GREENSBORO — The outcome may not have been what K’Mauri Morgan wanted, but it added fuel to his fire to wanting to become the best wrestler in the state.
Morgan, a junior wrestler at Richmond Senior High School, left everything on the mat during the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 4A state championship meet.
The top wrestlers from across North Carolina met at the Greensboro Coliseum Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Morgan wrestled in the 215-pound weight class and was Richomnd’s lone state qualifier.
He competed in three matches before being eliminated from championship contention, posting a 1-2 overall record.
“It was a really good experience,” Morgan recalled. “The competition is definitely tougher and there are a lot of fast-paced matches.
“I feel like I wrestled pretty good,” he added. “I know I could have wrestled better, but I will be working harder over the summer.”
Morgan entered the state tournament with a 17-5 overall record and met Hayden Haynes of McDowell High School in the opening round, whose record was 50-8.
The two battled it out all three rounds, with Haynes eeking out a 9-4 decision. That sent Morgan to the consolation bracket, where he wrestled two more matches.
In the first round of the consolation tournament, Morgan earned his first career victory at the state championship. He won by pinfall over Jamarious Pegues of Cleveland High School with 2:49 on the clock.
“K’Mauri had an amazing performance at states and one of the most memorable moments,” Richmond head coach Andre’ Ellerbe said. “It was his first time wrestling at states and wrestling in front of a crowd that big and he rose to the challenge.
“He may not have come back a champion, but he is a state-qualifying wrestler with a win under his belt. His weight class (215) was one of the toughest weight classes and K’Mauri proved what we’ve been saying all year. He’s one of the toughest wrestlers in the state when he puts his mind to it.”
“Next season we are going with expectations instead of goals,” Ellerbe continued. “This is the second year under my coaching to take an athlete to states. The expectation is for ‘Mauri to return to states as well as a few others.”
Morgan’s bid to keep advancing came to an end in the second round of the consolation bracket. Matching up against Kiyon Brown of Athens Drive High School, Morgan suffered a pinfall loss in the second round.
A multi-sport student-athlete at Richmond, and known for his prowess at linebacker, Morgan is already thinking about ways to get better for next season. Part of that plan is to continue competing in travel wrestling.
“I learned that I have to do more running during the season and I have to believe in myself more,” Morgan closed. “I will be going to tournaments and practicing with different clubs this summer with AAU, starting this weekend.
“The most memorable moment was winning my first match at states.”
