ALLATOONA, Ga. — Gilmer County’s Bobcats won the day, but Heritage may have a leg up on the big prize after the conclusion of an eventful Area 7-AAA traditional wrestling tournament Saturday at Allatoona High School.
The defending state traditional champions from Gilmer had five individual champions and won the area title with ease Saturday, 253 1/2 points to 220 for Heritage. However, the Generals, who had individual champions in Madison Martin (126), Landon Reed (132) and Andy Bratton (170), will take 11 wrestlers to next week’s sectional tournament, compared to 10 for the Bobcats.
“Taking 11, and who we’re taking, I’m pleased,” Heritage coach Kenny Hill said. “We didn’t finish the way we wanted to finish in some of the matches, but this is region and we’ve seen these guys several times and they’re getting to know each other, so it’s harder to do the things we’ve been doing.
“I feel pretty good, though, about going forward. They lost a couple they weren’t expecting to.”
Though disappointed in the number of wrestlers advancing, Gilmer coach Sam Snider considers his group of 10 — including area champions Cameron Perry, Daniel Bautista, Justin Karr, Johnie Flakes and Joey Ray — very dangerous.