RAIDERS EARN BIG WIN OVER RIVAL SCOTLAND
LAURINBURG, N.C. – The Richmond Senior High School wrestling team went on the road last week for a rival match up against Scotland High School. The meeting proved to be a highly contested battle, but saw Richmond pull out a hard fought victory 45-30.
The night began with Richmond’s Austin Gallop taking on Scotland's Ethan Locklear in the 152-pound class. Gallop fell behind early, trailing 2-1, but would later score six points to take a three-point lead heading into the final two minutes.
Locklear would regain the momentum, scoring four straight points to retake an 8-7 lead. Gallop was then able to score a quick to point late in the round, followed by another two giving him an 11-8 decision victory over Locklear.
"He's had trouble with strong guys," said head coach Earl Nicholson when asked of Gallop’s win. “It was a big win for him (Gallop).”
Richmond would drop the next two matches in the 160 and 170-pound weight classes, and found itself in a hole down 12-3. The next match would be senior Brandon Nifong, who entered undefeated on the season.
Nifong faced his first big challenge of the year in the match at Scotland. Nifong would take on Ja'Quan Carr, and the two would go back and forth ending the first two periods tied at 9-9. Carr would take a 11-9 lead before Nifong was walked off the mat by an athletic trainer after suffering an apparent injury.
Once the actioned resumed, Nifong took over and pinned Carr with 59 seconds remaining in the bout keeping him undefeated on the season at 18-0.
"That was his first time having to get pushed,” Nicholson said. “It started catching up with him, but he battled through which was huge because if he goes down, then the other guys start to get down on themselves and it might not be a good night for us."
The next six matches would be split between the schools leaving Richmond trailing 27-30 with three matches left. The Raiders led 33-30 following the 130-pound bout, and it was Marcus Hester who also pinned his opponent to give Richmond the victory.
Zachariah Hamilton ended the night for the Raiders by pinning Leshawn Tyson-Smith in the second period.
*****
RICHMOND GAINS TWO WINS ON ROAD DESPITE MISSING TOP STARTERS; RELIES ON UNDERCLASSMEN
ASHEBORO, N.C. – Also over the weekend, the Raiders headed into the Southwestern Randolph duals tournament to compete without two of their top performers in Brandon Nifong (18-0) and Isaiah Davenport (7-1).
Richmond managed to go 2-2 on the day with wins over Southwestern Randolph (60-18) and East Montgomery (46-35), but took a loss to Eastern Randolph in a tie breaker (43-42), and lost to Asheboro for the third time this season (63-15).
The day seemed to be a good time to see how the younger guys were going to handle moving into the starting lineup and competing at a high level.
"I thought we wrestled well and I enjoyed seeing some of our young guys get the opportunity to compete in the starting lineup," Nicholson said.
Richmond continued to show promise for the future with young wrestlers having to step up and make an impact when the starters went down.
Although not new to the starting lineup, Joseph Nicholson had another impressive outing going undefeated on the day and moving to 19-1 on the season. Nicholson had the match of the day taking on Zack Brim (18-1) of Southwestern Randolph with the match going into double overtime. Nicholson emerged victorious, winning by pinfall.
Steven Morales also went undefeated on the day with wins over Ivan Valdovinos (East Montgomery), Alexander Madina (Southwestern Randolph) and Ricardo Salinas (Asheboro). Morales moved to 15-2 on the season.
Coach Nicholson noted the team will take a day off to heal and then begin prep for the huge 20-team "Clash at the Creek" tournament at Mallard Creek on Friday, December 22.
"We have a number of wrestlers who should get pretty good seeds at the Mallard Creek tournament" said Nicholson.
Richmond hopes for a better performance Friday as some of their starters will be returning.
