Cape wrestling beats Milford 44-30, riding quick 22-0 start

Cape wrestling got off Feb. 3 at Milford, opening the night with three straight pins and a major decision. Cape led 22-0 going into the 145-pound bout.

“The match couldn’t have started any better for us,” said coach Chris Mattioni. “I thought Milford would have a hard time making up those points, but in wrestling you never know.”

Cape stayed out front and won 44-30 in a quick match that saw eight total pins and two forfeits over the 14 weight classes.

Darnell Bailey, 120, got it going for the Vikings, employing a two-for-one approach (take down and let up) that resulted in a pin at 3:56.

"Darnell is best on his feet and he’s athletic,” Mattioni said. "When he attacks with confidence, he can be extremely tough.”

Max Norquest, 126, followed with a pin over Matt Mitzel, then Justin Wright, 132, caught Gavin Garcia for a pin and Vinnie Diego, 138, worked a major decision over Alex Creasy.

The Bucs went on the board at 145, when Barton Dalious decked Jose Ascencio in 1:46. Chase Taylor of Milford outlasted Dante Jaquet 10-8, as Milford closed to 22-9.

Captain Cory Lawson, 160, got caught on a five-point takedown and a back-to-the-mat move by Phillip Ruiz and was close to gone but fought off his back to avoid disaster.

“I was just mad at myself,” Lawson said after the match. “The guys before me wrestled great and I couldn’t let them down. I knew if I got out of that predicament, I would win.”

Lawson escaped and pinned Ruiz at 5:26 in what proved to be a crucial 12-point swing in the match, as Cape led 28-9.

“Milford beat Caesar Rodney earlier in the season and just lost to Smyrna 32-30,” Mattioni said. “Like everyone, they have some kids hurt and and trying get healthy for the Henlopen Conference tournament.”

Chris Handlin, 170, earned a major decision over Bevensky Augustine 14-2 and Milford's Kenny VanVorst, 182, dropped down and decisioned Holden Kammerer in overtime 4-2.

“Holden keeps getting these tough wrestlers, and he’s getting closer,” Mattioni said.

Cape led 32-12, but forfeited 195 to Dom Hovington to cut the lead to 32-18. Cape then bumped up Joel Torres, 220, who pinned Eric Bennett in 34 seconds to ice the match 38-18 with three bouts remaining.

Bryon Wynes, 285, pinned Julian Medina in 5:30 and Robbie Rosser decked Dewaun Johnson in 36 seconds as the Bucs were back in town 38-30.

Milford forfeited 113 to Anthony Caruso, the freshman’s third straight forfeit, for the final of 44-30.

Cape will wrestle at St. Georges Friday, Feb. 5.

Milford drops to 6-2, but will be a major factor in the Henlopen Conference and Division II state tournament.