at the lower weights as well
Two-time state qualifier senior Walter Lopez, senior Zac Domingo and freshman Pascual Escobar will compete for the 120-pound spot
“From 120 down, we have so much talent it’s almost ridiculous,” Ghobadpoor said. “It’s exciting and great but you almost feel bad for some of those guys. They’re so talented, it’s just some weight classes are so deep so they might not get as many opportunities as you’d like them to. It’s hard to see a really good wrestler as a backup or even third string.”
Sophomore Kellen Watts will take the mat at 126 pounds, as will freshman Aldin Tiniguar. Seniors Gaspar Perez, William Lopez, Sebastian Lopez and Ronald Pierce will battle it out for the 132- and 138-pound spots.
Sumner will wrestle at 145. Miguel Jacinto and Frisly Ambrocio are in the range of 142 to 152 pounds, according to Ghobadpoor.
Senior Abel Jacinto and sophomore Diego Jacinto could see time at either 152 or 160. Wrestlers who will vie for spots from 160 to 182 are Daniel Reynoso, Hunter Brown, Domingo Escobar, Israel Francisco-Ordonez, David Tercero and Noah Goswick.
Junior Owen Moss will step in at 195. Galloway will take the mat at 220, and Tony Olea will be the team’s heavyweight.
“If we improve on a daily basis, we’re going to put ourselves in position to be where we want to be at the end of the year,” Ghobadpoor said.
GHS will meet new region opponents after dropping from Class 4A to 3A. Ghobadpoor discussed what lies ahead and who is standing in the Bobcats’ way.
“This will be the first time since I’ve been here (entering fourth season) where I don’t think we have the toughest region for the state of Georgia in our classification,” he said. “This year, I feel like it’s changed a little.
“I think our toughest competition will fall with North Hall, the defending duals state champions and Sonoraville, the defending traditional state champions. That’s not counting anyone else out, but realistically, those are going to be the teams that probably give us the toughest challenge.”
For the girls, Ghobadpoor made note of some wrestlers who continue to make strides after gaining experience in past seasons. Returning state qualifiers include Hannah Mayo, Noemi Torres and second-place finisher Francisca Lopez. Also on the girls roster are Taylor Schiesser, Carmelina Tercero, Jennifer Paiz, Queyli Solis, Andrea Garcia, Linda Tercero and Albertina Lopez.
“On the girls side, this is the best group I’ve ever had,” Ghobadpoor said. “They had experience at the middle school level where the others had not. Now we have a group with at least a year of experience. They’re still learning every day and have some toughness and experience. I think we’re really going to make some wav