The Our Lady of Mercy Bobcats began the season racking up victories over Pace Academy during the Dunwoody Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, Nov. 24, and at home on Nov. 27 against Banneker High School.

The team’s veteran wrestlers provided the skill and leadership in these two very close matches. In the Dunwoody tournament senior heavyweight Patrick Silloway recorded a 4-1 performance with two pins, senior Will Simmons (215 lbs.) went 2-0 with one pin and junior Clint Ford (125 lbs.) went 3-2 with two pins. At the conclusion of the Pace Academy match, the team scores were equal. Based on tiebreaker rules, Our Lady of Mercy was awarded one team point for scoring more pins than the Pace Academy Knights, so Mercy won 25-24.

Against the Banneker Trojans the team score was tied after 13 weight class matches. The outcome was decided by the final heavyweight bout between the two schools. The Trojans scored first with a takedown, but the Bobcats’ Silloway hit an explosive reversal move and pinned his opponent, sealing a 30-24 victory for Mercy.

Other winning Bobcat wrestlers in the match included juniors Clint Ford (125 lbs.) and Matt Fitzgerald (140 lbs.), freshman Wayne Holt (171 lbs.) and Simmons (215 lbs.), who remains undefeated (3-0) for the year.

Our Lady of Mercy head wrestling coach Francis Giknis said, “I’m pleased with the effort we started off with this season. It’s still very early and I’m sure we’ll be even more competitive as we wrestle more matches.”

Mercy is scheduled to participate in three wrestling tournaments during December: the Dalton Carpet Classic, Dalton; the Screaming Eagle Tournament, Mt. Zion; and the Fayette Christmas Classic, Fayetteville.