Patriots’ Wrestlers Sign Scholarships
MADISON- Two of the most successful wrestlers in Bob Jones history signed athletic/academic scholarships to continue their prowess of the wrestling mat in college. The two long-time teammates for the Patriots will be a mere 100 miles from one another as Seth Dupree signed with Lindsey Wilson College of Columbia, Ky. while Harold Gilmore chose to attend the University of the Cumberlands located in nearby Williamsburg, Ky.
“I first realized my talent level in a sophomore match against a wrestler from James Clemens who had beaten four consecutive times,” said Dupree. “I beat him five to four in our fifth match and that’s when it hit me that I can hang with anybody in the state and beat them.”
Dupree was 45-5 and the Class 7A state runner-up in the 220-pound weight class in his senior season. He was a four-time state qualifier and placed in the State Tournament twice. Eleven different colleges contacted him about the possibility of continuing his wrestling talents. He chose Lindsey Wilson where he wants to study business/accounting. He currently carries a 3.6 grade point average (GPA).
Gilmore is looking to earn a business degree and has his sights on taking over his grandfather’s business in Pittsburgh, Pa. He will take a 3.5 GPA to college where he hopes to have a stellar college wrestling career after a superb tenure at Bob Jones.
“I played football in middle school, but tried wrestling and I love the individual aspect of the sport,” said Gilmore, who wrestled in the 195-pound division for the Patriots. “At first seeing wrestling I thought it was sort of dumb. I tried it and liked it.”
In his first year of wrestling he suffered a broken leg in practice and missed a good part of his rookie season. As a sophomore at Bob Jones he suffered a dislocated shoulder in a match and, again, missed out on many matches during his recovery. “I went to lots of training and improved my talents, enough so to where I can wrestle in college.”
Like Dupree, Gilmore also finished as state runner-up and posted a 41-6 record for the season. He was a two-time state qualifier and team captain. He added, “I have a leadership role with the team and love the idea I can help the younger wrestlers.”
Dupree took to wrestling in the eighth grade and quickly became enthralled with the sport. “I joined the varsity program as a freshman and I stayed within my natural weight class and always had strength and stamina,” said Dupree.
Bob Jones head coach Matt Sweatman understands he his losing two of the finest wrestlers in his program who helped the Patriots win the State Duals Championship in 2018.
