ROCKINGHAM — Hosting its lone home meet of the season, the Richmond Raider wrestling team entered the win column on Wednesday.
Welcoming in Hoke County, Lee County and Pinecrest high schools as part of a four-team Sandhills Athletic Conference contest, the Raiders split their two matches.
Richmond opened the night with a 41-22 victory over Lee County, the team’s first win of the season.
Facing a tougher Pinecrest squad, Richmond suffered a 60-23 loss. The Raiders were docked one overall point in each match due to infractions.
“It was really great to get our first team win, we had a lot of things really go our way,” head coach Andre’ Ellerbe said. “The guys stepped up and did the things they were supposed to do. Adam Estridge and Joseph Patterson had great nights, and even though Jackson Hamilton had a rough night, he went against some really good guys.
“Lee County is in the same predicament we’re in with not being able to wrestle all of the weight classes, so this was a really great night for us,” he added.
Against the Yellow Jackets, the Raiders secured the win thanks to three forfeits and four pinfall victories.
Earning the free six points via the forfeit were sophomore Davin Sweatt (113-pounds), junior K’Mauri Morgan (215-pounds) and sophomore Demonte Martin (285-pounds).
Junior Joseph Patterson (144-pounds) started the pins with a second-round victory over Brad Jordan. Patterson was leading 6-1 before he notched the win.
Fellow junior Adam Estridge won his third consecutive match in the 150-pound bout. He jumped ahead 12-4 early in the second round before pinning Jayah McCorckle.
That put Richmond up 18-12 but the Yellow Jackets earned four points back after senior Jesus Castro lost a hard-fought major decision 15-3 to Matthew Thomas.
Lee County took a 22-18 lead but the upper middle and heavyweights took care of the rest for Richmond.
Junior Amir Vaughan shifted the momentum for good when he earned a pinfall victory against Rylan Reader in the first round of the 175-pound match. That was followed by another first-round pin from sophomore Jason Gainey (190-pounds) against Daniel Rieble.
Both Vaughan (3-0) and Gainey (5-0) picked up leads before pinning their respective opponent. Richmond’s final 12 points came when Morgan and Martin were awarded forfeits.
In their second match against Pinecrest, the Raiders surrendered 30 points to forfeits in the 106, 120, 126, 132 and 138-pound weight classes.
In the nine other matches, the Raiders managed to pick up four pinfall victories. Winning their second matches of the night were Patterson (144-pounds), Estridge (150-pounds), Morgan (215-pounds) and Martin (285-pounds).
Patterson and Estridge both finished 2-0 with a pair of pinfall victories. In his match, Patterson pinned Liam Ewan in the second round, while Estridge made quick work against Leo Nobbe in the first round.
Getting their first pins of the meet were Morgan and Martin, who defeated Davin Morris and Duncan Obst, respectively, in the first round.
Despite the loss to the Patriots, Ellerbe said he was encouraged by the grit shown by the Raiders.
“The guys did well getting up off the bottom and not getting upset when calls didn’t go their way,” Ellerbe said. “They fought off their backs and didn’t get in too many positions to get on their backs. Jesus had a great match where he ended up not getting pinned because he fought off his back.
“The wrestler of the night goes to Amir Vaughan,” he closed. “He battled hard against some great competition and put forth his best effort this season.”
The Raiders (1-5, 1-1 SAC) will travel to North Moore High School on Dec. 15 for a non-conference meet. Matches will begin at 6 p.m.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Wednesday’s home meet soon.
