Riders edge Bucs in Henlopen mat showdown

Milford – The Milford and Caesar Rodney wrestlers went back and forth trading pins and slugging it out like a heavyweight title fight. Both teams had six pins, but the match came down to a major decision and a buzzer beating takedown to give the Riders a 43-36 victory in a Henlopen Conference Northern Division match.

“We faced adversity tonight and we had guys that found ways to get it done,” Caesar Rodney head coach Trey Mitchell said.

The Riders’ Ben Donato got the match started at 106 pounds with a pin in 1:10. Autumn Littletown tied it up for the Bucs with a pin in 4:26 at 113 pounds. The back and forth continued over the next six bouts.

Cole Moffett pinned Kaiden Swain at 120 in 3:41, Trevor Copes pinned Davonne Dallas in 2:56 at 132 and Jamisen Dean received a forfeit at 144 pounds for Caesar Rodney.

Dan McElwee pinned Alex Batton in 2:57 at 126 pounds, Da’Zhon Frazier pinned Braedon Bole in 1:08 at 138 pounds and Hunter Durham pinned Craig Dixon at 150 pounds in 2:48 for Milford tying up the match at 24-24 after the first eight bouts of the night.

The Riders then ran off three straight wins to build up a 40-24 lead heading into the last three bouts that Milford was favored in.

Jami White had Kenneth King on his back as the buzzer sounded at the end of the first period. King then put White in a cradle early in the second period and secured a pin in 2:23 at 157 pounds.

At 165 pounds Logan Heffington pinned Riley Carmean in 2:17 and Owen Dixon scored a late takedown to earn a 13-5 major decision at 175 pounds.

“Kenneth King and Logan Heffington came up huge tonight. As first year varsity wrestlers I asked them to go out there be dominant, they did and stepped up for the team with big pins,” Mitchell said.

The 190 pound match between Milford’s Jordan Curry and the Riders’ Owyn Meister battled to a 9-9 tie at the end of the six minute regulation match. Curry threw Meister in a flurry in overtime to get the pin in 6:32.

At 215 pounds the Riders’ Walter Toomer, who is not a regular starter, needed only to keep the match close, win or lose. Toomer scored a takedown at the buzzer to win a 6-5 decision over Dauriel Jones to seal the victory as Caesar Rodney took a 43-30 lead with just one bout left.

“Walter Toomer put our team on his back tonight and grinded out a big win. I am so proud of him, he comes in each day and quietly works hard,” Mitchell said.

“I love my team, this is my family right here so when it came down to that last takedown I said I have to do this for my team. It feels great,” Toomer said.

Craig Lockett bumped up to 285 pounds for Milford and recorded a pin over Caleb Kellum in 2:54.

Milford falls to 1-2 on the season, the Bucs will compete this Saturday in the Quaker Classic at Wilmington Friends School in Wilmington.

The Riders improve to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Henlopen North, Caesar Rodney will compete in the War at the Shore Tournament at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, Maryland this Friday and Saturday.