The Panther Invitational is one of the top traditional wrestling tournaments on a yearly basis, and this season was no exception.
Gilmer High School made its way to the Jackson County event last Friday and Saturday, and Caleb Waddell finished first in the 170-pound weight class.
Not much separated the top of the standings as host Jackson won with 204 points. Jefferson edged Gilmer for second place, 190-188.5.
GHS coach Josh Ghobadpoor was delighted with the Bobcats’ performance at the heralded tournament.
“Overall, we wrestled phenomenally,” he said. “This is probably the best I’ve ever seen us wrestle at a traditional tournament. I was very impressed with how our guys did. There was just an atmosphere about them and how they were working. We’re doing the things we need to do, and the guys are excited about competing.
“We talked about how this was like a mock version of state. We may lose some tough matches, but we have to bounce back and others need to step up.”
All 14 weight classes were loaded with former state qualifiers, placers and champions.
“It was a field of 18 teams and some of them are perennial power houses,” Ghobadpoor said. “Jackson County is always a top-three team, we all know about Jefferson (40 state titles), Chattooga is a top-three team, Elbert County was a runner-up in state duals and traditional last year, Social Circle were state champs, as was Commerce, and West Laurens was a state runner-up.
“The competition was very stacked. We brought a full squad (of 14), but some guys were out because they were taking the SAT.”
Waddell mauled the competition en route to his title. None of his matches needed three full periods as Waddell ended every one with a pin.
“Caleb looked like a million bucks,” Ghobadpoor said. “He pinned his way through the tournament, and even though he faced quality kids, he ended up dismantling his opponent (who was last year’s outstanding wrestler at the event) in the finals. I believe Caleb was the most dominant wrestler there, regardless of weight class.”
Three more Bobcats advanced to the finals, which included Carson Bentley (113 pounds), Miguel Jacinto (132) and Abel Jacinto (182). The GHS trio secured runner-up placements.
Finishing atop the consolation bracket and taking third were Gilmer’s Gustavo Morales (106), Lucas Lopez (126) and Sammy Tercero (285).
Freshman Diego Jacinto (152) lost in his consolation finals match and placed fourth. Dylan Galloway (195) was injured during the consolation rounds and defaulted his final match for sixth place.
Also earning a victory to score team points were Bobcats Kellen Watts (120), Ronald Pierce (138), Logan Ellis (160) and Owen Moss (285).
King of the Mountain crowned
Gilmer’s No. 2 varsity, as well as junior varsity wrestlers, attended the King of the Mountain traditional event in Towns County.
Gilmer’s second teamers finished fourth overall and six Bobcats placed in the top four.
Advancing to the finals and placing second were Bobcats Zac Domingo (113), Mike Owens (195), Chad Weaver (220) and Tony Olea (285).
Both Arturo Gonzalez (106) and Hunter Brown (160) finished fourth.
“We were in the team hunt up at Towns, and after the first day, we were in first place,” Ghobadpoor said. “They did a great job.
“We had some JV guys wrestling and some girls wrestling as well. Karina Gonzalez and Anna Waddell went undefeated on the day. Every kid in our program wrestled, and we’re really proud of our kids and it was a great weekend.”
GHS will have another tough test Saturday at the Cleveland (Tenn.) Duals.
“This will be the toughest dual tournament we go to all year, and that includes state,” Ghobadpoor concluded.