Smyrna wrestling beats Cape 45-27
Smyrna unfurled the 2020 state championship wrestling banner, then rolled out a full squad of cheerleaders, and the national anthem was played. A one-side-only section of home fans then got vociferously into each match point by point.
Smyrna won 45-27, taking nine of the 14 bouts contested.
The match began at 220 pounds and featured five wins by fall for the Eagles at 220, 106, 113, 132 and 182. They won by tech fall at 160, major decision at 170 and by decision at 126 and 132.
Cape got pins at 285,152 and 195, a tech fall at 145 and a major decision at 138.
Smyrna’s 220-pounder Tyler Downward opened the night with a pin of Alex Taylor in 2:24. Cape’s Lucas Ruppert (285) followed with a pin of Nathaniel Chandler in 3:04 to tie the match at 6-6 rolling into the lightweights.
The Eagles then secured five straight wins with Wyatt Miller (106) over Arthur Bennett (fall, 3:04); Gabe Giampietro (113) over Rony Perez (fall, 3:47); Qwantez Watkins (120) over Josh Wright (8-7); Jake Wagner (126) over Grant Barczak (5-0); and Jamar Wells (132) over Bryan Garcia (fall, 3:32).
Smyrna led 30-6 after seven matches.
Cape’s Mikey Frederick (138) won by major decision over Garrett Hudson 17-9; then Luke Bender (145) earned a 20-5 tech fall over Smyrna’s Jesse Dixon. Cape’s C.J. Fritchman (152) pinned Shayne Wilson to cut the deficit to 30-21.
The Eagles responded with a tech fall win at 160 by two-time state champion Joe Natorcola over Carson Kammerer, a major decision from Nathan Lesniczak over Mike Elphick at 170, and Gavin Porter rounding out the streak with a pin over Dalton Deevey in 3:52. The Eagles extended their lead to 45-21.
Jackson Handlin (195) closed out the match with a pin of Kael Howell in 3:05 for the final score of 45-27.
Cape is set to host a tough Sussex Central squad on Monday night before hosting Laurel Wednesday, Feb. 10, and Delaware Military Academy Friday, Feb. 12, for Senior Night.
“Wrestling is an individual sport where team scores are kept,” said Cape coach Chris Mattioni. “Tough head-to-head matchups await all our wrestlers. We are all just thankful we are having a season.”
