“This is the toughest dual tournament in the state this season,” he said of the event that picks up again at 9 a.m. on Saturday. “You won’t find another tournament with the competition of this one.”
Five mats will be used as the 10 teams compete in a round-robin format. Each school is guaranteed nine matches. The opening pairings at 5:30 p.m. include Union Pines against Randleman and Pinecrest against Hopewell.
Including the junior varsity tournament being held at New Century Middle School on Saturday, about 250 wrestlers will be involved.
Ragsdale has facts to back up his claim about the quality of the competition. The field includes Durham Riverside, which has won three straight state 4-A titles. Another, East Gaston, won the 3-A title last year with a squad of nine wrestlers. They will bring six state qualifiers, including the state champions in the 103, 112, 119 and 125 weight classes.
The Pinecrest team includes Zack Martin, the state 4-A champion at 125, and Tommy Ransdell, also a state qualifier.
The Mid-Southeastern Conference champion Jack Britt team will be there with Jake Smith, the state 4-A champ at 145, and five other state qualifiers. David Boyle was a state qualifier for the Vikings last year at 112 pounds.
Randleman is expected to enter five state qualifiers and Hopewell three. The other teams in the field are Hoke County, East Montgomery and Richmond County.
