For the second duals tournament in a row, the Gilmer High School Bobcats wrestling program had a second place finish by the varsity team and first place finish by the junior varsity team. The team traveled to Woodstock, to take part in the Etowah Duals. Gilmer remained undefeated before falling in the finals to North Forsyth 34-30. Gilmer led 30-28 going into the last match before a North Forsyth pin won the match, dual and tournament.The tournament began with a housing of the Hoyas of Harrison High School. Gilmer gave Harrison a 68-6 thrashing, despite having a depleted roster due to a few football players having not yet joined the team, and a few too many holiday treats maybe leading to a few wrestlers not making weight.

Gilmer’s freshmen and young varsity team obviously fared well, in the dual and tournament. Bright spots in the Harrison dual, included a 5-2 minor win full of aggressive shots by freshman, Ethan “Tigger” Teague, and a 19 second first period pin by fellow freshman, Matthew Waddell.

The next match saw Gilmer demolish Douglass County, 60-21. Zach Allen got things started for the “Cats” with a pin that put Gilmer up 6-0. The “Cats” scored pins in nine of the next 10 matches, including three straight cradle pins from Cameron Perry, Mel Mosley, and Jamie Lopez.

With Gilmer up 60-9, head coach, Sam Snider, forfeited the last two matches, providing the final score of 60-21.

After finishing the pool with an 81-0 skillful scalping of the Indians of Cherokee High School, Gilmer faced the Cass Colonels, in a crossover match, which was effectively a semi-final match.

The usually even keeled Snider, admitted to being “nervous” about the match up, due to the depleted Gilmer roster and the close nature (34-28 GHS Win) of the previous dual match up at Allatoona. He also admitted to having a strong aversion to losing to the Region (Area) rival.

“I really don’t want to lose to these guys,” he said.

Snider’s apprehension seemed to be well justified early in the match, as Cass took the first two matches and a 10-0 lead before Marcelino Lopez put Gilmer on the board with a 12-3 major win (victory by eight or match points), that cut the lead to 10-4.

A major win followed by a Technical Pin (occurs when a wrestler has a 15 point match lead), worth five team points, saw Cass take a 19-4.

Alex Lopez cut the lead to 19-7. With the score tied 2-2 entering the third period, the Cass wrestler inexplicably cut Lopez loose, giving Lopez a point for an escape and the lead in the match. Lopez managed to score five more four more points in the period to take a 7-2 minor win.

Cameron Perry, wrestling up at 152, pulled out a 5-1 minor victory, worth three team points, that cut the lead to 22-10. Jamie Lopez and Waddell followed with first period pins, 23 and 45 seconds respectively that put Gilmer in front 24-22.

With wins in seven of the last eight matches, including the aforementioned three of Perry, Lopez, and Waddell, Gilmer turned a 22-7 deficit into a 40-28 victory, and a spot in the finals to face North Forsyth.

North Forsyth opened with a pin at 113, which was followed by a Marcelino Lopez minor victory that saw the score set at 6-3 with North Forsyth in front.

Jacob Harrison faced an overtime period after neither wrestler scored in regulation. Harrison lost on what was a controversial takedown giving NF a 9-3 lead. The Gilmer coaching staff and fan base, maintained that Harrison maintained his opponent’s leg throughout the “takedown” therefore “control” could not be established and NF should not have been awarded a takedown.

NF scored two more wins, a major and minor each to take a 16-3 lead. Perry, wrestling at 145, won 6-4, cutting Gilmer’s deficit to 16-6. Mel Mosley followed with a 14-5 major victory that cut the lead to six, at 16-10.

Major wins by Jamie Lopez, and Waddell put Gilmer in front of NF for the first time, 18-16; however, a NF pin at 180 saw the Raiders reclaim the lead at 22-18.

Back to back to back pins by Nick Wagner, Allen, and Louis Bautista saw Gilmer take a 30-28 advantage going into the last match of the day; however, a Raiders pin at 106 gave North Forsyth the victory in the dual and first place in the tournament.

Gilmer placed second, but saw the JV team win the tournament for the second time in as many tournaments. One can only ascertain that Gilmer’s program will see many first place finishes once the majority of the starters return/make weight.