Cape’s Walker and Donahue win state wrestling titles
Cape’s Big House was locked down in rockin-don’t-bother-knockin mode Feb. 28 and March 1, for two days of wrestling to determine individual state champions across 14 weight classes. Eight wrestlers per weight class got to the podium, which became a veritable hardware store of medals totaling 112.
Cape’s Nick Walker opened the finals defeating Ricky Jewell of Salesianum 11-5 in the 150-pound weight class. Jewell, with a season record of 39-8, was no joke – a clever, cagey and cat-quick wrestler. He took a third-period shot while trailing 8-5, but a counter move by Walker resulted in a four-point takedown. Walker began to smile as he rode out the final seconds on top before wading into the Cape celebration home-grown auto zone.
Patrick Donahue, at 215 pounds, Cape’s other dog in the ring, pinned Delcastle's 6-foot-6 senior Zakr Roberson at 1:46 of the first period after Roberson had gotten an initial three-point takedown.
“It’s there all day!” Cougars coaches called out, but Donahue is never there all day. He won four matches, all by first-period pins.
“Two guys in the finals, competitors like Nick and Patrick, I felt pretty good about it,” said veteran coach Chris Mattioni. “I knew they would bring the energy and press the action.”
Caravel’s Eddie Radecki defeated Jerusalem Howard 4-2 at 144 pounds to become Delaware's first five-time state champion.
Sussex Central’s Malachi Stratton battled Cliff Bakhsh in the 120-pound finals, inking a 4-1 decision to win his fourth state championship and end his career with 200 wins.
Natalie Radecki of Caravel became the first girl to place at states, finishing in sixth place in the 106 weight class.
Sussex Tech crowned two state champions, as Dustin Elliott won by fall over Sloan Makouijyh at 2:42 into the 157-pound final. Anthony Andrews won 2-1 in overtime over Dominic Lucian of Salesianum at 126.
Caesar Rodney had two champions. Ben Donato won by decision 8-2 over Mason Catania of Salesianum at 106, and Trevor Copes defeated Jazmon Snead of Delmar 5-2 at 138.
Gabe Campanelli, a Salesianum freshman, won by tech fall over Laurel eighth-grader Nathan Moore in the 113 final.
Gavin Mundy of Delaware Military Academy won by major decision over Leo Marini of Salesianum at 132.
Saints Mark’s won back-to-back titles: Jacob Ebaugh won by tech fall over Justin Ryhland of DMA at 165, and Luke Spoor had a 10-2 major decision over Franklin Norris of William Penn at 175.
Brayden Ranauto of Salesianum won by fall over Jeremiah Eastburn of Concord at 1:25 in the 190-pound match.
And in the 285-pound weight class, Eliedxander Jarquin-Torres of William Penn won over Cael DeNigris of DMA at 3:02 in overtime.
Notable: Henlopen Conference wrestlers who battled back and took third included Blake Walker, 113, Cape; Hobe Givens, 126, IR; Evan Cordrey, 132, Sussex Central; Bennett Brumbley, 165, Sussex Tech; Jayhvion Chandler, 175, IR; Brian Seward, 190, Milford; and Tristan Cooper, 285, CR.
Scores: Forty-one schools competed in the state tournament. The top six scores above 100 points were Salesianum with 191, Delaware Military Academy with 146, Caesar Rodney with 140, Sussex Central with 135, Saint Mark’s with 125 and Cape Henlopen with 116.
The individual state championships are scheduled to continue at Cape the next three seasons.
