Sports & Recreation
Ocean City Today Jan. 14, 2022
Page 44
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Del. and Md. state champs battle, Cape edges out SD By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Jan. 14, 2022) Cape Henlopen, the defending Delaware state wrestling champions, and Stephen Decatur, Maryland’s 2A reigning state titleholder, were both slated to participate in the Iron Horse dual tournament last weekend. When the event got canceled, the two teams decided to go head-to-head on Decatur’s mat in Berlin last Saturday. The squads battled hard, with the Cape Henlopen Vikings edging out the Berlin squad, 34-27. “They have one of their studs out and we had one of our studs out. I thought [Cape was] the better team today. I thought we wrestled tough,” said Decatur Coach Todd Martinek. “Overall, we were hitting a lot of the things we were working on over the break. I didn’t feel like we were tired. Things are progressing. “I told the kids, ‘it’s not the end of the world. You got about 34 days to win a state title. They’re going to try to win theirs and we’re going to try to win ours and hopefully, they do and hopefully we do,’” Martinek continued. Cape earned a decision in the first match of the meet, 138 pounds. Decatur senior Tyler Long then won his 144-pound match, 8-6 in overtime. The Vikings recorded a decision at 150 pounds and a pin at 157-pounds to take a 12-3 lead. Senior captain Noah Reho won 6-
3 at 165 pounds, then senior Jack Quisgard and senior captain Alex Koulikov scored pins at 175 and 190 pounds, respectively, to pull ahead 18-12. Cape took the next two matches – 215 and 285 pounds – earning a major decision and pin to gain a 2218 advantage. Decisions at 106 and 113 pounds by freshmen Juan Hinojosa (5-3) and Aaron August (6-2), respectively, put Decatur back on top, 24-22. The Vikings got pins at 120 and 126 pounds for 12 points to secure a team victory. Senior Cody Drummond earned three points for Decatur with a 6-0 decision at 132 pounds in the last match of the day. “Today is the third anniversary of our last loss. Exactly three years ago today was the last time we lost, at Iron Horse Duals, because we didn’t have a season last year [due to covid] and we went undefeated the year before that,” Martinek said. “They’re more upset about it then me. I was happy with what I saw, happy to be wrestling. With covid and snow, so much stuff can get shut down that I’m just happy to be out here. It was a good loss. I’m proud of my guys. They wrestled well. We’ll just learn from it.” Decatur hosted the North Dorchester Eagles on Wednesday and won, 78-6. Drummond (138), Koulikov (195),
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY
(Top, left) Stephen Decatur freshman Juan Hinojosa earned a 5-3 decision in his 106-pound match last Saturday. (Top, right) Decatur senior captain Alex Koulikov pinned his 190-pound Cape Henlopen opponent in 3:14. (Bottom) Senior Jack Quisgard scored a pin at 175 pounds in 2:15. Cape Henlopen, the defending Delaware state champions, edged out Decatur, Maryland’s 2A reigning state title holder, 34-27.
Hinojosa (106), August (113), freshman Liam Hugues (120), sophomores Gavin Solito (145) and Parker Intrieri (160) and junior Evan Haworth (152) pinned their opponents. North Dorchester forfeited matches at 126, 132, 170, 220 and 285 pounds. “We were aggressive, we were healthy,” Martinek said. “I think all the kids and myself are looking forward to the this weekend’s War on the Shore. We’re hoping to have a good tournament.” Decatur will host its annual War on the Shore tournament today and
Saturday at the Berlin school. Seventeen teams – from Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey – are slated to compete. “It’s the toughest tournament in the state. Our kids will get tested individually,” Martinek said. “It has all been team stuff so far, and I like them focusing on the team, but a lot of these kids have individual goals and they’re going to see where they stand against the best kids.” Martinek thinks Decatur has a chance to place top three in the event. See DECATUR Page 45
