Another year, another state championship.
The Gilmer High School Bobcats laid claim to another state traditional championship last weekend, after grinding through the three-day 2016 Georgia High School Association tournament at the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth.
GHS won the 4A state crown by accumulating 152.5 team points to topple the 46-team field, finishing nine and a half points ahead of the North Hall Trojans.
Winning individual state titles for the Bobcats were Alberto Perez (120 pounds), Lucas Patterson (132), Matthew Waddell (182) and Levi Seabolt (285).
Perez downed Evan Stokes of West Laurens by technical fall, 19-4, in the first round, bested Josh Ravenel of Monroe Area by major decision, 14-3 in the quarterfinals, toppled Augie Rodriguez of Locust Grove by major decision, 17-8, in the semifinals and defeated Cody Bond of Madison County in the championship finals, 5-4.
Patterson pinned Josh Swope of Walnut Grove in the first round, then pinned Tucker Witmer of Woodward in the quarterfinals and Bimysola Attobra of Lithonia in the semifinals. His only decision came in the championship finals, where he bested Jacob Mariakis of Ridgeland 3-2.
Waddell pinned Will Foster of Hampton, Matthew Cromer of Cairo and Tyler Mobley of Locust Grove to advance to the finals. In the championship bout, he emerged with a 6-4 overtime victory over Isaiah Hale of North Hall.
Bobcat Levi Seabolt is close to pinning his opponent at the Georgia High School Association AAAA Sectionals at Gilmer High School Feb. 6. Seabolt won the 285-pound state title last Saturday at the 2016 GHSA State Traditional Tournament in Duluth. (Photo by: Kevin Hensley)
Seabolt pinned his first two opponents, Brandon Dixon of New Hampstead and Tanner Nance of Heritage-Catoosa. His final two victories came by virtue of a major decision, 9-1, over Joseph Horne of West Laurens and a 4-1 championship victory over Hudson Newton of Troup.
Keegan Sharpe (145) placed third in the state in his weight class, while Ethan Teague (138) took fifth place. Also competing for Gilmer at the tournament was Dan Puac (106), Trevor Preece (126), Grant Ledford (152), Jordan Caviness (160), Jake Parker (170) and Ryan Crump (195).
Dragons, Rebels leave mark on state
The Pickens Dragons finished 19th in the state, with 31 team points, but crowned a state champion in the process.
Dragons grappler Koby Milner controls his opponent at the Georgia High School Association AAAA Sectionals Feb. 6 at Gilmer High School. Milner won the 106-pound state championship last Saturday at the 2016 GHSA State Traditional Tournament in Duluth. (Photo by: Kevin Hensley)
Koby Milner (106) won his second state championship for Pickens. To win the title, he pinned Tarique Gilmore of Lithonia, Jared Herrera of West Laurens and Ricardo Romero of Locust Grove. The championship finals saw Milner win the state crown with a 6-4 overtime victory over Logan Ashton of Buford.
Joseph Ferguson (152), Kelton Gilbert (170) and Joe Massey (195) also competed for the Dragons.
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