Cape wrestling falls to Dover 39-30

In a back-and-forth wrestling match that saw ties at 21-21 and 27-27, the Vikings dropped a close 39-30 match to Dover Jan. 17 at home. It was the first Senators victory over the Vikings since the 2005-06 season.

The Vikings started on top, scoring 15 straight points in the first three matches. Finbar Rishko defeated Dover’s Humberto Monasterio with an 11-4 decision at 132. Andre Currie followed with a pin over Raeshawn Alexander at 1:46 of the 138-pound class. Freshman Jackson Handlin pinned Joshua Heredia at 2:59 of the 145 weight class.

Dover picked up wins at 152 and 160 to cut the lead to 15-12, but Cape’s Chris Handlin got the Vikings back in the winning lane with a pin over Dover’s Gabe Evans in 1:45 of the 170 class.

That’s when the Senators turned up the heat, scoring wins at 182, 195, 220, 285, 113 and 120.

Cape got six points from a Senators forfeit at 106, and Anthony Caruso finished the match with a close 3-1 decision over Tykwan Joyner at the 126 class.

“It’s been a long time since we lost to them,” said Cape coach Chris Mattioni. “They have a new coach that has been there the last few years, and he’s definitely turned that program in the right direction.”

Dover is coached by Aaron Harris, who was a  state champion at Caesar Rodney.

“We know that we are young and wins would be hard to come by,” said Mattioni. “We are progressing and getting better. We lost a couple of matches we were capable of winning. We just have to work on little things and correcting mistakes. It was definitely a winnable match.”

Cape moved to 3-3 on the season, while Dover moved to 10-3.

The Vikings will host Sussex Tech Wednesday, Jan. 24.