GREENSBORO — In what can be described as a historic season for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ wrestling program, came to an end late last week.
Over the past couple of years since the North Carolina High School Athletic Association officially sanctioned girls’ wrestling as a winter sport, Richmond started its program and had its most successful run to date.
With two wrestlers competing this season, the Lady Raiders had both wrestlers qualify for the NCHSAA 7A West regional championship, which was held at Southwest Guilford High School Thursday.
Representing Richmond in the double-elimination playoff tournament were senior Brooklyn Windley (185-pounds) and sophomore Gabbi Geiger (114-pounds).
Both Lady Raiders finished the event with a 2-2 record before being eliminated.
Geiger received a first-round bye in the championship bracket. Facing Avery Hall of Hickory Ridge High School in the quarterfinals, Geiger lost the match in the second period by pinfall at the 3:27 mark.
Needing to win to keep her chances alive, Geiger rallied in the second round of the consolation bracket for her other win.
Taking the mat against Keely Holt of Page High School, Geiger wasted little time in securing her second and final victory. Geiger pinned Holt in the first period with 1:30 left on the clock.
Squaring off with Maddie Freeman of A.L. Brown High School in the third round of the consolation tournament, the program that won the team regional title with 174 points, Geiger came up just short.
Going all three periods with Freeman, Geiger suffered an 8-4 decision loss to end her regional bid.
Windley’s final tournament of her career started with a pair of byes in the championship bracket, which counted for her two victories.
Windley would lose her next two matches in the championship semifinal round and the consolation bracket semis, both by pinfall.
In the first semis match, Windley was pinned in the first period by Erykah Kirkley (Independence High School). That was followed by a pinfall loss to Leonna Armstrong (West Cabarrus High School) in the second period of the consolation semis.
Geiger finished the season with a 14-10 overall record and Windley had an 11-9 overall mark.
