Wrestling teams grapple together on eve of gobble gobble day
Cape’s Alex Taylor plugged his programmed music into the sound system of the Cape Big House gym Wednesday morning, then led four teams of wrestlers around three mats, transitioning to different plyometric positions like the group activity had been choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler of the Broadway musical “Hamilton.”
Saint Mark’s, Stephen Decatur, Sussex Academy and Cape were there for live wrestling. There were no referees, but the mats were crowded with groups of four competitive wrestlers who wrestled round robin, going into action or taking a break on the whistle.
Cape is coming off two consecutive Division I state championships after zero during the first 50 years of the program. Cape won D1 in 2021 using the final meet of individuals format for team points, then in 2022, the Vikings won through the dual-meet process, beating William Penn, Smyrna and Caesar Rodney to secure the championship.
Weight classes have changed somewhat for the 2022-23 season. From light to heavy, they are now: 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215 and 285.
Cape heads to the Southern Slam in South Carolina at Eastside High School Dec. 2-3, then begins the dual-meet season at home Wednesday, Dec. 7, versus Sussex Tech and Wednesday, Dec. 14, versus Caesar Rodney.
The Henlopen Conference traditional powers of Caesar Rodney, Milford, Smyrna, Sussex Central and Cape will battle it out the entire season.
Next level - Gabe Giampietro (Smyrna) is a freshman at Drexel wrestling 125 pounds. JT Davis (Smyrna) is a junior at Lehigh wrestling 184 pounds. Jackson Dean (Caesar Rodney) is a sophomore at Penn wrestling 149/157. Dalton Deevey (Cape) is a freshman wrestling at Centenary University in New Jersey in the 285-pound weight class. Jack Thode (Milford) is a freshman at Centenary wrestling in the 125-pound weight class. Anthony Caruso (Cape) is a junior wrestling 141 pounds for Midway University of Kentucky. Hugo Harp (Smyrna) is on the roster at Iowa Central Community College. Azeem Bell (A.I. du Pont) is a junior at Rider University wrestling in the 197-pound weight class.
