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Dreams realized and hearts shattered at state wrestling finals

Cory Lawson wins state title on his 18th birthday
February 28, 2017

What becomes of the brokenhearted? Watch 14 state championship wrestling bouts spread across weight classes from 109 to 285 pounds and you will see what happens. A dream suddenly shattered is followed by a handshake with the victor then it’s back to your corner and crew in the stands. Wrestling teaches the athlete to deal with the moment from victory to defeat. Wrestlers are expected to handle their business, and it’s amazing and inspirational to watch the athletes embrace the moment, face to face, inside a crowded gym of partisan fans. The warriors need each other; the vanquished and the victorious are bonded forever together by the focused moment. There is a brotherhood shared over a lifetime.   

Seven of the 14 championship matches were decided by a single move, defined as three points or less, and three matches were decided by 2-1 scores, while two matches required overtime.

Cape’s Cory Lawson and Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista closed out the night with the 160-pound bout. Both are defending state champions and bonded friends through the rivalry. Bautista broke Lawson’s heart on Valentine’s Day by winning the final and deciding match against Cape 4-3 to send Sussex Central to the dual-meet state finals, where the Golden Knights scored an upset win over Smyrna in Phil Shultie and Chip Illian’s last season in the coaches’ corner.

But it runs deeper than that. Cory’s dad, Duane, was killed in a car fire on Valentine’s Day in 2005. Cory handled his business this Valentine’s Day; there was no Hollywood script, there was no choice but to focus on the future.

The state title bout went into overtime tied 4-4. Both grapplers start at neutral standing at the middle of the mat - a takedown wins the title. Bautista moved in and was countered by a flying tackle to his shoulders and went to his back. The Cape student crowd sang Happy Birthday. It was Cory’s 100th win. His grandfather was in the stands smiling - no denying the resemblance. Bautista entered the Cape celebration to give Cory Lawson a hug. Grown men - hall of famers - had tears in their eyes.

“That is the greatest moment of sportsmanship by those two athletes I’ve seen in a long time in any sport,” said Jack Holloway, a member of the Delaware Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Cape’s Zack Flores lost a heartbreaker in overtime 2-1 to Bryan Wynes of Milford. The Cape fans were chanting “Fluffy! Fluffy!” a term of endearment to the big guy they all love. But the magic of the moment went to Wynes and coach Don Parsley, who jumped out of his skin with the victory.

Cape’s Anthony Caruso upset Cameron Hayes of Caesar Rodney 5-1 in the semifinals but got taken down in the final seconds of the championship bout by Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola and lost 3-1. The sudden loss and season-over moment is just crazy tough emotionally; the wrestler just doesn’t know where to put himself. The conundrum to being a great wrestler is being totally wrapped up in the sport without being consumed by it.

“All I can say about Cory Lawson is wow! I think that match was the most exciting high school match I have ever seen,” said Cape coach Chris Mattioni. “I think Phil Shultie agreed. After the match he said that was awesome. It was an amazing conclusion to the Lawson-Bautista saga from the 2016-17 season. The previous three meetings were good, but this match was incredible. They both wrestled with high intensity the entire match. That match alone was worth the price of admission. It has been an amazing ride to see Cory rise to the top. He will be missed next year for his wrestling ability, but more importantly his leadership skills.” 

Click here to see more photos from the tournament. 

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