HAMLET — For just the second time in history, Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy was the site for Wednesday’s middle school three-team wrestling meet.
The Richmond County Schools’ middle school Raider wrestling team welcomed Anson and Sandy Grove middle schools, and despite a valiant effort by the junior Raiders, they went 0-2 on the day.
It was just the second time this season, out of six total meets, that head coach Richard Kerekes’ squad was swept on the mat.
Wednesday’s meet marked the regular season finale, with Richmond first falling to Sandy Grove 43-42 in a tiebreaker, followed by a 60-48 loss to the Bearcats.
Cordova Middle School’s Sebastian Fullwood (250-pound) finished the day with two wins, making him the lone Raider to finish the inaugural middle school wrestling season with a perfect 12-0 record. Joining him with another undefeated season was Jabori Hester (6-0).
In the first match against Sandy Grove, Richmond was declared the winner (using total first takedown points) following a surge by the Raiders to tie the match at 42. Upon further review, the Panthers received the win based on the total number of pins, edging the Raiders 8-6.
Earning the six pins for the Raiders in their opening match were Ty Murray (85-pound), Tykeem Ellerbe (128-pound), Irwin Campos (134-pound), Naamon Perakis (140-pound), Jabori Hester (222-pound) and Fullwood (250-pound).
Leading 4-2 after two rounds against Noah Rios, Murray collected his first pin of the season with 36.5 seconds left in the third round. He earned Richmond’s first six points, tying the match at six all. But Sandy Grove would win five straight matches (four by pinfall) to take a 36-6 lead.
Ty Murray works Noah Rios during the 85-pound match against Sandy Grove.
The Raiders usually dominate in their heavier weight classes, as Ellerbe, Campos, Perakis and Eric Green strung together four consecutive wins to cut the deficit to 36-30. Ellerbe made quick work of Michael Kutchin, pinning him in just 19.4 seconds into the first round.
Campos pinned Samuel Glazebrook with 1:27 left in the second round, before Perakis battled his way to a pinfall win over Jadus Lower as time expired in the second. Green’s win came via a forfeit.
In the final seven individual matches, Richmond took four of them to knot things at 42. Matt Burns (162-pound) and VJ Whaley (184-pound) both won by forfeit, as Hester and Fullwood pinned Elijah Williams and Amore Parker, respectively.
Fullwood’s heavyweight pin was the fastest of the match, as him held Parker to the mat in just 14.2 seconds.
The Bearcats, who have had a middle school wrestling program the last few years, were a tougher challenge for Richmond. Anson rolled out to a 36-6 lead through the first seven matches, with Murray earning a forfeit win for the lone Raider win.
Ellerbe, Campos and Perakis managed to pin their second opponents of the evening, going back-to-back-to-back to chip away at the lead. Ellerbe defeated Kevin Graham, Campos pinned Gabriel Maxwell and Perakis took care of Dylan James.
A four-match run by the Bearcats opened their lead to 40-24. Richmond closed it out by going 4-0 in the last four bouts, using two forfeits and two pins to end the day. Hester and Fullwood didn’t have an opponent to face, while Whaley and Dylan Locklear picked up pins.
Richmond concluded its first season with a 5-7 overall record. The Raiders will take some time to prepare for the SEMSAC championship meet, which is slated for Saturday, Feb. 2, at Hoke County High School.
