KANNAPOLIS — A third of the wrestlers who competed for Richmond Senior High School in this past weekend’s regional tournament punched their ticket to the big dance later this week.
Taking six wrestlers to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 7A West regional championship, Richmond was one of 30 boys’ wrestling programs to compete.
Held at A.L. Brown High School Friday and Saturday, the Raiders placed 13th overall in the team rankings with 50 points.
Winning the 7A regional championship was Davie County High School with 168.5 points, just ahead of the host Wonders (147 points).
Representing the Raiders in the double-elimination tournament were sophomore Dylan Nunez (120-pounds), freshman Axel Nunez (126-pounds), junior Hayden Smith (150-pounds), junior Konner Gardner (165-pounds), senior Jason Gainey (190-pounds) and senior Jordan Hamilton (215-pounds).
Fighting and surviving their weight class bracket were Dylan Nunez (120-pounds) and Gainey (190-pounds), both of whom qualified for the state championship for the first time in their careers.
In what can only be described as a heartbreak for Hamilton, one of the favored wrestlers in the 215-pound weight class, he was eliminated in the semifinal round of the consolation bracket.
“I’m really proud of all of our guys and how they handled themselves,” head coach Andre’ Ellerbe said. “To bring six guys to regionals and leave with two heading to the state championship, that shows growth for our program. Dylan and Jason wrestled tough and earned their way in. They’ll both be great representatives for Richmond.
“And I hate it for the other guys who were so close to continuing their season,” he added. “Especially for Jordan because he’s been the heartbeat of our program for four years. Things didn’t go his way and it’s tough to think about. Axel, Konner and Hayden wrestled great, and they’ve got another year to try and make it to states.
Nunez, Gainey headed to state championship
Dylan Nunez and Gainey each made it to the third-place match of his respective weight class, which solidified their advancement to the state championship meet.
Taking third at 120-pounds was Nunez, Richmond’s highest placer in the tournament, while Gainey finished fourth in the 190-pound bracket.
Nunez started with a pair of wins in the opening round and quarterfinals round. He earned a 19-3 technical fall in the second period in his first match against Alman Tura (Ballantyne Ridge High School), and followed with a pinfall over Drake Hillin (Cox Mill High School) near the midway point of the second period.
In his third match, Nunez lost in the championship semifinals to Landon Logan (Brown) late in the third stanza via pin. Dropping to the consolation bracket, Nunez had to win one of his next two matches to secure his spot at states.
Nunez won both, starting with a quick pin early in the second period of the consolation semifinals against Jacob Ebright (Hickory Ridge High School). Advancing to the third-place match, Nunez faced Anirudh Baddi of Marvin Ridge High School.
Registering his fourth win in five matches, Nunez outdueled Baddi and clinched a 3-0 decision victory to lock in third place.
Gainey took a similar route, starting with two wins in the championship bracket opener and quarterfinals. He pinned Brady Charcutt (Cox Mill) in the third period and followed with an 8-3 decision win over Marley Williams (Mooresville High School) to advance to the semis.
Like Nunez, Gainey lost his semifinals match, 15-0 tech fall loss to Gavin Yow (Brown), and dropped to the consolation bracket. He kept his chances at the state tournament alive when he rebounded with a second period pinfall over Cade Sanfillipo (Hickory Ridge) in the consolation semis.
Making it to the third-place match, Gainey suffered a 6-3 loss to David Makinde (Grimsley High School). Despite going 3-2, Gainey qualified for the state tournament by finishing in the top four of his weight class.
Four other Raiders put up good fight, fall just short
Of the four other Richmond wrestlers, Hamilton made it the furthest in the tournament, making it to the consolation semifinal round before being eliminated.
Hamilton finished with a 3-2 record at the tournament and was one win shy of making the third-place match for the 215-pound bracket.
Opening with a pinfall win over Camden Green (West Mecklenburg High School), Hamilton added his other two wins in the second and third rounds of the consolation bracket. In those bouts, he beat Beason Charcutt (Cox Mill, 8-2 decision) and Amauri Rivera (Porter Ridge High School, 18-2 tech fall).
Axel Nunez and Smith both went 2-2 in the tournament and exited the postseason in the third round of the consolation bracket. Gardner earned one win in his three matches before being eliminated in the second consolation round.
Starting with a bye, Axel Nunez’s other victory was a 16-1 techfall over Ethan Hensley (South Iredell High School).
Smith’s two wins came via a 15-0 tech fall over Carson Dayvault (West Cabarrus High School) and a pinfall in the second round over Christan Garcia Mendez (Chapel Hill High School).
Gardner’s lone victory was a pinfall that took about a minute to complete in the first period of his first consolation round match. He pinned Jackson Mertz (West Cabarrus) to the mat.
The NCHSAA 7A state championship meet will be held Friday and Saturday at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.
