GIBSONVILLE — Following its best outing of the season, the Richmond Senior High School wrestling team faced a trio of tough opponents on Tuesday.
Competing in a quad match hosted by Eastern Guilford High School, the Raiders picked up one team victory in its three matches.
Richmond defeated Page High School 30-28 before falling 54-25 to Asheboro High School and 78-6 to the host Wildcats.
“We wrestled three really good teams this week and showed a lot of promise,” head coach Andre’ Ellerbe said. “We didn’t get wins where we wanted because we stayed complacent with our move set instead of not controlling the match when we were up.
“Injuries and illness also played a factor,” he added. “Several wrestlers stepped up and wrestled in place of some of our starters. Our wrestler of the week is freshman Brooklyn Windley.”
The Raiders’ only points against Eastern Guilford came courtesy of sophomore Jason Gainey, who was awarded a forfeit in the 190-pound match. He went 3-0 on the day.
Eastern Guilford secured 42 points on forfeits and added 36 points with six pinfall victories.
Forfeits were again a factor against Asheboro, as Richmond gave up free points in the 106, 113, 120, 126, 132 and 138-pound matches.
Three wrestlers for Richmond earned a pin against his respective Blue Comet opponent.
Junior Adam Estridge (150-pounds) defeated Jeffrey Harper, Gainey (190-pounds) pinned Luke Hughes and sophomore Demonte Martin (285-pounds) won against Guillermo Santos.
The Raiders’ other seven points came from a major decision and a decision. Senior Jesus Castro (165-pounds) notched four points with an 11-3 victory over Gabriel Hargis and junior K’Mauri Morgan (215-pounds) edged Nico Otero 16-14 for three points.
Four of Richmond’s five wins against Page resulted in pins and six points apiece. Castro added the other six points with a forfeit victory in the 165-pound contest.
Estridge and Gainey both recorded his second respective pinfall victory of the meet. Taking just 36 seconds to pin Jex Harrison was Estridge, and Gainey followed with a pin over Daniel Sandoval in 1:25.
Sophomores Jayden Scott (138-pounds) and Jordan Hamilton (215-pounds) both collected a pin. Scott defeated Silas Nicholson within a minute into the first round and Hamilton held Antonio Rush Jr. to the mat at the 1:02 mark of the opening period.
Windley helped secure the victory despite coming up short in her 157-pound match against Brandon Alexander.
Battling all three rounds, Windley lost a 21-7 major decision, but limited the Pirates to just four points and preserved the two-point team win.
The Raiders (5-7) will compete one more time this calendar year in a tournament at Union Pines High School on Dec. 29.
