Caravel edges Cape 35-34 in showdown of state champs
Cape wrestling went to work against visiting Caravel Dec. 21 at the Big House minus two hammers in the toolbox. Luke Bender (jaw) and C.J. Fritchman (shoulder) each got chewed up by The Beast over the previous weekend and missed the showdown between the pair of two-time divisional state champions.
“Cover down” is a 50-year life-saving tactic on the Rehoboth Beach Patrol, and the Vikings almost rescued a victory, but the Buccaneers used late pins from defending state champions Eddie Radecki (126) and Luke Poore (132) to secure a 35-34 victory.
“Our kids did great covering for Luke and C.J.,” said Cape coach Chris Mattioni. “We were also missing freshman Nick Walker [out sick], and sure, it's easy to look back on the match for the missing point [each point a two-point swing], but from the Caravel side of the mat, they did what they had to do. They are tough and well coached.”
The match of 14 weight classes started at 144 pounds with Caravel’s Jamar Wells (a transfer from Smyrna) earning a tech fall over Braydon Cole 17-2 followed by the Bucs’ Colin Saker (150) taking a 2-1 decision over Kingston Davis, then a Jordan Miller (157) 9-6 win over Cape’s Andrew Schaen. Schaen, who wrestled at 144 at the Beast of the East tournament, went up two weight classes to face Miller, a football player with powerhouse strength.
Caravel led 11-0 after three bouts.
Cape’s Hayden Wheeler (165) got a tech fall win over Alex Duluzio 17-2 followed by freshman Robbie Payton (175) earning his first varsity win with a 10-7 decision over Craig Miller, as Cape closed in on Caravel 11-8.
Caravel’s Matt Duarte pinned Luke Arnold-Decyk (0:41) followed by Cape’s Alex Taylor (215) winning by tech fall over Brock Rhoades 23-8. Taylor, a big guy who’s good on his feet, used the take-him-down-and-let-him-up strategy, and never went for the pin.
Alex Hall (285) pinned Cape’s Sean Costello (2:39) to increase Caravel’s lead to 23-13 rolling into the lightweights with six bouts remaining.
“Hall is a much-improved wrestler from last season,” said Cape assistant coach Shane Jensen. “He looks super fit. He’ll be a factor in that 285-pound weight class.”
Cape woke up the Big House with 15 straight points, starting with Tripp Gannon (106) earning a 6-2 win over Natalie Radecki followed by a pair of first-period pins from Cale Baker (113) over Julian Rexrode (1:16) and Rony Perez-Mejia (120) over John Kaszyski (0:43).
Cape surged into the lead 28-23.
Caravel followed with a pair of quick pins by Eddie Radecki (126) over Holt Baker (1:40) and Luke Poore (132) over Max Meadows (1:41) for a 35-28 lead with a final match remaining at 138 pounds.
Senior Josh Wright (138) pinned Philip Kosec (2:12) for the 35-34 final.
Notes: Cape will wrestle at the Governor Mifflin tournament Dec. 29-30. Governor Mifflin is 139 miles away in Shillington, Pa., hometown of author John Updike. Cape won the 22-team tournament in 2021, crowning weight-class champions Mikey Frederick (145) and Lucas Ruppert (285).
