By Mike McClure
Local high school wrestlers competed to be conference champions last week in Milford during the Henlopen Conference championships. Laurel eighth grader Nathan Moore (113) and Sussex Tech’s Anthony Andrews (126) and Dustin Elliott (157) each won their first conference title while four other local wrestlers finished second.
Moore entered the tournament with a 34-3 record and faced Caesar Rodney’s Gavin Robbins (23-8) in the 113 pound championship match. Robbins took a 3-0 lead in the first period with a takedown and led, 9-0, in the second period before Moore scored two points on a reversal and moved Robbins to his back before recording a pin with seven seconds remaining.
Laurel’s Nathan Moore rallied from a 9-2 deficit to record a pin with seven seconds left in the second period of the 113 pound championship match. The eighth grader won the conference title in his weight class and received the tournament’s outstanding wrestler award. Photo by Mike McClure
“I just tried to stay calm and when I got on top I knew I was going to pin him,” said Moore, who was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler following the completion of the tournament. “I feel confident (going into states).”
Andrews, a junior, faced Indian River senior Hobe Givens in the 126 pound championship match. Andrews led, 13-3, in the first period and scored two points at the end of the second for a 21-4 win by technical fall.
“It feels good. I worked hard for it,” Andrews said of winning his first conference championship. “I’ve had my ups and downs (during the season), cutting weight and hard practices but I pushed through it to get where I am. I’m ready, I’m hype. I can’t wait (for the state tournament.”
The Ravens’ Logan King (132), a sophomore with a 35-8 record entering the tournament, faced Sussex Central’s Evan Cordrey (36-4) in the first place match. Conaway led, 3-0, after one; 10-0 after two; and went on to win, 12-0.
Delmar senior Jazmon Snead (138) had a regular season record of 33-4, but fell to Caesar Rodney’s Trevor Copes (39-5) in the championship match. Copes led, 3-0, after one and 7-0 after two and won by the score of 10-2.
Elliott came into the tournament with a 37-2 mark and faced Milford’s Jami White (35-6) in the 157 pound finals. Elliott built a 6-0 lead in the first period, held an 18-4 advantage through the second period, and scored a point with 1:56 left in the third for a win by technical fall.
“It was a big goal of mine to get one conference title,” said Elliott, who fell to Cape Henlopen’s Nick Walker (this year’s champion at 150 pounds) last year. “Now I’m just looking forward to winning at states.”
During the season Elliott set the Ravens’ career wins record. He said it wasn’t a goal of his until he started getting close to it.
“When I got it it was a very big accomplishment. Beating Wendell (Cannon) was a big deal because he was a big deal back in the day,” Elliott added.
Laurel senior Stanley Pete faced Caesar Rodney senior Craig Dixon in the 165 pound finals. Pete was 33-5 going into the tournament while Dixon had a 37-7 mark.
Pete held a 3-1 lead in the first and extended it to a 4-1 lead before Dixon tied the score at 4-4 with a takedown and led, 8-4, after nearly recording a pin in the second period. Dixon was awarded a pair of stalling points, but Pete kept battling before falling short, 12-9.
Sussex Academy senior Douglas Horton (21-5) met Indian River senior Jayvion Chandler (38-6) in the 175 pound first place match. Chandler mounted a 6-1 lead through the first two periods and went on to win, 12-1.
