January 31, 2024 Sussex Central defeated Smyrna with a 46-28 victory over rival Smyrna. Photo by: Gene Shaner
Smyrna – Sussex Central won the first eight bouts of the night building an insurmountable lead for Smyrna to overcome. The Golden Knights won the match 47-15 to remain unbeaten on the season and in the driver’s seat to win the Henlopen North championship.
Austen Decker got the Golden Knights started pinning Michael Pierson in 2:27 at 106 pounds. Drake Rogers won a 17-2 technical fall over Olivia Natarcola at 113 followed by a pin by Malachi Stratton over Ian Alfree in 5:13 at 120 pounds giving Sussex Central a 17-0 lead.
The 126 pound bout featured two of the top ranked wrestlers in the state. Sussex Central’s number four ranked Chase Murray put up seven points in the first period and held onto that lead winning a 7-2 decision over number six ranked Warren Coates.
“He was trying to hit me with some misdirection and low singles, but once I figured that out it was fine. Throwing him to his back definitely helped,” Murray said.
Evan Cordrey kept the Golden Knights streak going winning a 10-0 major decision over Donald Smith at 132 pounds. Talan Savage won a 15-0 technical fall over Victor Hernandez-Bryant at 138 pounds followed by John Rovillard’s pin in 2:56 over Cory Pierce at 144 pounds. Justin Craig capped off the run by pinning Ricaldo Camacho in 3:27 to extend the Golden Knights lead to 41-0.
“We are really strong down low and we like to get it started down there, but tonight some of the big boys stepped up as well and some crucial matches not giving up bonus points,” Murray said.
The Eagles mounted a comeback winning five of the final six bouts, but the lead was too much to overcome.
Brandon West won a 6-2 decision over Justin Negron at 157 pounds to put the Eagles on the board. Jesse Dixon added to the Smyrna total winning an 8-1 decision over Maddox Roberts at 165 pounds cutting the lead to 41-6.
The Golden Knights Gabe Cannon pinned Jeremiah Heath in 55 seconds stretching the lead to 47-6.
Smyrna closed out the night winning the final three bouts as Teagan Gratkowski won an 8-2 decision over Ian Flores at 190, Mason Schulenburg decisioned German Cristano 4-0 and Chi Chi Eule closed out the match defeating Landon Steele 6-1 closing the score to 41-15.
Smyrna dropped to 8-4 overall and 3-2 in the Henlopen North. The Eagles will host Wm. Penn on Friday night starting at 6:30.
Sussex Central improved to 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference. The Golden Knights will travel to Laurel on Friday night and host Salesianum on Saturday beginning at 1:30.
Drake Rogers of Sussex Central looks to finish a takedown on Olivia Natarcola during their 113 pounds match on Wednesday night. Rogers won with a 17-2 technical fall, photo courtesy of Gene Shaner
Jesse Dixon of Smyrna attempts a switch on Sussex Central’s Maddox Roberts during their 165 pound match on Wednesday night. Dixon won a 8-1, photo courtesy of Gene Shaner
Austen Decker of Sussex Central applies a crossface to Michael Pierson of Smyrna during their 106 pound match on Wednesday night. Decker won with a pin in 227, photo courtesy of Gene Shaner
Sussex Central’s Malachi Stratton (top) looks to put Smyrna’s Ian Alfree in danger during their 120 pound match Wednesday night. Stratton won with a pin in 513, photo courtesy of Gene Shaner
