SOUTHERN PINES — Three Richmond Senior High School wrestlers landed on the podium during Saturday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference championship.
The Raiders, along with the six other SAC programs, competed in the championship meet held at Pinecrest High School.
Seven wrestlers hit the mat for Richmond, helping the team to a fifth-place overall finish with 65 points. Union Pines High School (250 points) was crowned the SAC champion.
It was a strong outing for juniors Adam Estridge and K’Mauri Morgan, along with sophomore Demonte Martin.
Morgan (215-pounds) and Martin (285-pounds) each placed second in his respective weight class, while Estridge (144-pounds) finished third in the SAC.
“We suffered some tough losses but showed our Raider spirit,” head coach Andre’ Ellerbe said. “I am enormously proud of everyone who went and wrestled their hearts out. For the most part, we left everything on the mat. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
“K’Mauri and Demonte lost tough matches in the championship rounds. Joseph (Patterson) wrestled tough in the 150-pound weight class and Jason (Gainey) placed top-four in our very tough conference. Freshmen Konner Gardner and Hayden Smith both fought hard against upperclassmen. Our wrestler of the week K’Mauri Morgan.”
Entering the tournament, Estridge, Morgan and Martin each earned a first-round bye in the championship bracket to automatically send each wrestler to the third-place match.
Estridge, Morgan and Martin all finished with a 2-1 record during the championship meet.
Following his bye, Estridge faced Thomas Salinas (Scotland) and lost late in the third round by pinfall.
That sent him to the third-place match against Liam Ewan (Pinecrest), which resulted in Estridge earning a pin just 16 seconds into the second round for third place.
Morgan was tasked with Dantrell Williams (Union Pines) in the semifinals and earned a pinfall victory early in the second round.
Moving to the first-place match, Morgan battled all three rounds but lost a 2-1 decision to Geronimo Oxendine (Hoke County) to take second place.
Martin mirrored Morgan’s route, starting the semifinal round with a pinning of Joshua Stone (Scotland) just past the halfway point of the opening period.
Facing Tafari Parker (Hoke County) in the title bout, Martin made it to the second round but was pinned, also giving him second overall.
Also competing for the Raiders were freshman Konner Gardner (132-pounds), freshman Hayden Smith (138-pounds), junior Joseph Patterson (150-pounds) and sophomore Jason Gainey (190-pounds).
Gardner made it to the third-place match and just missed the podium by one victory. His run came to an end against Gabrial Allen (Hoke County) with an 18-0 technical fall loss.
Smith, Patterson and Gainey all fell in the semifinal round of the consolation bracket via pinfall.
Smith lost to Nate Oakes (Hoke County), Patterson was defeated by Brett Finn (Pinecrest) and Gainey came up short to Timothy Holton (Hoke County).
Ellerbe said the team won’t know who qualified for the NCHSAA 4A Mideast regionals until the seeding meeting. But he’s entering Estridge, Gainey, Martin, Morgan and Patterson.