The following are the top eight finishers in each weight class:
106- 1. Benjamin Donato, Caesar Rodney; 2. Austen Decker, Sussex Central; 3. Michael Pierson, Smyrna; 4. Ryan Farissier; 5. Reggie Ferdinand, Laurel; 6. Cooper Kerrick, Woodbridge; 7. Colton Brennan, Sussex Tech; 8. DonRognay Leme, Seaford
113- 1. Nathan Moore, Laurel; 2. Gavin Robbins, Caesar Rodney; 3. Blake Walker, Cape Henlopen; 4. Mason Ferrell, Lake Forest; 5. Colton Price, Smyrna; 6. ?; 7. Seth Milligan, Sussex Central; 8. Kaden VonArx, Delmar
120- 1. Malachi Stratton, Sussex Central; 2. Cole Moffett, Caesar Rodney; 3. Drake Rogers, Sussex Tech; 4. Devin Smith, Smyrna; 5. ?; 6. Joshua Cimo, Polytech; 7. Gunner Scoles, Woodbridge; 8. Geoffrey Davis, Cape Henlopen
126- 1. Anthony Andrews, Sussex Tech; 2. Hobe Givens, Indian River; 3. Jaydan Mieth, Sussex Central; 4. Warren Coates, Smyrna; 5. DeMarion Russ, Lake Forest; 6. Andrew Amalfitano, Woodbridge; 7. Cale Baker, Cape Henlopen; 8. Evan Rosenwold, Polytech
132- 1. Evan Cordrey, Sussex Central; 2. Logan King, Sussex Tech; 3. Ezekiel O’Hara, Laurel; 4. Maxim Meadows, Cape Henlopen; 5. Dan McElwee, Milford; 6. Donnie Smith, Smyrna; 7. Braeden Bole, Caesar Rodney; 8. Blake Whittington, Indian River
138- 1. Trevor Copes, Caesar Rodney; 2. Jazmon Snead, Delmar; 3. Peyton Conway, Sussex Central; 4. Tripp Gannon, Cape Henlopen; 5. Connor Smith, Laurel; 6. Victor Hernandez-Bryan, Smyrna; 7. Marvens Bernavil, Polytech; 8. Silas Sheanko, Doer
144- 1. Jerusalem Howard, Lake Forest; 2. Justin Craig, Sussex Central; 3. Davonne Dallas, Milford; 4. Tyler Rosan, Polytech; 5. Gabriel Hill, Sussex Academy; 6. Colin Poulis, Cape Henlopen; 7. King Peden, Woodbridge; 8. Kyle Knight, Indian River
150- 1. Nicolas Walker, Cape Henlopen; 2. John Rovillard, Sussex Central; 3. Miguel Sigaran, Caesar Rodney; 4. Carson Casey, Smyrna; 5. Kenyen Littleton, Laurel; 6. Lincoln Pieller, Lake Forest; 7. William Hendershot, Sussex Academy; 8. Patrick Farr, Delmar
157- 1. Dustin Elliott, Sussex Tech; 2. Jami White, Milford; 3. Cruz Mota, Sussex Central; 4. Kenneth King, Caesar Rodney; 5. Theodore Egolf, Delmar; 6. Coen Dempsey, Lake Forest; 7. Doubensly Saint Jean; 8. Enrico Disalvo, Sussex Academy
165- 1. Craig Dixon, Caesar Rodney; 2. Stanley Pete, Laurel; 3. Bennett Brumbley, Sussex Tech; 4. Carson Tuer, Cape Henlopen; 5. Ian Nance, Lake Forest; 6. Dayton Rogers, Dover; 7. Ben Lee, Sussex Central; 8. Noah Jackson, Woodbridge
175- 1. Jayvion Chandler, Indian River; 2. Douglas Horton, Sussex Academy; 3. Jacob Goodsell, Cape Henlopen; 4. Carter Dulin, Polytech; 5. Jeremiah Heath, Caesar Rodney; 6. Ethan Caballero, Smyrna; 7. Charles Troutman, Lake Forest; 8. Kyan Conley, Dover
190- 1. Teagan Gratkowski, Smyrna; 2. Brian Seward, Milford; 3. Isreal Russell, Polytech; 4. Chase Lewis, Lake Forest; 5. Luke Arnold-Decyk, Cape Henlopen; 6. Maliki Holtzman, Dover; 7. Jimmy McLane, Sussex Central; 8. Clayton Cifuentes, Indian River
215- 1. Patrick Donahue, Cape Henlopen; 2. Mason Schulenburg, Smyrna; 3. Dionysus Alson, Caesar Rodney; 4. Ivan Flores, Sussex Central; 5. Te’Quan Smith, Woodbridge; 6. Ayden Young, Lake Forest; 7. Maxx Bryan, Laurel; 8. Alex Peacock, Indian River
285- 1. Greg Lockett, Milford; 2. Tristan Cooper, Caesar Rodney; 3. Cordai Rodriguez, Laurel; 4. Navian Cooper, Polytech; 5. Matthew Cannon, Lake Forest; 6. Anthony Roblero, Sussex Central; 7. Takai Fearon, Smyrna; 8. Mal Miller, Sussex Tech
Teams- 1. Sussex Central, 2. Caesar Rodney, 3. Cape Henlopen, 4. Smyrna, 5. Sussex Tech, 6. Lake Forest, 7. Milford, 8. Laurel, 9. Indian River, 10. Polytech
