Bobcats Bring Back 11th Title

The Gilmer High School Bobcats wrestling team won its 11th state championship in Macon this past weekend, when the “Cats” claimed the State Traditional Title. The “Cats” captured the Duals title earlier this year. The Cats finished with 182.50 points, 21.50 more than second place Carrollton, and with 9 place winners, five finalists, and two champions, Cameron Perry (126) and Johnie Flakes (138).Marcelino Lopez placed second at 106. Lopez pinned Pierre Downling in the first round before beating Hunter Quinn 3-2 to make it to the quarterfinals. In the semi-finals Lopez posted a 9-3 victory over Jose Reyes-Lavallee. Lopez fell to Trey Green of Alexander 4-3 in the finals.

Daniel Bautista finished third at 113. Bautista pinned Richard Parker in the first round before falling 5-2 to Caleb Mariakis in the second round. Bautista, falling into the consolation round, won out, defeating Bartolo Velasquez in the consolation finals for third place.

Joshua Harrison placed second at 120. Harrison scored a major decision, 8-0, over Will Johnson in the firs round, before beating Dylan Carlile 4-3 in the second round. A 3-0 win over Chris Foster in the semi-finals saw Harrison face Cody Stames of Alexander in the finals. Harrison fell 5-1 to Stames to place second.

Perry, the 126lbs champion, won his second state championship in as many years; he won the AAA 106lbs title last year. Perry pinned Cody Eakins in the first round, then beat Austin Frye, of Heritage, 7-2 in the quarterfinals. A 5-0 shutout victory over Misha Felton put Perry in the finals. Another shut out win, 2-0 over Roman Boylen, saw Perry crowned champion.

Brady McCullum placed fourth at 132. McCullum beat Jemmario Jones 12-11 in the first round, before falling to Rhett Hembree in the quarterfinals. McCullum then pinned Montavious Turner, and Wilder Elliott, and Chris Achenbach to reach the consolation finals. McCullum fell 4-2 to Sam Lemons of Lafayette to place fourth.

Flakes pinned Corey Holden, and Devin Willis to reach the semi-finals. He then defeated Josh Gaspard 15-8 to set up a finals match with Kenya O’Neal. Flakes finished off O’Neal 9-3 to claim his first state title championship. Flakes finished second in ’12 at 138.

Chaz Reimer placed fourth at 145. Reimer defeated Randy Hawes 7-3 before pinning Tyler Larson of Cass to move into the quarterfinals. There, Reimer fell to Kevin Thompson. Reimer faced Alex Reynolds in the consolation semifinals and won 5-3. Reimer fell 5-1 to Keyon Taylor in the consolation finals.

Jared Sweat placed second at 170. Sweat pinned Quinn Thomas in the first round before defeating Damian Schofield in the second round, 7-5. This set up the upset of the tournament, as Sweat faced Keiondre Wedderbum, an undefeated transplant from the Miami (Fl.) area who was picked to run roughshod over the competition. Sweat pinned Wedderbum with a cradle before falling to Deandre Sims in the finals.

Marcelino Lopez Finals Match (106)

Joshua Harrison Finals Match (120)

Cameron Perry Finals Match (126)

Johnie Flakes Finals Match (138)

Jared Sweat Finals Match (182)

Interview With Coach Sam Snider

2013 Feb Gilmer GHS Wrestling 2013 State Trad Sam Snider Interview from Fetch on Vimeo.

Interview With Coach David Henson

2013 Feb Gilmer GHS Wrestling 2013 State Trad David Henson Interview from Fetch on Vimeo.