Share: 

Cape wrestlers take top honors at Bulldog Invitational Tournament

Vikings place 10 in the finals, seven crowned champions
Cape Henlopen wrestlers placed first in the 2015 Bulldog Invitational Tournament Dec. 5 at Brandywine High School. Shown are in back (l-r) Bill Ott, Dante Jacquet, Max Norquest, Anthony Caruso, Holden Kammerer, Matt Piner, Vinnie Diego and Gabriel Jacquet. In front are Chris Handlin, Cory Lawson, Michael Loessner, Justin Wright and Julian Medina. BY DAN COOK
Dan Cook
December 7, 2015
Cory Lawson, right, grappled to a 12-7 major decision win over Indian River's Zeke Marcozzi in the 170-pound championship. BY DAN COOK
Cape head coach Chris Mattioni coaches Billy Ott during the Bulldog Invitational Wrestling Tournament. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Max Norquest wrestles to the 126-pound championship with a 13-4 major decision over Indian River's Jared Arlett. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Justin Wright throws Concord's Vincent Black during his 14-2 semifinal major decision. Wright placed second in the 132-pound class. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Billy Ott, left, works for the 1:14 pin over Archmere's Bob Quercetti in the wrestle backs. Ott placed third in the tournament. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Vinnie Diego puts Brandywine's Ben Smith on the mat and pins him at 5:01 of the semifinals. Diego took top honors in the 138-pound class. BY DAN COOK
Cape freshman Chris Handlin grapples to a 2:59 pin over Concord's Albert Watkins in the semifinal match. Handlin took the first-place medal in the 170-pound weight class. BY DAN COOK
Cape freshman Anthony Caruso takes down and pins Woodbridge's Aahmad Jackson at 3:58 in the final of the 113-pound class. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Dante Jacquet works for the 6-0 decision over St. Andrew's Brando Leggott to win the 152-pound weight class. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Michael Loessner works for the 3:20 semifinal pin over Concord's Alex Salmorbekov. Loessner placed second in the tournament. BY DAN COOK

The Cape Henlopen varsity wrestlers traveled to Brandywine High School Dec. 5 for the 17th annual Bulldog Invitational Wrestling Tournament.  The Vikings finished first, crowning seven champions, three runners-up and two third-place finishers.

Taking first-place medals were Anthony Caruso at 113, Max Norquest at 126, Vinnie Diego at 138, Dante Jacquet at 152, Cory Lawson at 160, Chris Handlin at 170 and Holden Kammerer at 182.

Runners-up were Justin Wright at 132, Matt Piner at 145 and Mike Loessner at 220. Billy Ott finished third at 195 while Julian Medina placed third at 285.

"Overall, it was a very nice way to open the season," said coach Chris Mattioni, now in his 21st year. "The kids wrestled well, but we know that it was an easy start, but next weekend we'll get a better assessment of each wrestler, as they compete at the Penn Manor [Pennsylvania] Tournament, which is a tougher event."

Appoquinimink High School was the site for the junior varsity tournament where Darnell Bailey, Zane Kesler, Jose Ascencio, Alex Torres, Jonah Robertson, Brandon Harp-Mayes and Zach Flores were crowned champions while Evan Fitzgerald and Jose Arryo finished in third place.

Cape will travel to Lake Forest Wednesday, Dec. 9, to grapple with the Spartans in the 2015 Henlopen Conference debut.

Most Popular

Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

Most Popular