Last weekend, Bainbridge Bearcats wrestlers Tre Storey, Randy Fillingame and Kendall Glover went to the Macon Centriplex to compete in the GHSA state finals. More than 60 schools competed in the event.

Storey, a returning state placer and 2-time region champion, returned to the state competition as the favorite to win the Class AAAAA 195-pounds class.  In round one, he wrestled Hampton High out of the Atlanta area and pinned his opponent in under one minute of action. His next match was against the seventh seed from Hiram High, Josh Martin. His opponent again didn’t make it out of the first round before getting pinned. In the semifinals, Storey wrestled Buford High’s Billy Barber, one of four No. 1 seeds entering the state competition. He won his semifinal match by major decision 14-3 and solidified his finals appearance where he would take on Andrew Curry of Ola High.

In the finals match after round one, the score was tied 0-0. In round two, Curry scored a take down and earned an escape, making the score 2-1 entering the third and final round. Storey had the option and took bottom position, scoring another escape to tie the score 2-2 with just under 60 seconds to go. At the 32-second mark, Storey was hit with an unsportsmanlike like conduct for head butting. This penalty gave Ola a 3-2 win in the state finals match.

The call is being petitioned and disputed with the GHSA office. 

Storey finishes the year with an almost flawless record of 40-3. He also sealed up the single season win record of 40 and the career win record of 104, previously held by his older brother, Tyler, at 103 wins.

Randy Fillingame earned his first spot at the state competition by placing in the Top 8 at the GHSA first round of the state tournament the weekend prior. Fillingame’s first match was against Grant McKinley of Carrolton High School. Fillingame was pinned in the first minute of the match after giving up a take down. In his second match, he faced the 170 from Cass High school and was stuck late in the first period after a miscue. Fillingame will have the chance to return next year as a senior and place higher in the bracket. Fillingame’s official placement was 12th, and his final record on the year was 21-9.

Kendall Glover, a 10th grader, made it in as an alternate but did not get to enter the tournament due to no alternates being needed for the 5A classification. Kendall’s record for the year was an impressive 27-12.

“Kendall has a huge future ahead of him at BHS in wrestling,” coach Chad Smith said. “He is on pace to break the current BHS win total held by Tre Storey at 104 wins.”