Bainbridge High School Bearcats wrestlers Cole Bulger and Bryan Ordonez have made the State Class AAAA Wrestling Finals, which got underway Wednesday and will conclude today at the Gwinnett County Event Center.

Bulger, who competes in the 119-pound weight division, and Ordonez, who competes in the 135-pound weight division, competed, along with 165-pound and 285-pound weight division teammates Roberto Sierra and Lawrence Jones at last weekend’s State Western Divisional Tournament in Cartersville.

“I am so proud of Cole Bulger and Bryan Ordonez for making the state finals by winning their first matches in Cartersville,” coach Kirkland said. “It will be a long uphill battle for them because they will pull the top seeds when they start wrestling, but they always rise to their occasion and perform to the best of their ability.

They, along with Roberto Sierra and Lawrence Jones, competed against some of the best wrestlers in the state at the West Divisional Tournament, Kirkland said, adding, “It is an honor to make it that far in wrestling.”

Kirkland said it is hard on the kids keeping on weight an entire season. The kids have to watch what they eat and work really hard to stay on weight.

“When you have guys who have a 140-pound body frame wrestling at 119 pounds, it is often a struggle,” he said.

This weekend will mark the fourth month the wrestling team has been wrestling this season. It is a long season and coaches build huge bonds with the team.

“These boys mean the world to me and when this time of year comes around, it is very hard on coaches and players,” Kirkland said.