CAMERON — The Raider Wrestling team, the first Richmond Senior High School winter sports group to participate this season, traveled to Union Pines High School on Saturday.
The Raiders were one of 17 teams who competed in the Viking Invitational’s team and individual events.
Richmond placed 14th overall after scoring 45 points in what head coach Andre’ Ellerbe described as a nice tune-up for the club to begin the season.
Richmond focused on the individual part of the event, wrestling seven different guys. Many of the Raiders’ varsity starters remained absent due to football season.
A pair of freshmen led the team on Saturday, going 4-2 and placing near the top of the consolation round.
Dylan Nunez (120 pounds) and NaSean McBride (138 pounds) scored a total 26 points. Nunez scored 10 points, while McBride led the squad with 16.
Nunez defeated Jarvis James (Westover High School) by pinfall in the championship bracket’s first round. Following a loss to incumbent state champion Mac Johnson (Cape Fear High School), Nunez won his following three matches in three different ways.
He started the consolation bracket with a pin over Ryken Floyd (Union Pines) and then defeated James Brooks (Union Pines) 11-6. Nunez’s last win was a 17-7 major decision over Jazten Hall (Seventy-First High School).
McBride lost his first round and advanced to the consolation bracket, where he won four of his next five matches. He won a first-round bye, resulting in his first career victory.
McBride defeated Adam Tardiff of Western Harnett High School via pinfall in the first three minutes of the match. McBride’s next three matches included three first-round pins: Lucian Martin (Union Pines), Josiah Campos (Cape Fear), and Kosei McDowell (Union Pines), a redemption win for his earlier defeat.
McBride won the fifth-place battle of the 138-pound consolation bracket when Andrew Alexander (Hickory Ridge High School) was eliminated in the first round due to a forfeit.
Two more Raider wrestlers went 2-2 on Saturday: sophomore Konner Gardner (157 pounds) and Dominic Santiago (215 pounds).
Gardner, who scored eight points, began his season with a pinfall victory over Anthony Quashie (Seventy-First) in the first round of the championship bracket.
After losing in round two, he advanced to the consolation round, where he earned a bye and won another pin, this time against Emmanuel Scott (Westover).
Santiago concluded the day with seven points, winning two of his four matches. He began with a pinfall victory over Rashun McNeill (Westover) and went on to pin Alex Feaster (South View High School).
Richmond’s final four points came from freshman Trevor Smith (175 pounds), who had one win. Following two byes, he defeated Cole Pettay (Terry Sanford High School) in the third round of the consolation bracket by pinfall.
Sophomore Hayden Smith (144 pounds) and freshman Francisco Canales (285 pounds) both went 0-2 for the day.
Richmond will play in its first dual match of the season on Thursday at North Moore High School. The Raiders will meet the host Mustangs and Central Carolina Academy at 6 p.m.