Richmond Hill, long one of the Coastal Empire’s top wrestling programs in Class 6A, moved up to Class 7A this year and in last weekend’s Section A sectional tournament qualified six boys and one girl for this week’s traditional state championship which will be held at the Macon Coliseum beginning Thursday and running through Saturday

Hunter Cash finished in second-place at 113 pounds for the best finish by a Wildcats wrestler the individual competition. Cash (29-10) lost to Camden County’s Brandon Higgins (6-0) by fall at 3:17 in the first-place match.

Other boys qualifiers for Coach Bill Evans’ team were Colin Dragon (47-4) who was third at 120, DarVante Menzie (37-15) was fourth at 165, Miller Osteen (26-14) was fifth at 144, Brenden Fair (27-10) was sixth at 106 and Caden Whitaker (26-17) was sixth at 157.   

Isabell West (9-1) was the lone female qualifier as she took third-place at 110 pounds. West was beaten in her semifinal match by Delialah Betances (23-2) of Lee County but bounced back to win her consolation semifinal match on a fall and then defeated Arrie Battle (29-5) by a 9-5 decision to take third.

Dragon, too, put on a strong rally after losing to Reed Walker (48-6) of West Forsyth on a fall at 0:51. The senior standout then won his next three matches before claiming third over Walker on a forfeit.

The Wildcats’ alternate is Roman Slaughter (36-12) who placed seventh when he won by decision over Eric Henson (40-15) of Colquitt County at 126. Should another qualifier be forced to drop out then Slaughter will get an opportunity to wrestle.