RALEIGH — The Richmond Senior High School wrestling team has been hard at work on the mat over the past month since the 2018-19 season officially started.
But instead of wrestling area teams over the weekend, the Raiders took some time off and went on a trip Sunday to North Carolina State University to watch two of the nation’s top Division I wrestling programs battle it out. Head coach Earl Nicholson returned to his old stomping grounds with the high school team, as well as several members of this year’s inaugural middle school wrestling team.
Nicholson called the day an “educational and entertainment trip,” as the high schoolers and middle schoolers preceded the wrestling contest between the No. 7 Wolfpack and No. 11 Nebraska Cornhuskers by taking a mini tour around campus.
“The guys were given an opportunity to ask questions about what kind of grades you have to make and what it takes to get into a university,” Nicholson said. “They also went to hang out in the student center and got to interact with some college students.”
After exploring NCSU’s campus, Nicholson and company attended what would become “an exciting wrestling match,” as the Wolfpack overcame a 14-3 deficit to hold off the Cornhuskers for an 18-17 victory. N.C. State trailed by 11 points after the first five rounds, but a surge that saw wins in four of the final five matches propelled the Wolfpack to its sixth-straight win to start the season.
As reported by N.C. State’s sports information department, sophomore Tariq Wilson managed to defeat Tucker Sjomeling in the 133-pound match by technical fall, 18-2. The win awarded the Wolfpack five points, tying things up at 17, and the tiebreaker went to the home team because of having the most first points scored.
The day wasn’t finished even after the completion of the wrestling, as the Raider wrestling teams got the chance to meet some of the collegiate wrestlers, while also inking autographs.
“This was a very successful trip,” Nicholson said. “The goal of the trip was to let our guys see that there are other scholarship opportunities other than football, soccer, baseball and basketball. Hopefully we can continue to do this (trip) on a yearly basis.“
The next time the high school Raiders hit the mat will be on Friday, Dec. 21, and Saturday, Dec. 22 at Mallard Creek High School. Over 25 teams will be competing in the E.B. Memorial Clash at the Creek Tournament just ahead of the Christmas holiday.
The middle school team will not be in action again until after the break, as the team will travel to West Hoke Middle School on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, for its fourth meet of the season.
Richmond head wrestling coach Earl Nicholson contributed to this story.
