How do I convert static Object to integer?

Hi,

When I run the code below, I get the following error? My quesiton is, how do I convert static Object AGE to integer?
Cannot cast object ‘20’ with class ‘groovy.util.slurpersupport.NodeChild’ to class 'int’
Thanks in advance!

def AGE
def count = 5;
String strAge = “18”

response1 = WS.sendRequestAndVerify(findTestObject(‘ABBBBB/GetAgeFilterResponse’,
[(‘UserId’) : “Matt”]))

AGE = WS.getElementPropertyValue(response1, "GetAgeFilterResponse.Return.Users.AGE")				
if(AGE >= Integer.parseInt(strAge))
{
	System.out.println("Matt is over 18.")
}

How about any of the techniques from the below link?

http://grails.asia/groovy-string-to-integer

Like maybe:
def count = 5;
def strAge = "18";

response1 = WS.sendRequestAndVerify(findTestObject('ABBBBB/GetAgeFilterResponse',
[('UserId') : "Matt"]))

def AGE = WS.getElementPropertyValue(response1, "GetAgeFilterResponse.Return.Users.AGE")
if ((AGE as int) >= Integer.parseInt(strAge))
{
	System.out.println("Matt is over 18.")
}

Thank you for the quick response. I tried more than few of those options yesterday but none of them have worked.
I finally figured it out why those options didn’t work. I have to declare the AGE as the String and not as def, then I can use Integer.parseInt(AGE)