ROCKINGHAM — Two weeks ahead of when Richmond County Schools students are set to return to the classroom for the 2024-25 school year, two of Richmond Senior High School’s athletic programs will begin official competition.
While nearly all of Richmond’s seven fall sports programs have begun practicing, the boys’ soccer and volleyball teams will be the first two to hit the court and pitch Monday.
Lady Raider volleyball with busy start to season
Just like a season ago, the Lady Raider volleyball team and seventh-year head coach Ashleigh Larsen will play three non-conference matches in three days to start their season.
Richmond will open at home Monday against Forest Hills High School, followed by a road match at Western Harnett High School Tuesday and another home match Wednesday with Pine Forest High School.
Both home matches against Forest Hills and Pine Forest will begin at 6 p.m. Richmond’s match at Western Harnett, which is varsity-only, will start at 7 p.m.
The junior varsity volleyball team and head coach Melissa Dennis will host Forest Hills and Pine Forest Monday and Wednesday and start at 5 p.m.
Raider soccer set for two matches to begin
The Richmond boys’ soccer team will play one home and one away match during its first week of the season.
Head coach Chris Larsen, also in his seventh season, and the Raiders will travel to non-conference Piedmont High School Monday. Larsen said because of the turf playing surface, the game will be played, starting at 7 p.m., barring any inclement weather.
Richmond will return home and play in front of its home crowd for the first time Wednesday. That non-conference match will welcome in Independence High School at 7 p.m.
The junior varsity boys’ soccer team and head coach Bennie Howard will follow the same schedule. The match at Piedmont will start at 5 p.m. and the home match with Independence is slated for a 5:15 p.m. start.
Football, girls’ tennis start next week
The Lady Raider tennis team will become the third fall sports program to break the ice on its new season with a pair of matches next week.
Head coach Jessica Covington and the Lady Raiders will begin their Sandhills Athletic Conference action Tuesday, Aug. 20 at Southern Lee High School and Thursday, Aug. 22 at Pinecrest High School. Both matches will start at 4 p.m.
On the gridiron, the Raiders’ varsity and junior varsity football teams will begin with a Week 1 meeting against non-conference Seventy-First High School.
The JV Raiders and head coach Ryan Mercer will host the JV Falcons Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m. Head coach Brad Denson will make his debut when the varsity Raiders travel to Seventy-First Friday, Aug. 23 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The Richmond Observer will publish season previews of both programs this week.
Cross country, girls’ golf teams continue preseason
The boys’ and girls’ cross country team, which have been practicing the past couple of weeks, will continue their preparation for the new season. Their first meet is set for Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Union Pines High School.
The first practices for the girls’ golf team will be Tuesday, Aug. 20 and Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Foxfire Golf Club. Both practices will begin at 4 p.m. The first golf match will be played Monday, Sept. 2 at Scotch Meadows in Laurinburg.
The Richmond Observer will publish season previews of both programs later this month.
