DULUTH, Ga. – It may have been the most exciting 30 seconds of the day for the Ringgold High School wrestling team.
Just as heavyweight Enrique Maravilla was finishing off a tight 2-1 win in the Class AAA semifinals at the GHSA state traditional tournament, 220-pound teammate Jesse Wade scored an overtime takedown to pull out a 3-1 win.
The victories gave the Tigers three wrestlers in today’s championship finals – Maravilla and Wade will be joined by 145-pounder Griffin Green – and helped catapult them into second place behind powerhouse Jefferson with 100 points. Though the Dragons hold a commanding 129.5-point lead, that didn’t stop Tigers coach David Moss and his crew from celebrating a hard day’s work.
“That was exciting,” Moss said, letting out a deep breath. “The semis were hard, but we got all three through to the finals. We also had three freshmen get through to the quarters, which means they will all place (in the top six).”
In Class AAAA, Gilmer is in a three-way battle for the team title. The Bobcats won four of their five semifinal matches to edge out in front of North Hall, 125.5 points to 116, with Buford lurking in third place with 107.5.