FLOWERY BRANCH — While North Hall wrestling fans were laying claim that they may be the county’s most productive sports program in history, Trojans wrestling coach David Nichols was letting out a huge sigh of relief after his squad overcame a late deficit to defeat Gilmer 37-27 for the Class 3A Duals championship Saturday at the Cherokee Bluff gym.
It was the third title in four years for North Hall and perhaps its toughest as well.
“Gilmer is so tough and the coaches over there do such a great job. We knew coming in it was going to be a battle and it was,” Nichols said.
After opening up a 19-6 lead on the strength of pins by Damon Campbell at 152-pounds and Dalton Battle at 170, North Hall saw its lead dwindle quickly as the Bobcats won four straight matches, getting pins at 220 and 285 and a forfeit at 106, and then taking a tough 4-3 decision at 113 for a 27-19 advantage with just four matches left.
But that would be the end of the line for the Bobcats, who were looking for thier first Duals championship since winning six titles over seven years spanning two classifications from 2010 to 2016.
North Hall’s Dawson Thompson stopped the bleeding with a 5-3 decision win at 120 and then the Trojans got an unexpected jolt at 126 from Connor Free. The freshman was locked in a tight duel with Gilmer’s Kellen Watts in a toss-up match midway through the second period. Free managed to flip Watts and get the pin in a blink of an eye.
The Trojans’ bench erupted, setting the stage for senior Jacob Pedraza to get a first period pin at 132 to clinch the title one match later.
“Connor’s pin was just huge for us. We weren’t expecting that,” Pedraza said. “When I saw that it got me fired up and knew I had to go out there and finish it. His match really helped me be at ease going into my match.”
“I was just trying to go out there and win and not do anything fancy,” Free said. “But I was able to get my legs under (Watts) for a power move and I was able to get a pin. I was just excited to get points for my team.”
Nichols said Free’s win was the turning point.
“You have to get bonus points and (Free) was able to do that,” Nichols said. “Gilmer was wrestling really tough. That was a huge point in the match.”
Both teams comfortably moved through the opening rounds with North Hall whipping Greater Atlanta Christian 63-15 in the quarterfinals and then taking a 45-28 win over Sonoraville in the semifinals.
Gilmer advanced with a 50-24 win over Morgan County and then a 46-21 victory over Rockmart in the semifinals.
Now the build-up to the Traditionals state meet will begin. North Hall should be the favorite, though Sonoraville is the defending Class 3A Traditionals champion. The Trojans have never won the Traditionals but can make history if they can pull off the feat next month.
