CAMERON — The Richmond Senior High School wrestling team participated in its first invitational of the season over the weekend.
Returning to Union Pines High School for the second time this week, the Raiders were one of 20 teams participating in the Viking Invitational. Richmond had seven different wrestlers compete.
As a team, the Raiders earned 10th place with 54.5 points. The host Vikings earned the invitational team title, collecting 199 points, just ahead of second-place Pinecrest High School (167.5 points).
One Raider wrestled for a championship in his respective weight class, while two earned fourth-place spots and the other four placed in the consolation bracket.
Senior Messiah Shaw finished as the runner-up in the 170-pound weight class, earning three victories before falling in the title bout. A team captain this winter, Shaw started his day with a pin over Marquaa Wolokolie (71st High School) early in the third round.
That set him up with Dustin Maness of Union Pines, which saw Shaw outlast his conference foe in a 10-6 decision. Shaw then earned another close victory, 7-5, over Robert Tunoa-Scanlan (South View High School).
In the 170-pound championship match, Shaw put up a good fight but was pinned in the first round by Jayden Dobeck of Pinecrest High School.
Seniors Christian Sanchez (138-pounds), Jaxson Marton (145-pounds), Naaman Perakis (152-pounds) and Urijah McDonald (285-pounds), along with sophomore K’Mauri Morgan (220-pounds) each advanced early in the championship bracket.
Perakis won his first two matches in the championship bracket before taking fourth place in his weight class.
Opening his day against Holden George (Cape Fear High School), Perakis won with a convincing pinfall early in the first round. He followed that with another quick pin defeating Cole Sgro of Terry Sanford High School in just 54 seconds.
Falling short in the semifinal contest to Adam Yessef (Pinecrest), Perakis kept it close in an 8-5 decision. That sent him to the third-place match, seeing him take fourth after being pinned by Jacob Heim (Lexington High School).
Going 1-1 in their first two matches were Sanchez, Martin, Morgan and McDonald. Sanchez defeated Joshua Adu-Offel 15-12, Martin secured a first-round pin against Jaden Reid and both Morgan and McDonald had a bye.
Morgan continued his successful sophomore campaign by picking up three wins and also taking fourth place in his weight class like Perakis. He started the consolation bracket with another bye, followed by a 47-second pinfall victory over Jacob Rich (Apex High School).
A 6-1 decision over Bobby Soles (South View) in the consolation semifinals, put Morgan up for the third-place match. In another tight battle, Morgan came up short 2-0 against Reece Lester (Piedmont High School).
McDonald, one of two Raiders to enter the day with a win from the first match, used a forfeit in the second round to meet John McKenzie in the third round. Working into the second round, McDonald pinned McKenzie before the buzzer.
His day would end in the semifinal round with a first-round pinfall loss to Ryan McFarland (Lexington).
Martin, the other Raider to win against Union Pines last Tuesday, earned a second-round consolation win against Jake Emrath (Middle Creek High School). Racking up the points, Martin cruised to a 16-0 technical fall victory.
In the third round, Martin was edged by Troy Garcia (Piedmont) in a 13-11 decision.
Both Sanchez and senior Amir Martin (160-pounds) lost in the second round of the consolation bracket. Martin got there after losing his opening match by pinfall and using a bye in the first round.
Sanchez had to forfeit his bout with Anthony Roncketti (South View) and Amir Martin ended his day with a pinfall loss to Sean McConley (South View).
The Raiders will get an extended break over the Thanksgiving holiday and return to action for another invitational at Pinecrest High School on Dec. 3.
