Cape wins its very first team wrestling championship

Luke Bender wins 145-pound title to lead Vikings to victory

The Cape wrestling team celebrates its very first state championship. Shown in back are (l-r) coach Ian Eckrote, Alex Taylor, Dalton Deevey, Lucas Ruppert, Luke Bender, C.J. Fritchman, coach Brian Tobin. In middle are head coach Chris Mattioni, Jeb Zolper, Jackson Handlin, Bryan Garcia, Josh Wright, Mike Elphick and coach Matt Graviet. In front are Shane Jensen, Carson Kammerer, Rony Perez-Mejia, Mikey Frederick and coach Garrett Smith. In the very front is Davey Frederick. DAVE FREDERICK PHOTOS

Dave Frederick

March 3, 2021

The Cape wrestling team won its very first team state championship March 3, capturing the Division I crown in its own building after sending five wrestlers to the finals in their respective weight-class brackets.

Luke Bender was the only Viking to finish in first place, in the 145-pound weight class, but the team’s overall performance was enough to add another state championship banner to the Big House wall.

Earning second-place finishes were Dalton Deevey (182), Jackson Handlin (195), Lucas Ruppert (285) and C.J. Fritchman (152). Mikey Frederick (138) and Alex Taylor (220) each earned third-place finishes, while Carson Kammerer (160) took fourth, Mike Elphick (170) claimed fifth, and Bryan Garcia (132) and Josh Wright (120) each earned a sixth-place finish.

The Vikings quietly and calmly sat with the team trophy for a photo and seemed unaware that rings, jackets and a banner are to follow for this group that won the first team state wrestling championship in 52 years.

Flashing red lights and sirens revved up in front of the school. Cape’s wrestlers were going on an escorted ride. It was the first time a state title had been won at home since the 1978 track team.

“We kept over-exceeding and overachieving,” said coach Chris Mattioni. “Every wrestler who got tagged with a loss or two is disappointed looking back on a match they think they should have won, but all the wrestlers kept pressing forward, which is what you have to do in a big three-day tournament.”

Caravel won the Division II team title with 309 points, and Delaware Military Academy finished second with 107.

Cape topped the Division I point total with 228 points followed by Salesianum with 206, Milford with 190, Caesar Rodney with 187, Smyrna with 167, Sussex Central with 155 and William Penn with 130.

State champions crowned by weight class included 106, Eddie Radecki, Caravel; 113, Gabe Giampietro, Smyrna; 120, Luke Poore, Caravel; 126, Jack Thode, Milford; 132, Trent Grant, Milford; 138, Ethan Gray, Caravel; 145, Luke Bender, Cape; 152, Alex Poore, Caravel; 160, Joe Natarcola, Smyrna; 170, Justin Griffith, Sanford; 182, Josh Negron, Sussex Central; 195, Danny Stradley, Caravel; 220, Nasir Dreuitt, William Penn; and 285, Kevin Hudson, Caesar Rodney.