GHS Bobcats win another traditional wrestling title
For the 16th consecutive season, the Gilmer High Bobcats have won the traditional region wrestling championship.
Region 6-4A schools made their way to Pickens High last Saturday where GHS reclaimed its top spot. The seven-team event was a two-team race between Gilmer and Northwest Whitfield, and the former proved it was once again up for the task.
Bobcats advanced to the finals in 10 of 14 weight classes, and eight walked away as region champions. Three more finished third, which will give GHS 13 qualifiers for Saturday’s sectional tournament.
Gilmer coach Josh Ghobadpoor was pleased with the Bobcats and assessed their performance.
“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “I thought we wrestled really well today. What a great day it was. We had eight region champs and are taking 13 through (to sectionals). Our 14th guy is an alternate. I think our guys feel really good about it and how they did. Traditionally, we have a tough region. Last year, we had two region champs, and this year we have eight and that’s a big deal.
“It took us a little while to get going this week at practice, and then we finished the week about as good as you could want to. We knew the expectations, and everyone was money on their weight, and everybody did a great job of pushing through and doing what they needed to do.”
Gustavo Morales (106 pounds) captured Gilmer’s first region title of the day when he pinned his finals opponent in the first round. Fellow senior Lucas Lopez (120) was next, and he battled for a 2-1 championship win.
Gilmer’s Brock Sumner (132) jumped to a 6-0 lead after the first period and held on for a 6-2 victory. At 138, Diego Jacinto fell behind 2-1 after the first period and gained a 6-3 edge with two minutes to go and came away with a 6-4 victory.
Abel Jacinto (160) was Gilmer’s next region champion. He scored a takedown for an early 2-0 lead. The match was even at 2-2 entering the third period where Jacinto earned an escape for a 3-2 victory.
Senior Caleb Waddell (170) pinned his finals opponent in 40 seconds. In his two matches at the event, he only wrestled for a total of two minutes.
Bobcat Sammy Tercero (220) also pinned his way to a region title. His match was tied 0-0 after the first period before he scored a takedown and pin.
Jacob Cruz (285) was Gilmer’s final champion of the day. After a scoreless opening period, Cruz slipped ahead 1-0. He added three insurance points in the third period for a 4-0 victory.
Also reaching the finals were Bobcat runners-up Walter Lopez (113) and Mike Owens (182). Third-place finishers and winners of the consolation finals included Gilmer’s Miguel Jacinto (126), Hunter Brown (145) and Dylan Galloway (195).
Domingo Escobar (152) placed fifth and will serve as a sectional alternate if one of the top finishers is unable to compete.
“Our guys really got dialed in today, and we finished where we needed to,” Ghobadpoor said. “We don’t want our guys to peak at region. We want to peak at the state tournament, but this is the start of it. We’ve set ourselves up to have a lot of good seeds next week. We want to get these 13 through to state and kill them with numbers.
“It was a great job by these guys just staying mentally tough throughout the process.”
The sectional tournament will be held Saturday at Lanier High School. Four of Class 4A’s eight regions will convene, and each wrestler will be entered into a 16-man bracket. Those who finish in the top eight will advance to next week’s state tournament.
Ghobadpoor discussed Gilmer’s practice plans for the week and he wants to keep them productive and efficient.
“Even if you’re a state champion or region champion, we’ve got to find things we need to work on and continue to get better,” he said. “Mentally, we just have to stay on the grind. The work over the course of the year has paid off, and now we’re in a good place where we can come in touch base on some things and get out of there.”
Final Region Standings
Team Points
1. Gilmer 253.5
2. Northwest 221.0
3. LaFayette 121.0
4. Ridgeland 120.0
5. Pickens 113.5
6. Southeast 105.5
7. Heritage 85.0