ROCKINGHAM — A new season of Richmond Raider wrestling brings with it a promising lineup and a new head coach in Andre’ Ellerbe.
The Richmond Senior High School wrestling program will be under the direction of Ellerbe, a former high school and college wrestler this winter. He served as the assistant head coach last season alongside Richard Kerekes, who is now the middle school team’s head coach.
A 2007 graduate from Scotland High School, Ellerbe was a varsity heavyweight wrestler for the Fighting Scots. During his senior season he was a state championship qualifier.
Ellerbe went on to wrestle at St. Andrews University for four years after red-shirting, and he hopes to bring that experience and passion for the sport to the Raiders’ mat this season.
“I’m super excited to be the new head coach,” Ellerbe said after practice on Monday. “I enjoyed working with Coach Richard (Kerekes) and learned a lot from him and (former head coach) Earl Nicholson.
“Another benefit is I know a lot of these guys from when they wrestled in middle school,” he added. “We should have a great season, especially after seeing how they’ve matured and increased their abilities through the years.
Prior to joining the high school staff in 2020, Ellerbe and Kerekes coached the Richmond middle school program. Several of the expected starters in various weight classes were members of their team.
Former state qualifying wrestlers like Joey Nicholson and Austin Gallops, along with regional qualifier Kaden Walker, have graduated from Richmond. With the wrestling season returning to its normal winter schedule for the first time in two years, the Raiders will look to rebuild and fill the gaps.
Junior Jaxson Martin works on drills ahead of the Raiders’ new season. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
Ellerbe noted that Richmond will face a lot of new teams and compete in a lot of new tournaments this year, but that the Raiders will also hit the mat against some familiar non-conference foes.
“Coach Nic has set up a great network to build up our schedule,” Ellerbe said. “It’s going to be good for our development. We are excited to see what we can do in the new conference.”
Richmond is now part of the 3A/4A Sandhills Athletic Conference, and will wrestle against familiar programs like Hoke County, Pinecrest and Scotland. New to the conference slate are Lee County, Southern Lee and Union Pines, all of which are 3A schools.
“It’s going to be a little tougher in the conference,” Ellerbe explained. “Some of the newer teams have decent programs and it will be good to see where we fall in this conference. Scotland and Pinecrest usually have strong programs, too.
“We have some wrestling ability as a team, and the guys are learning fast, so I’m excited to see what we can accomplish. I feel we’re on the cusp of being really good with a lot of talent. If it’s not this year, maybe next year.”
Helping bolster the program is the return of the middle school team, as well as an AAU program that Nicholson started this year. Ellerbe said he also hopes to strengthen the heavier weight classes with football players once the season is over.
Junior Naaman Perakis takes down junior Christian Sanchez during Monday’s practice. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
Noting that the Raiders have “several wrestlers who could become regional and state qualifiers,” Ellerbe expects Richmond’s success to start with a handful of veterans.
Among them are four-year starters and seniors Dante Baldwin (145-pound) and Andres Sanchez (132-pound), along with multi-year contributors in juniors Christian Sanchez (126-pound) and Naaman Perakis (138-pound).
Other returners include junior Jaxson Martin (132-pound) and sophomore Aiden Rountree (120-pound). A newcomer is senior Favian Rivera, who recently moved to the area and brings wrestling experience to the 160-pound weight class.
Ellerbe also pointed out guys like freshmen captains Adam Estridge (120-pound) and Jackson Hamilton (170-pound), freshmen Caleb Hubbard (106-pound) and Gonzalo Gonzales, and sophomore Kalub Williams (195-pound) as wrestlers who will look to make an impact.
“A lot of our guys come in knowing about wrestling, and are learning quickly on the mat,” Ellerbe said. “We’re not far off.
“Their attitude and skill level are impressive, and these are the guys who are the first ones in and last ones out at practice. We are a very disciplined team.”
Ellerbe explained that the Raiders “could be” SAC champions this year, but the team has to fill some holes at the heavier weight classes. He added that missing a heavyweight in the 285-pound weight class is the biggest concern right now.
Freshman K’Mauri Morgan shoots for the takedown against junior Luke McCormick. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
While developing on the mat is an important component of the Raiders’ success, Ellerbe said one of his top priorities rests in the classroom. He said his wrestlers are expected to be successful in their sport, but “the main thing” is they keep up with their grades and efforts in school.
Richmond will compete in its first pre-season meet at the Academy Sports Rumble Under the Lights, an outdoor event at Corvian Community School in Charlotte. That will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13.
The Raiders will also compete in another pre-season event later this month, the Roughedge Rumble. Richmond’s first in-season competition will be a match against Marlboro High School at home on Dec. 8.
“Of course we want to win a lot of matches, but my big thing coming from teaching in a behavior classroom, is to have fun and be tough at the same time,” Ellerbe closed. “There are strict rules in place, even ones that I put on myself.
“I want the guys to have a great time while competing this season. Wrestling is one of the best sports in the world and I want them to enjoy it and be good at it, too.”
Freshman Adam Estridge (white shirt) and sophomore Aiden Rountree face off at practice. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
