DULUTH, Ga. - Gilmer will have to rally if the Bobcats are to win their eighth traditional wrestling title at the GHSA Championships.
Gilmer trails West Laurens by three points in Class AAAAA after the opening day at the Infinite Energy Center. Joshua Snider's team has five wrestlers into the semifinal round: Alberto Perez (120 pounds), Lucas Patterson (132), Keegan Sharpe (145), Matthew Waddell (182) and heavyweight Levi Seabolt.
Also in Class AAAA, Heritage is in seventh place and has a pair of semifinalists in defending state champion Chuckie Thurman at 126 and Dylan Jernagin at 138. Northwest Whitfield, in 10th place, also has two in the semis in Henson Gibbs (160) and Jordan Lewis (195).
Ridgeland's semifinalists are freshman Jacob Mariakis at 132 and last year's 220-pound runner-up Chris Henderson, while LaFayette's Cole Ingram is a semifinalist at 160 pounds.
In Class AAA, Ringgold is currently fifth, though the Tigers trail powerhouse Jefferson by 64 points. Ringgold has three wrestlers in the semifinals, Griffin Green (145), Jesse Wade (220) and heavyweight Enrique Maravilla. Sonoraville is in eight place and has semifinalists Trevor Burdick at 106 and Tyler Hunt at 113.
Calhoun is 11th, with semifinalists Christian East (160) and Brice Craig (195) leading the way, while Murray County also has two in the semis, defending state champ Marcelino Lopez at 126 and Tielor Johnson at 170.
Action begins in Classes A and AA today, while the higher four classes will continue. Each of the six classes will wrestle through the semifinals tonight, with the championship round slated for Saturday.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.