ROCKINGHAM — As he watched practice on Monday, head coach Andre’ Ellerbe was filled with enthusiasm about the upcoming high school wrestling season.
Entering his third year at the helm of Richmond Senior High School’s program, Ellerbe expects the Raiders to have a “breakout season.”
Losing a host of senior wrestlers to graduation, the Raiders will rely on a handful of returning starters this winter.
Those leaders, coupled with the influx of some younger talent, is what Ellerbe hopes will make Richmond competitive in the Sandhills Athletic Conference.
It’s no secret that the SAC has some formidable programs in Hoke County, Pinecrest and Union Pines high schools.
Ellerbe said the team understands its level of competition, but added wrestlers will also be aspiring for individual success on the mat.
The Raiders will rely on several returners to emerge as leaders, including junior K’Mauri Morgan (215-pounds) and sophomore Jordan Hamilton (215-pounds). Morgan returns after missing the state championship tournament by one win last year.
Last season, Hamilton placed second overall in his weight class in the SAC championship tourament, while Morgan placed third. As a team, Richmond finished fourth in the final standings.
Also back are three-year juniors Adam Estridge (150-pounds), Jackson Hamilton (165-pounds) and Joseph Patterson (150-pounds). Ellerbe expects this trio of wrestlers to join the mixture of regular winners and embrace leadership roles.
Senior Jesus Castro will wrestle for the first time in a couple of seasons, but he’s someone Ellerbe expects to compete.
Returning sophomore Braxton Martinez is among a list of Raiders who Ellerbe wants to see have a breakout season.
Returning this winter are several sophomore wrestlers who saw some time on the floor last season who are looking to add depth to Richmond’s roster.
They are Kenneth Bates, Lane Cipriani, Jason Gainey, Demonte Martin, Jayden Scott and Laurence Williams.
A host of newcomers, featuring eight freshmen, will compete for mat time in a variety of weight classes.
This year’s freshmen are Tristan Chavis, Jeremiah Covington, Juan Dominguez, Konner Gardner, Branson Hoffman, David Morton, Hayden Smith and Brooklyn Windley, who is Richmond’s lone female wrestler.
Other first-year wrestlers are sophomores Diego Chaparro and John Ruiz Garcia, juniors Donald Locklear and Amir Vaughan and seniors Nicholas Griggs and Carlos Vargas.
Much of the pre-season has been spent fine-tuning the team’s fundamentals and mechanics, something Ellerbe noted is important in order to establish a winning culture. During the season, he will intensify the training as wrestlers acclimate to the mat.
In past seasons, Richmond has struggled to put up points against SAC powerhouses Hoke County, Pinecrest and Union Pines.
While noting there is some tough wrestling ahead, Ellerbe believes the Raiders will be able to take their fair share of matches against these opponents this season. He hopes the team can place in the top three spots of the SAC standings this winter.
Individually, Richmond has several wrestlers, especially Morgan and both Jacksons, who should contend for conference championships in their respective weight class.
Helping this season will be Benjamin Seamons, who will be a varsity assistant and serve as the county’s middle school head wrestling coach. Naaman Perakis, who wrestled at Richmond and graduated in 2023, will also be assisting.
SCHEDULE: Below is the complete 2023-24 schedule for the Richmond wrestling team. The team’s lone home match is in bold and conference matches are marked with an asterisk.
Nov. 21 @ East Guilford High School
Nov. 29 @ Montgomery Central High School
Dec. 6 vs. Hoke County, Lee County, Pinecrest *
Dec. 15 @ North Moore High School
Dec. 19 @ East Guilford High School
Dec. 29 @ Union Pines High School (Tournament)
Jan. 10 @ Union Pines High School *
Jan. 13 @ Montgomery Central High School (Tournament)
Jan. 17 @ Hoke County High School *
Jan. 20 @ Pinecrest (SAC Tournament)
The Richmond Observer will continue its award-winning coverage of the wrestling team this winter.
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