Coach David Kirkland’s Bainbridge High School Bearcats wrestling team tuned up for today’s region 1AAAA Tournament in Leesburg with strong recent performances in Moultrie and Cairo.

On Friday, January 28 the Bearcats faced off against the Colquitt County Packers and Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets at the Colquitt County Packers Invitational Tournament at Pineland Gym in Moultrie.

The next day, Saturday, January 29, they participated in the annual Cairo Syrupmakers Invitational Tournament where they competed against some of the top class AAA, class AAAA and class AAAAA schools in Southwest Georgia.

During the Syrupmakers Tournament in Cairo, the Bearcats got strong performances from Kole Gilbourn in the 125-pound class, Hunter Long In the 130-pound class, Chris Olds in the 135-pound class, Tyler Pollock in the 140-pound class, Agapito Estala in the 145-pound class, Jacob Trawick in the 171-pound class and Javier Alverez in the 285-pound class.

In Moultrie, the Bearcats defeated the Packers and lost to the Yellow Jackets by just 12 points.

“Our competitors wrestled their hearts out in Moultrie and Cairo,” Coach Kirkland said. “It has been a great season. The guys have been in a lot of matches this year and should be prepared to face off against their Region 1AAAA foes this Saturday.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that these guys are facing some of the top wrestlers in the state.

“In order for a wrestler to make it to the sectionals, or semi-finals, they have to place no lower that fourth in Region 1AAAA. That is a difficult job, considering our Region hosts some of the top schools on the state.”

The sectionals, or semi-finals, are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 11 and 12 at Upson Lee High School in Thomaston.

The state finals are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 17, 18 and 19 at the Gwinnett County Event Center.