“Cats” Claim 13th

The Gilmer High School Bobcats wrestling team won its 13th state championship since 2005 with a dominate performance at the State Traditional Tournament held at West Laurens High School in Dexter Ga. The Bobcats finished with four individual champions, five finalists and eight place winners. The “Cats” claimed the title with 191, besting rivals Cass and Alexander who finished second and third by 31 and 47 points respectively.The AAAA classification State Tournament was held at West Laurens High School in Dexter, Georgia, due to the recent winter weather causing a rescheduling scramble for the six classifications’ tournamnents.

Alberto Lopez (106), Marcelino Lopez (113), Daniel Bautista (120), and Johnie Flakes (152) all won individual titles. Flakes won his second consecutive state championship. Both Loopezs and Bautista are both first time champions.

Two time state champion, Cameron Perry, made the finals but was bested by Carrollton’s Rhett Hembree, 6-2, in the finals. Hembree was also a previous title winner making the 132lbs finals one of the most anticipated of the tournament.

Freshman phenom, Matthew Waddell, finished third at 160. Waddell looked to be making a run to the finals, with a chance to make history as the first freshman state champion at GHS; however, a tough loss in the semifinals West Laurens’ Jarrett Henry, the eventual champion, sent Waddell to the consolation round where he won out to take third.

Jamie Lopez and Tyler Bertolini both finished fifth at 145 and 220 respectively.

The 2014 senior class won seven out of a possible eight state championships, four duals title and three traditionals, with a second place finish in the traditional tournament in 2012.

106 Finals Match

113 Finals Match

120 Finals Match

132 Finals Match

152 Finals Match