Sussex Academy wrestling enters Henlopen South in third year
There’s a new team competing for glory on the mat in the Henlopen Conference for the 2023-24 winter sports season.
“I would say the biggest goal this year is for us as coaches to ensure these young athletes are both mentally and physically ready to compete in the upcoming season,” said Sussex Academy first-year wrestling coach Justin Bennett. “I would also like to see the team get a few wins under their belt.”
Previously an assistant, Bennett takes over during a milestone year for the team, as the Seahawks wrestling program officially joins the Henlopen Conference after two years of independent competition. The team comprises entirely of underclassmen, with two juniors leading the way as captains.
“I’m really looking forward to conferences and states this year,” said captain Doug Horton.
Horton said he thinks the tone is set by how hard the wrestlers train.
“It’s balls to the wall, as hard as you can. We’re prioritizing hard work,” Horton said.
Fellow captain Gabe Hill acknowledged the youth in the program, but he believes there are paths to team and solo success for the Seahawks.
“I want to see us win some dual meets, some tri-meets, and I want to see some kids do well at conferences now that we are in the Henlopen Conference,” Hill said.
Bennett thinks the program is headed in the right direction. He added Billy Ott and brought Cory Lawson back to the coaching staff. He’s optimistic his wrestlers can have success, and even those who come up short will be building for a larger moment in the future. The new conference schedule will put the Seahawks to the test.
“To win a match in the Henlopen Conference, it simply comes down to who wants it more,” Bennett said. “You are going to see a lot of great matchups from wrestlers across the state, but in the end, it comes down to who wants to win more. One thing I learned from this sport is that wrestling is mostly mental and a little physical – the person who doesn’t break mentally will also be the person who will win physically 9/10 times.”
The Seahawks will kick off their season when they visit Sussex Tech at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 29.
