Bobcats Repeat as State Champions

Of fourteen total weight classes, Gilmer High took eleven wrestlers to the 2011 GHSA AAA Traditional State Tournament, a tournament the team has won six times previously. Gilmer added a seventh. The Bobcats had eight place winners, and 151.5 points, a full 43 points over second place finisher Heritage High School.

In addition to the win this weekend, Coach Sam Snider was named Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coach Association, and David Henson was named Assistant Coach of the Year.

Cameron Perry, a freshman on the team, began the tournament against Billy Wurtz of White County, coming out with a pin. He then took on Marshall Brown of Oconee, whom Perry also pinned. After pinning his third opponent of the tournament (Hunter Hogan of Henry County) in the semi finals, Perry advanced to the finals match. Tyler Bailey of East Side came out on top with a score of 9-4, and Gilmer’s freshman starter placed second.

Justin Karr initially wrestled Matt Joy, of North Hall on Thursday night before advancing to the quarter finals on Friday. There, he met up with Chandler Pyke of Woodland Academy, winning with a 6-3 decision. Bruce James was next on the bracket to face Karr, and was pinned by the Bobcat in the second period. In the finals, Karr once again met up with Nick Christakis of Allatoona, who defeated Karr 11-3. Karr took second place in the 112-pound weight class.

Johnie Flakes, the second starting freshman on the team, was another Gilmer state placer this weekend. Sean Newkirk, of Henry County, was Johnie’s first victim as he left the mat defeated 9-2. Flakes then pinned Sandy Creek’s Nick Karettis, advancing to the semi finals. Rhett Hembree, of Carrolton, came out on top of Johnie 4-2, and the Bobcat dropped down to the consolations bracket, where he finished off sixth place for the 125 pound weight class.

Tyler Davenport started the tournament off in the 130 pound weight class as he beat Mikey Marsetti, of Franklin County, by pin. His match against Noel Guevara of Grovetown was not as easy; Davenport pulled through with a one point win over his opponent to advance to the semi finals round. Jared Benefield, of Locust Grove secured a seven point victory over Davenport. Davenport dropped down to the consolation bracket, where he placed fourth.

Trevor Martin lost West Hall’s Logan Herford in his first round, dropping him down to the consolation brackets. He then wrestled Mark Spence of Carrolton, whom he pinned in the second period before meeting up with Willie Hembrick , of Veterans. He won by major decision. West Laurens’s Will Gay fell to Martin via “Technical pin” (18-3) to advance him into the semi finals consolations round. Herford returned to gain another victory over Martin, and the Gilmer wrestler was forced to drop down to wrestle for fifth and sixth. There, Leo Cordero of Cedartown took a pin over Trevor, who took sixth place this weekend.

Hunter Barnes, who came to defend his state title, pinned Emory Searles, of Howard, in the first round. Barnes then pinned Austin Williams of Ridgewood. Daniel Moreno was also unable to fight the Bobcat’s cradle and was pinned in only thirty six seconds. In the finals, Barnes took on Travis Joyce of Carrolton, pinning him in the first period and once again earning the state title for the 171 pound weight class.

In the 189-pound weight class, Ian Smith took second place at state. After pinning John Huff of Oconee in the first round, Smith moved on to wrestle Abdul Diallo, of McNair. The McNair wrestler was forced to default the match to Smith due to injury, and Smith was able to advance to the semi finals. Here, he was able to pin his opponent Derwin Butler, of Burke County, before once again taking on Tate Murray in the finals losing 7-2.

James Longino in the 215 pound weight class pinned David Williams of Walnut Grove before a tough 4-3 match against Joseph Ray of Druid Hills. Longino then met up with Travis Burton of Lumpkin County in the semi finals. Burton beat Longino 5-3, and, because of a swollen ankle, Longino forfeited his next two matches and took sixth place for the weekend.

The team will be defending yet another state title this weekend as they head to Locust Grove High School to participate in the 2011 AAA Duals State Tournament.