Gilmer Wins 16th State Duals Wrestling Title

Another year, another title.

Such has been the pattern for the Gilmer High School Bobcats wrestling squad in the last decade and a half. No matter the classification, the Cats have consistenly left their mark on the Georgia High School Association State Wrestling Duals in Macon.

This year was no different. Gilmer tore through the Class 4A bracket and bested the Buford Wolves 45-21 to win its 16th state duals championship last Saturday at the Macon Centreplex.

For head coach Sam Snider, the victory this year came after the Bobcats faced adversity off the mat earlier in the week. “It was kind of stressful, because we had two starters quit this past week. So, we had to fill those gaps,” Snider said. “To see the other guys rise up and fill those holes was awesome. Those kids have been here through the summer. They’ve committed to the fundraising and all the stuff we did. Josh Snider and I felt really good for them, because they have really worked hard for this day.”

Road to the Gold

The Bobcats started the tournament with a 66-15 victory over the Upson Lee Knights. After defeating the North Hall Trojans 40-30 in the quarterfinals, Gilmer toppled the Locust Grove Wildcats 50-27 to advance to the championship dual against the Buford Wolves.

The title match tarted with 106-pound Thomas Chastain taking a pinfall loss. Daniel Puac (113 pounds) then gave the Bobcats a 4-1 decision victory, before Alberto Perez (120) pinned his opponent 90 seconds into the first period to give Gilmer a 9-6 advantage.

Trevor Preece (126) garnered a technical win for the Cats, before Lucas Patterson (132) picked up a 52-second pin that extended the GHS lead to 20-6. Ethan Teague (138) and Keegan Sharpe (145) both dropped their bouts by respective decisions of 5-2 and 6-3, before Grant Ledford (152) lost by pin to cut the Bobcats lead to 20-18.

Jordan Caviness (160) steered Gilmer back in the right direction with a 5-1 decision victory, before Jake Parker (170) secured a 70-second clutch pin that widened the Cats advantage to 29-18. Ryan Crump (182) followed with a 29-second pin, before Matthew Waddell (195) won by major decision. Mathematically the state champions at that point, Gilmer watched as Micah Young (220) dropped his bout 8-3, before Levi Seabolt (285) capped off the title win with a one minute and 44-second pinfall victory to conclude the dual.

Speaking on the Buford dual, Snider said, “Everything we hoped would happen did happen. Their 106 is one of the top in the state. So we told Thomas to go out there and do the best he could. He did a good job. Dan got a win for us at 113, even though he was outweighed. We felt sure that Alberto would get a pin, that Trevor would get a decision and Lucas would get a pin. Then Ethan and Keegan kept it close against two state champions. Grant tried hard at 152 and Jordan came through big at 160.”

Gilmer will now focus on preparing for the JV King of the Hill tournament, which will take place Friday and Saturday at Collins Hill.