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Lawson wins second straight state title

Three Cape wrestlers reach DIAA finals
February 26, 2017

Cape’s Cory Lawson earned his second straight state championship Feb. 25, defeating Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista in overtime in the 160-pound final at Dover High School. 

The win was Lawson’s 100th in his career. It was also his 18th birthday. 

Lawson was one of three Vikings to make the finals. Joining him were Anthony Caruso and Zack Flores, but both settled for second place. 

Caruso, the defending 106-pound state champion, upset top-seeded Cameron Hayes of Caesar Rodney, defending 113-pound state champion, in the semifinals of the 120-pound bracket. He faced off with Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola in the final, falling 3-1.

Lawson, the defending 160-pound state champion, snuck past Polytech’s Avery Mayan 4-3 in the 160-pound semifinal to set up a highly anticipated match versus Sussex Central’s Brandon Bautista, 2016’s 152-pound state champ. Lawson and Bautista have gone back and forth all season. Lawson beat Bautista in the regular-season dual meet, but Bautista came out on top in their match in the DIAA Dual Meet Championships. Lawson came back less than a week later to beat Bautista for the Henlopen Conference championship. 

Flores, the top seed in the 285-pound bracket, reached the finals by scoring a takedown with just four seconds left in his semifinal match against Loma Thomas of McKean. In the finals, Flores matched up with Milford’s Bryan Wynes, falling in overtime. 

See results of the finals in the Tuesday, Feb. 28 edition of the Cape Gazette.

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