The Gilmer High School Bobcats wrestling team traveled to Allatoona High School for the Allatoona Duals Tournament. With a depleted roster, due to several starters being slowed by injury or not participating so close to the end of the Bobcats’ football season, the “Cats” still claimed second place in the tournament, falling to Archer, in the finals. The junior varsity wrestling team was able to take first place, beating Archer in the finals.After a first round bye, the “Cats” faced the Colonels of Cass, and what would turn out to be the closest dual match of the day for Gilmer. Nick Wagner led off at the 195lb weight class with a pin, worth six team points to start the dual in Gilmer’s favor 6-0.

Zach Allen followed Wagner’s pin with a with a minor victory, less than eight match points difference, worth three team points, that saw him secure the overtime win with a takedown with 10 seconds left in the first overtime period.

Cass cut into, and then took the lead, with back to back pins that put the Colonels up 12-9. However, a Cass forfeit at 113 followed by an overtime “Cats” win at 120 saw Gilmer take an 18-12 lead.

Cass took minor and major wins at 126 and 132 respectively, which gave the Colonels a 19-18; however a minor win at 138 gave Gilmer the lead for good, as the “Cats” closed out three of the next five matches, winning the dual, 34-28.

Next the “Cats” faced the Indians of McEachern High School, scalping the Indians 57-15. Gilmer began by winning the first six matches, to take a 33-0 lead, before cruising to the blow-out victory.

After mangling McEachern, Gilmer faced the Eagles of Etowah. The Eagles took an early 6-0 lead with a pin at heavyweight. Domingo Lopez cut the lead to two, with a major win, more than eight match points, at 106. A forfeit at 112 put Gilmer in front 10-6.

At 120 Jacob Harrison forced an overtime with an escape, worth one match point, with just under four seconds left in the match; however, an Eagle takedown lead to Etowah cutting the dual lead to 10-9.

Marcelino Lopez’s minor win at 126 sparked a four match streak that saw the Bobcats build a 28-9 lead, before pulling away and securing the 46-24 victory over Etowah.

The win put Gilmer in a semi-finals match up with the host team, Buccaneers. The Buc’s had no luck, as the “Cats” crushed Allatoona 47-18 setting up a finals match up with Archer, the defending AAAAAA state champion.

The short pawed “Cats” could not come up with an answer for Archer’s onslaught, as Archer won 61-10, placing first in the tournament while Gilmer placed second.