Cape wrestling wins Governor Mifflin Holiday Tournament
The 48th annual Governor Mifflin Holiday Wrestling Tournament in Shillington, Pa., Dec. 29-30 was won by Cape Henlopen with 195 points.
Malvern Prep (B Team) was second with 182.5 followed by Boyertown with 172, Elizabethtown with 158 and Governor Mifflin with 145.
The improbable, no-one-saw-it-coming Cape win was accomplished without frontline grapplers Luke Bender (152) and Carson Kammerer (171), both out with injuries.
And coach Chris Mattioni, with more than 25 years at the helm of the Cape program, stayed home because of a cold, but not COVID.
“I just thought it was a better idea not to be around the kids for two straight days,” Mattioni said. “Shane [Jensen] and Garrett [Smith] obviously are experienced and smart, plus we have a team of leaders who can handle any situation.”
Mikey Frederick (145) and Lucas Ruppert (285) were tournament champions in the 22-team field. Alex Taylor (189) and Dalton Deevey (215) both placed second.
That quartet accounted for 108 team points. C.J. Fricthman (160) placed fourth and contributed 17 team points.
“Every wrestler we brought to the tournament had at least one win,” Jensen said. “The team trophy was just a bonus. We didn’t win the tournament for coach Mattioni, but because of him, and that goes for Garrett and me and every kid in the program.”
Wrestlers contributing points to the team championship were Jacob Godsell (103), Mark Meadows (113), Holt Baker (120), Josh Wright (126), Josh Alvares (132), Andrew Schaen (138), Mikey Frederick (145), Jayden Johnson (152), C.J. Fritchman (160), Leo Hunsberger (172), Alex Taylor (189), Dalton Deevey (215) and Lucas Ruppert (285).
Tower Hill was the other Delaware team in the field. Drew Platt lost in the 126-pound finals, while Anthony Lucian placed second at 172.
Cape will host Dover Wednesday, Jan. 5.
The Vikings are scheduled to compete in the Iron Horse Duals at C Milton Wright High School in Maryland Jan. 7-8.
