Richmond athletics return after nearly two-week break from Florence

ROCKINGHAM – After nearly two weeks off due to Hurricane Florence, Richmond Senior High School athletics are back.

Since the storm became a threat with the cancellation of all Richmond County Schools activities on Wednesday, Sept. 12, RSHS teams haven’t played a competitive game or match in 12 days. But all six fall sports programs are back at it this week, with several making up lost time with more games than usual.

Richmond’s students have been back in the classroom since last Wednesday, but surrounding Sandhills Athletic Conference schools, such as Lumberton and Purnell Swett high schools, were out all of last week due to continued recovery efforts from the storm.

Roberson County Schools will still be out the entire week, but will be allowed to participate in athletic events if its schools have their athletes meet the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s practice requirements to return to play. The same goes for Scotland County Schools, which announced Sunday its students won’t return until Oct. 1.

During the last three school days, Raider and Lady Raider student-athletes have been able to practice in preparation for return to play, which is slated to start Tuesday.

In a normal week, most teams compete in two or three matches, but in an attempt to try and make up for lost time, many of Richmond’s programs will play either three or four matches. Ashleigh Larsen’s Lady Raider volleyball team will play four matches this week, as will Mike Way’s Lady Raider tennis team. Per NCHSAA rules, four matches can be played in a week if one falls on a Saturday.

The Richmond soccer team, coached by Chris Larsen, will play in three matches, while the cross country, golf and football programs all have one event this week. As noted in a previous ROSports article, head coach Bryan Till’s football team is still waiting for an NCHSAA ruling on whether or not it will extend the season by a week to allow for its missed SAC game against Purnell Swett.

Below is a list of this week’s RSHS athletics schedule:

Monday, Sept. 24

– No games or matches.

Tuesday, Sept. 25

– Cross country at Jack Britt, 5 p.m.

– Radier soccer vs. Hoke County, 7 p.m.

– Lady Raider tennis at Hoke County, 4 p.m.

– Lady Raider volleyball vs. Pinecrest, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 26

– Raider soccer vs. Purnell Swett, 6 p.m.

– Lady Raider golf at Foxfire Golf Resort, 2 p.m.

– Lady Raider tennis vs. Scotland, 4 p.m.

– Lady Raider volleyball vs. Lee County, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 28

– JV football vs. Pinecrest, 6:30 p.m.

– Raider soccer at Lumberton, 7 p.m.

– Lady Raider tennis vs. Lumberton, 4 p.m.

– Lady Raider volleyball at Jack Britt, 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 29

– Varsity football at Pinecrest, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30

– Lady Raider tennis vs. Pinecrest, 10 a.m.

– Lady Raider volleyball vs. Purnell Swett, 12 p.m.

ROSports will report on any scheduling changes if they were to arise.