Malachai Stratton of Sussex Tech won seven of his nine matches and finished fourth in the Beast of the East wrestling tournament.
Newark – The 31st Annual Beast of the East wrestling tournament was not kind to local wrestlers.
Held in the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center, the tournament hosted many of the nation’s top high school wrestlers and teams Saturday and Sunday.
Two Beast wins, among seven altogether
Malachi Stratton of Sussex Central was the lone First State wrestler to reach the podium on Sunday afternoon, taking fourth place in the 113-pound weight class.
Stratton had two huge wins in the two-day tournament, where he wrestled nine matches and finished 7-2. After losing his last match on Saturday night, Stratton would start Sunday morning by facing the wrestler who had beaten him the week before in Carter Shin of Chantilly (Virginia). A quick takedown in overtime gave Stratton a 9-6 revenge victory.
In his consolation semifinal match, Stratton used a takedown in the third period for a 3-2 decision over the 8th-ranked wrestler in the country, Dunia Sibomana of Long Beach (New York). Stratton would settle for fourth place, falling to Julian Rios of Phillips Academy (Massachusetts) 14-4.
The fourth-place finish at The Beast follows up his eighth-place finish at the Ironman held three weeks ago in Ohio. Both tournaments are considered two of the country’s top high school wrestling tournaments.
Two other Delaware wrestlers reached the blood round (the round that dictated where you wrestle to compete for podium placement on day two): Patrick Donahue of Cape Henlopen at 215 pounds and Eli Juarquin-Torres of William Penn at 285 pounds.
Caesar Rodney edges Salesianum for Governor’s Cup
The Governor’s Cup, which is awarded to the top-finishing Delaware team, went to the Caesar Rodney Riders, who edged Salesianum by a half point in the final team standings. While the Riders did not have a place winner, they had two wrestlers reach the second day of competition in Trevor Copes (138) pounds and Dion Alston (215 pounds).
The Riders entered 12 wrestlers in the 14-weight class event and won five matches by pin, earning two bonus points for each.
“It came down to what we preach every day, get bonus-point wins,” Caesar Rodney head coach Trey Mitchell said.
“Without any wrestlers earning placement points or going deep into the championship side of the bracket, we rose to the top by winning 12 bonus point matches,” Mitchell said.
Faith Christian Academy (PA) won the 2024 Beast of the East team title scoring 276.5 points, followed by Lake Highland Prep (FL) 255.5, Malvern Prep (PA) 236.5, Blair Academy (NJ) 165.5, and Brecksville (OH) 150.0.
Anthony Knox of St. John Vianney (NJ) was the tournament’s outstanding wrestler, winning the 126-pound weight class and his third Beast of the East title. Mount St. Joseph of Baltimore won the Sportsmanship Award which the wrestling officials vote on.
The tournament featured 184 teams and 1,029 wrestlers.
Adelynne Till of St. Mark’s finished in 6th place at 110 pounds. This is Till’s second time medaling at the event, taking second place in 2023. Photo by Lauren Dickerson
Till Takes Sixth Place at Third Annual Girls Beast
Saint Mark’s Adelynne Till finished in sixth place at 110 pounds in the girls’ event on Thursday and Friday. Till reached the championship semifinals pinning her first three opponents on Thursday night. Friday morning was not as friendly for Till, who fell to sixth place, losing three matches on the second day.
The girl’s tournament has grown significantly, expanding to two days with 100 teams and 297 female wrestlers nationwide.
Madelyn Kubler of Appoquinimink took eighth place in the 110-pound weight class. Kubler started the tournament with a loss to Till and then reeled off three straight pins to advance through the blood round and reach the podium.
Caesar Rodney’s Layla Kuhnel reached the blood round at 140 pounds, as did teammates Emmy Moffett (105 pounds) and Emarie Dolt (110 pounds).
Gianna Pelly of Delaware Military Academy (170 pounds) and MacKenzie Adams of Sussex Tech (140 pounds) also fell one match short of the podium in Friday afternoon’s blood round.
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