Southern Alamance Wrestler Jace Rich Eyes State Title After 140 Victories

Southern Alamance senior Jace Rich has done it so well that he has racked up 140 career victories. He’s 34-5 this season. The Southern Alamance senior is the county’s most decorated wrestler since the pandemic as he gears up for the individual regionals later this month.

Rich traces that success to an early start and steady commitment. By middle school, Jace Rich was hooked on wrestling. "My parents pushing me to go during quarantine and COVID and all that stuff," Rich said. "Once I hit eighth grade, that’s when I took it serious. Before then, they made me do it. But now, I want to do it." He’s made the most of that ever since. "It’s been a process for more than a decade."

On the mat, Rich has shown production and adaptability. He has mostly competed at 165 pounds this season but is contemplating a postseason drop to 157 pounds to sharpen his edge. "I can eat whatever I want at 165, but I think I’m going to go down to (157) and get as lean as I can," he said. "I’m trying to get down there healthy. I think I can compete better at (157), too. I feel faster." That adjustment will be monitored closely as he prepares for regionals and the potential state bracket.

Winning regionals built momentum last year, and Rich sees a state title as the next step. "I wanted to be that guy around here. I won regionals last year and now this year I want to win states," he said. Coach Vincent Ramirez praised Rich’s tools while underscoring the playoff test. “He’s a great athlete and he wants to be there,” Ramirez said. “He’s got all the ability. It just comes down to performing when it matters.”

Rich’s athletic résumé extends beyond wrestling. He wasn’t starting at the beginning of the season, but he had Southern’s only touchdown through two games on a fumble return on what became an eight-win season. He ended up selected for All-Mid-Carolina Conference honors. He’ll be finished with both sports when he graduates. Off the field, Rich is heading to UNC Wilmington to pursue a degree in business.

Rich’s candid comments about pressure reflect the stakes for a hometown favorite. "I feel like I let a lot of people down when I lose. That’s what I feel like," he said. "I like being expected to win because I always expect myself to win. So when other people think it, too, that’s cool."

A torn AC was mentioned in an earlier summary of Rich’s career, but that detail remains unverified and requires confirmation from Rich, Coach Ramirez, or medical staff before it can be reported as fact.

For Alamance County, Rich’s run matters beyond wins and losses. A 140-win career and a strong season record raise the profile of Southern Alamance programs, give younger wrestlers a local model to follow, and send a recruit like Rich to UNC Wilmington carrying local pride. Readers can watch his regionals results later this month to see whether his move to 157 pounds and postseason resolve translate into the deeper state run he’s chasing.