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Bonus points the difference as Cape wrestling beats Central 34-23

Dave Frederick
January 8, 2015
Cape's Cory Lawson grapples to a 10-2 win over Sussex Central's Tyler Bunting in the 160 weight class. BY DAN COOK
Nick Diego awaits the handshake from Central's Blake Chambers in the double overtime Vikings victory at the 145 weight class. BY DAN COOK
Nick Diego wraps up with Central's Blake Chambers in the double overtime Vikings victory at the 145 weight class. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Joel Torres turns the tide and works toward a pin of Sussex Central's Justin Jones at 4:42 of the 195-pound class. BY DAN COOK
Head coach Chris Mattioni and assistant Shane Jensen shout instructions to Joel Torres. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Emerson Fajardo looks to see the time left in his match and gets the pin over Sussex Central's Yony Morales in the 106-pound class. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Darnell Bailey and Central's Hayden McCade go to the mat during the 113 matchup. McCade won a close 14-13 victory. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Max Norquest works toward a 2:31 pin over Central's Drew Morris in the 120-pound class. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Max Norquest works toward a 2:31 pin over Central's Drew Morris in the 120-pound class. BY DAN COOK
After a tough match, Cape's Max Norquest and Central's Drew Morris show mutual respect by hugging each other. BY DAN COOK
Cape's Vinnie Diego wraps up Central's Quantea Jennings and gets a match-ending 3-2 win in the 138 class. BY DAN COOK

The Cape wrestling team deployed 14 grapplers into battle Jan. 7 at home in what coach Chris Mattioni called a total team effort and fought off Sussex Central for a 34-23 victory.

“We don’t have as much talent as last year, but it’s nice for our kids to see how a total team effort can result in a victory. We let some matches get away but didn’t give up any pins, which is huge in a close match.”

The match started at 145 pounds, then the teams split 14 matches with 7 wins each, but rounding the lightweights bend and heading for home, Cape recorded pins at 103 by Emerson Fajardo 1:17 over Yony Perez, and 120 by Max Norquest 3:31 over Drew Morris to put the pressure on Central, which trailed 31-15, to win the last three matches with pins to secure the victory.

“Norquest is cool and calm and has experience, but the biggest thing he has going for him in a pressure situation is he just hates to lose," coach Chris Mattioni said. “We expected Emerson to get 6 points as he was going up against a JV kid."

Cape started and ended with the match with a “Go, Diego, go" cheer.

Nick Diego won a crucial 11-9 overtime bout versus Blake Chambers, and Vinnie Diego closed out the night with a 3-2 win over Quantae Jennings.

A crucial 12-point swing happened at 195 when Joel Torres came back from nearly getting pinned to deck Tim Jones at 4:41. “He was so strong,” Torres said, “but in wrestling it's all about leverage.”

Cape got a major decision at 160 as Cory Lawson beat Tyler Bunting 10-0 and followed that up with J.J. Currie receiving a forfeit at 170.

Central secured wins at 152 with Justin Bennett over Caden Greenlee 10-2, Lucan Hudson 182 over Brock Maloomian 7-1, Victor Cruz 4-2 over Trayvon Bailey in overtime and 285 with Myles Vernet over Julian Medina 3-1.

Bailey was poised for the upset leading 2-1 when he was banged for his second stalling call, sending the match to overtime.

Another great match was at 113 where Hayden McCabe of Central survived a rugged match mounting a dramatic comeback to stun Cape’s Darnell Bailey 14-13.

"The Bailey brothers left a couple out there, but they are learning,” Mattioni said. "They are both very athletic."

Cape heads to the North Dorchester Invitational over the weekend before taking on a powerful Polytech team on the road Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Central will be at Dover Jan. 14.

 

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