Cape wrestling advances to semifinals
The Cape wrestling team led Smyrna 28-27 in its dual-meet state tournament match Feb. 14, with only Patrick Donahue versus Mason Schulenburg left to wrestle at 215 pounds.
Donahue decked Schulenburg in 1:46 to give Cape a 34-27 victory and a berth opposite Salesianum in the Division I semifinal round, which begins at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, at Smyrna High School. Salesianum beat Milford 46-30 to reach the semifinals. Sussex Central will wrestle Caesar Rodney in the other semifinal matchup. Central beat Sussex Tech 55-14, while Caesar Rodney beat William Penn 33-31.
Cape had previously beaten Smyrna 46-24 Feb. 5.
“Smyrna is ready to compete in the state duals. We knew they would be tough,” said Cape coach Chris Mattioni.
Cape won eight of 14 matches, including pins from Austin Guerrieri at 106 pounds over Caeden Price (1:00); Nick Walker, 144, over Teddi August (0:40); and Donahue, 215, over Schulenburg (1:46).
Smyrna got pins from Warren Coastes, 126, over Tripp Gannon (3:48); Brandon West, 157, over Brady Cole (4:56); and Teagan Gratkowski, 190, over Luke Arnold-Decyk (5:28). Cape is 16-4 in dual meets heading into Saturday's semifinals.
Caesar Rodney was trailing William Penn 31-27 entering the final match at 215. The Riders' Walter Toomer was trailing Jaden Tyler 6-1 in the final period when Toomer rocked the cradle for a dramatic pin that sealed the deal and sent the Riders to the semifinals to face Sussex Central.
Also earning wins for Cape were Cale Baker, 113, over Ian Alfree (10-9); Max Meadows, 132, over Donald Smith (9-6); Colin Poulis, 138, over Victor Hernandez-Bryant (4-0); Noah Diamond, 150, over Carson Casey (10-2); and Hayden Wheeler, 165, over Jesse Dixon (7-5).
