VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — While they are in between their wrestling seasons with Richmond Senior High School, rising senior Joey Nicholson and rising sophomore Andres Sanchez have been staying busy on the mat this offseason.
The pair of Raiders traveled with the School of Hard Knocks, based out of High Point, N.C., and competed in the Virginia Beach National Duals over the weekend. The School of Hard Knocks, coached by Bob Lloyd, is a wrestling club that houses some of the best wrestlers in the state and sees them compete in tournaments up and down the east coast.
As a team, Lloyd’s crew posted a 4-1-1 record in the 20th annual event held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, which is hosted by the National High School Coaches Association. Sanchez finished his weekend with a 3-1 record against his opponents, while Nicholson went 2-1
“Sanchez and Nicholson both wrestled very well this weekend and are improving,” Earl Nicholson said. “And we are looking forward to them having a great year next (high school) wrestling season.”
Earl Nicholson, the longtime head coach at Richmond, is also a volunteer with the School of Hard Knocks, as well as the father of Joey Nicholson.
Sanchez, who competes in the 106-pound weight class, opened his competition with a 14-3 major decision victory over Justin Barr of Buffalo, N.Y. He followed that up with another major decision win, this time a 13-0 mark against Michael Lyristis of Triumph White, Ohio.
His final win was a 17-1 technical fall over Ben Markaritis of North Hunterdon, Ohio. Sanchez’s only loss of the weekend can by pin fall to Noah Lykins of Top White, Ind.
Nicholson (120-pound) was equally as impressive, beginning with a 13-0 major decision win over Gio Poniros of Triumph White, Ohio. His second win was a pin fall against Sean Hyland of North Hunterdon, Ohio, which he managed to do in just 55 seconds.
The soon-to-be senior’s only loss was a 3-1 sudden victory overtime decision against Christopher Tringali of Top White, Ind.
RSHS head wrestling coach Earl Nicholson contributed to this story.
