ROCKINGHAM — The name “Earl Nicholson” has been synonymous with the Richmond Senior High School wrestling program for the better part of the last two and a half decades.
But now that name will become a part of Raider wrestling history and tantamount with the program’s success.
After recognizing this year’s three senior wrestlers during Wednesday’s conference match, Richmond Senior High School athletic director Rob Ransom had one more person to spotlight.
Already standing at the center of the mat with his son, senior Joey Nicholson, Earl Nicholson announced he would be stepping down from the program’s head coaching position following the conclusion of the 2019-2020 season.
He was also joined by his wife, Rasheda Nicholson, in front of the home crowd. To commemorate his career, Richmond head principal Jim Butler presented Coach Nicholson with a plaque to recognize his efforts on and off the mat.
“To Earl Nicholson for you many years of service and dedication to the student-athletes of the Raider wrestling program,” the plaque read.
Affectionately known around the county and the wrestling room as “Coach Nic,” Nicholson is a 26-year coaching veteran. He’s spent 24 years as a head coach and has single-handedly built the Raider wrestling program into what it is today.
He took over the wrestling program in 1994 and stayed until 2007, when he accepted an administrator’s position at Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy. After his stint there, Nicholson returned to coaching the Raiders in 2009.
“Tonight I had a big knot in my throat when they were introducing me,” Nicholson smiled. “I love wrestling, and I’m still going to be around. I’ll help run tournaments and may even drive the bus from time to time.
“This program is everything to me,” he continued. “This is what I was supposed to be doing. I put all my heart into it all these years, and I truly love this sport and these young men. I tell them all the time they can count on me and I’m really motivated to help get these young men headed in the right direction.”
Until he finishes out the wrestling season later this winter, Nicholson will remain Richmond’s longest tenured head coach. A math teacher at Hamlet Middle School, Nicholson also has spent the last 11 years as the Red Rams boys’ soccer coach, and also helps coach a local gymnastics program.
A Raider wrestling alumni himself, who graduated in 1989 with a 51-17 career record as a varsity wrestler, Nicholson will step down as the program’s winningest coach. During his tenure, he recorded over 400 duals victories.
Ransom noted during the presentation that Nicholson had over 700 wrestlers practice the sport under his tutelage. When Nicholson took over the program, the team consisted of seven wrestlers; currently there are 42 Raiders on the active roster in the final weeks of the season.
Coach Earl Nicholson (seated) watches his son Joey Nicholson wrestle during Wednesday’s conference matches.
The Raiders have won two regular-season co-conference championships under Nicholson, while producing several individual conference champions. The most recent was Austin Gallops last season in the 152-pound weight class.
“Coach Nic is an amazing coach, and besides my mama, he was the only one who told me to stick with wrestling,” Gallops said. “As I stuck with it, I got better, and that was thanks to him.
“He made wrestling fun and kept people in it,” he added. “I want to thank him for being my coach for four years.”
While he admitted it will be hard to leave the sport he loves and the program he’s nurtured the last quarter of a century, Nicholson plans to leave the classroom and return to being an administrator.
He also plans to use the extra time to follow Joey’s collegiate wrestling career, as well as his daughter, Jayana Nicholson, who plays soccer at Cape Fear Community College.
“I’m going to seriously pursue returning to administration,” Coach Nicholson said. “Joey plans on wrestling in college and both college and high school wrestling take place at the same time. I really want to spend time watching him.
“I’m at the end of my teaching career as well,” he added. “It’s time for me to show that I have a lot to offer with all of my experience. It’s a good time to do it.”
While he’s seen nearly everything there is to see in high school wrestling, Nicholson said his proudest memory is when he got to crown Joey Nicholson with a world championship belt following his son’s program record-setting win on Nov. 23.
“I’m happy that he’s stepping down because that’ll give him more free time,” Joey Nicholson said of his dad. “He’s been coaching for a long time and now he’ll have time to relax.
“I learned how to keep my cool on the mat and be thankful with winning and appreciate losing,” he added. “I’ve enjoyed wrestling for him and he’s taught me so much.”
“Another big memory I have is breaking a 25-year losing streak to Scotland,” Nicholson said. “One year, I had a freshman and sophomore-loaded team and we came back to win that match. Afterward I started crying and couldn’t explain it.
“My biggest thanks goes to my (high school) head coach, Mike Russell,” he closed. “I thank him all the time because he took me home every day and made sure I had something to eat. Without him, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today to help our kids with the same things.”
Nicholson also thanked his mother, his wife and the “team moms and maniac dads” for helping run and support the program.
