Sussex Central wrestling defeats Cape 36-25 in front of packed house
A packed house at Sussex Central High School on Staff Appreciation Night saw the Golden Knights wrestling team win enough matches to defeat Cape Henlopen 36-25. Quick calculations by coaches and astute fans figure Cape and Central will grapple again in the State Dual Meet Championships at the end of the season.
“Fourteen matches, we knew we had to get seven to win and we got six,’ said Cape coach Chris Mattioni. “Those matches that can go either way are worth double. A pin you think is a possibility goes the other way, and it’s a 12-point swing.”
The match started at 152 with Cape going bump and run, sending Mikey Frederick up a weight class, where he beat Caden Cope 14-10.
Central’s Tarryl Sturgis (160) then pinned Finbar Rishko at 3:44 into the bout. Cape’s Gary Hayes (170), in the first of three overtime matches on the night, defeated Jovani Castaneda 6-4.
Andre Currie (182) followed with a pin over former teammate Sam Jones in 1:27. Cape led 12-6 after taking three of the first four bouts.
Central’s Terrance Frisby (195) upset the Vikings’ strategy with a 4-3 win over Jackson Handlin.
Central’s Hiram Lasher (220), back from ACL repair, pinned Cameron Smith at 3:09, as the Golden Knights surged into the lead 15-12.
The second overtime match came at 285 pounds, a grueling bout prolonged by numerous blood time breaks. Central’s Tyler Karr won with a takedown of Lucas Ruppert for a 4-2 victory.
Cape’s Holt Baker (106) got a quick pin in 35 seconds over Kenseth Taylor, and the match evened at 18 points each with six bouts remaining.
“Central had a hammer waiting at 145 in Jevon Saffold, already with 100 career wins as a junior and two tournament titles this season,” Mattioni said.
Cape needed to snag or steal three of five bouts before the 145-pound finale.
Central’s Dylan King (113) was locked in a battle with Cape’s Josh Wright and won a crucial 8-5 decision.
Central’s Evan Broomall (120) followed with a win by fall over freshman Brexton Carter, setting up a featured bout of the night at 126 between Cape’s CJ Fritchman and Central’s Mason Ankrom.
Central led Cape 27-18 with four bouts remaining. Fritchman got an early takedown, but couldn’t get another point as Ankrom, a former state champion at 106, won in the second overtime 3-2. Central led 30-18.
Cape’s Carson Kammerer (132) prevailed over sophomore Gunnar Abbott 8-1. That was followed by a Luke Bender 10-0 major decision over Cole Jester. The score settled at 30-25.
And with Cape’s regular 145-pounder Mikey Frederick gone at 152, fans figured a forfeit to Jevon Saffold was the night’s final bout.
But Cape’s Bryan Garcia was ready to give it a go and hung in the match before getting pinned at 3:21 into the competition.
Cape will wrestle at undefeated Woodbridge at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24.
The Blue Raiders are coached by Shane Marvel, Jordan Marvel, Patrick Davis and Ahmad Jackson.
“Woodbridge is tough,” Mattioni said. “I’m sure their place will be jumping on Friday night.”
