Gilmer Bobcat Wrestlers Head to States After Superb Sectional Performance

Team FYN Sports

The Gilmer Bobcats wrestling team had another superb weekend, as they traveled to Woodward Academy to participate in The Sectionals Tournament, which decides seeding for the State Tournament. Gilmer originally had 12 wrestlers eligible for the sectionals, but Austin Sprayberry (285 pounds) suffered an injured shoulder in his last match in the Traditional Area Tournament held last weekend. Therefore he was unable to accompany the team this weekend. All Bobcats placed sixth or higher and will participate in the State Tournament which will be at Gwinnett next weekend.In the 103-pound weight class, Cameron Perry had an excellent weekend as he came out of the tournament with three pins and one decision placing first.

Justin Karr’s weekend went similar to his last outing, as the one person he lost to this week was the same one who beat him for first place last weekend. He pinned his first two opponents before earning a decision. Karr then wrestled his rival Christakis of Allatoona in the finals, where he lost 6-4, to place second.

Brady McCollum had two consecutive wins before dropping down to the consolation brackets. McCollum beat Lens, of Shaw, 5-2 in the first round before McCollum pinned Dumas, of Arabia Mountain. He then encountered Nichols of Ringgold, who won 6-2. In the consolation brackets, McCollum once again wrestled Lens, this time posting a “technical pin” with a 15-0 decision. In the consolation finals, McCollum took third place with a victory over Ward, of Carrolton, via pin.

Cameron Perry at Sectionals
(Photo by Christian Nicholson)

Freshman Johnnie Flakes also won two back-to-back matches before losing to another member of Woodward’s family. Flakes lost two more matches, taking sixth place for the 125-pound weight class.
Another Bobcat that performed admirably was Tyler Davenport, who took home first place. Davenport pinned all his opponents.

Sam Rogers won against his first two opponents in the135-pound weight class, before meeting up with rival Preston McCalmon of Lafayette once again. McCalmon fell one point short of a “tech” against Rogers, as Rogers dropped down to the consolation brackets, losing his next two matches and earning sixth place for the weekend.

Trevor Martin earned a twenty-two second pin against Riverview’s Shoemaker in his first round of the weekend. He then wrestled Spence, of Carrolton, with the final resulting in an 8-5 Martin victory. Gainey, of Woodward Academy, was Trevor’s adversary this weekend as he was able to score two points against Martin to secure a last second victory. Martin then dropped down to wrestle Kelley, of Columbus. He lost to Kelly but beat Cordero, of Cedartown, for fifth place.

Hunter Barnes at Sectionals
(Photo by Christian Nicholson)

Josh Perigo flew right through his first three matches before advancing into the finals. There he wrestled Lane of Murray County, who pinned the Bobcat. Perigo once again earned second in the 152 pound weight class.

Hunter Barnes pinned three opponents in a row before wrestling Joyce of Carrolton, who was his hardest competition of the weekend. Hunter won his finals match 8-5 and took first this weekend.
Ian Smith wrestled hard again this weekend as he had two pins before receiving a default against his opponent from Lagrange. Tate Murray was his opponent in the finals, who beat Smith 11-8.
James Longino beat Brindle of Allatoona in overtime by one point. Though Logino was able to coast through matches leading up to the finals, he was unable to pull together another win over Brindle. The Allatoona wrestler scored an escape in yet another round of overtime.

Though some struggled through this tournament, each of the wrestlers will be participating in the AAA Traditional State Tournament next weekend at the Gwinnett Arena.

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