Athletes of the Week Feb. 10
Grayson Davis
Beacon’s 106-pound seventh-grade grappler was voted Outstanding Wrestler at the Steve Stewart Middle School Wrestling Classic Feb. 4, with two wins and a tech fall. No opponent got out of the first period. Grayson was unbeaten in Delaware this season, but he regularly challenged himself at national-caliber tournaments. “I’m in the sixth- to eighth-grade rankings,” he said. “I pay attention and just keep working hard.”
Austin Guerrieri
This eighth-grader is Mariner’s 88-pound wrestler. Austin placed first Feb. 4 at the 2023 Steve Stewart Middle School Wrestling Classic in the Milford Central Academy gym. There were 17 schools competing in the event. At 13 years old, Austin is the oldest of five children. He said he has been wrestling since he was 4 years old. His dad is a Milton police officer; his mom is a veterinarian. “I had two pins and a tech fall to win the tournament,” Austin said. “I will wrestle at Cape next year, so I need to put on some weight to get close to 106.” His other favorite sport is fishing, just like C.J. Fritchman at the high school. “I may try lacrosse this spring,” Austin said.
Benjamin Gump
Mariner’s 144-pound grappler is a first-year wrestler who doesn’t walk to the beat of a different drummer, because he is a drummer. “Music is my thing,” Ben said. “I could practice and play music all day long. And to be honest, school is my least favorite of all the things I do.” Ben is affable and socially aware, described by Principal Fred Best as a super-great kid. He had a 5-3 record this wrestling season. Versus Beacon Feb. 6, he won his match with a pin in 20 seconds. Ben and Maddox Gipko, who sings and plays guitar, have a group that plays at local venues. “I also like editing film clips from my matches and sharing them on Instagram,” he said.
Samay Kumar
Samay is a 185-pound eighth-grader for the Beacon wrestling team. He was the champion for his weight class at the Steve Stewart Middle School Wrestling Classic held Feb. 4 at Milford Central Academy. Samay received a match-clinching forfeit in the Feb. 6 intra-district match between Beacon and Mariner. Samay is a top student who plans to attend Cape, where he will wrestle and possibly play soccer. He is the goalie-looking guy.
Payton Schaen
Payton is a 118-pound wrestler for Beacon Middle School and younger sister of Cape’s top-ranked 150-pounder Andrew Schaen. She is tough and will grapple in a girls’ tournament later this month. “I plan to keep wrestling in high school. I just love the sport,” Payton said. Payton lost her final bout to Mariner’s Jackson Willamson by pin while trailing 2-1. “I expect to see her at varsity practice the last weeks of the season,” said older brother Andrew.
Yusuf Smith
An eighth-grade, 155-pound athlete at Beacon Middle School, Yusuf wrestles and plays football. He was weight division champion the Steve Stewart Middle School Wrestling Classic held Feb. 4 at Milford Central Academy. Yusuf finished the season with a record of 15-3. He also plays fullback and linebacker in football.
