LANCASTER, Pa. – Richmond Senior High School’s top wrestler during the 2017-18 season was sophomore Joey Nicholson. And while the Raiders’ season has been over for a couple of months, Nicholson found himself back on the podium this past weekend.
Trading the sites and sounds of Richmond County and traveling north to the rural farmlands of Amish country in Lancaster County, Pa., Nicholson participated in the My House National Folkstyle Wresting Tournament on Saturday, April 14. The event was held at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex, a 65-acre facility that, according to its website, is the “largest indoor sports complex” in the United States.
Folkstyle wrestling, by definition, is another name for collegiate-styled wrestling.
Nicholson made the trip as a member of the School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) wrestling club, which operates in High Point, N.C., and is run by head coach Bob Floyd. Having wrestled in the 106-pound weight class as a Raider this past winter, Nicholson put on a couple of pounds for the My House event and competed in the 115-pound weight class.
Battling hard in his respective class, Nicholson impressed on the mat, going 2-1 on the afternoon and finishing second overall in his class. In his opening-round match, Nicholson wasted little time in defeating Azmir Ibrahim of Carlisle High School. In just 1:38, Nicholson claimed victory via pinfall against his Buffalo counterpart.
In even more impressive fashion, Nicholson downed his semifinals opponent is lesser time, pinning Wyalusing High School’s Elijah Yoder (Wyalusing, Pa.) in just 1:25. The back-to-back quick pins set up Nicholson for the championship round against Tanner Stefanick of Penn Manor High School (Millersville, Pa.).
Unfortunately for Nicholson, he wasn’t able to get past Stefanick, falling by pinfall in just 45 seconds. But his second-place finish in his weight class wasn’t all for naught for the Richmond sophomore, as Nicholson garnered All-American honors, as well as received an All-American singlet from My House apparel.
“I’ve been training with SOHK for about a month and a half,” Nicholson explained. “And I’ve already improved a lot just from practicing with some the top wrestlers in the state every weekend.
“Coach Bob pushes me really hard, but I love every minute of it because I feel myself getting better every practice.”
In the coming months, Nicholson will travel south to compete in the National Duals held in Orlando, Fla.
Some information and quotes were contributed for this story.
