Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola picks up St. George’s Danny Rankin in the 106 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Newark’s Nazr Roberson pins John Carroll’s Adam Berg in the 220 pound championship round at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola, left wrestles St. George’s Danny Rankin in the 106 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Smyrna’s Nick Natarcola, left wrestles St. George’s Danny Rankin to the mat in the 106 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Smyrna’s Terren Carter, left and A.I. Dupont’s Jake Somerville wrestle in the heavy weight championship round at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Smyrna’s Cole Sebastiane grabs and holds Indian River’s Jared Arlett in the 126 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Caesar Rodney’s Cameron Hayes, left pulls John Carroll’s Luke Strapelli to the ground in the 113 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Smyrna’s Nate Bryant picks John Carroll’s Isaac Myers off the mat in the 138 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
St. George’s Nicholas Novamik, left wins the 120 pound championship match against Caesar Rodney’s Mason Harrington in the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Dover’s Anthony Fisher, left looks for position in the 132 pound championship match against Smyrna’s Chase Archangelo at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Dover’s Timothy Horvath, picks up John Carroll’s Andy Millner in the 152 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Smyrna’s Cole Sebastiane, top wrestles Indian River’s Jared Arlett in the 126 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Dover’s Timothy Horvath, right tries to get away from John Carroll’s Andy Millner in the 152 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Smyrna’s Nate Bryant, right wins against John Carroll’s Isaac Myers in the 138 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Indian River’s Zeke Marcozzi, left holds the leg of Smyrna’s Kalen Wilson in the 160 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Indian River’s Zeke Marcozzi, left picks up Smyrna’s Kalen Wilson in the 160 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
St George’s Austin Clayton, right wrestles Smyrna’s Hunter Moyer in the 182 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Caesar Rodney’s Andrew Sudler, right wins against Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson in the 170 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Caesar Rodney’s Andrew Sudler, right holds the leg of Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson in the 170 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
Smyrna’s Hunter Moyer, left tries to hold on to St. George’s Austin Clayton in the 182 pound championship match at the Eagle Classic wrestling tournament at Smyrna High School.
SMYRNA – The Smyrna wrestling team is used to getting on a bus right after hoisting a tournament trophy.
On Saturday, all the Eagles had to do was roll up the mats and go home.
Smyrna won five of the 14 weight classes and scored a comfortable team victory in the second annual Eagle Classic, a tournament started last year because of the community’s deep wrestling experience.
“We have people who work at tournaments all over the place. We have a lot of really knowledgeable wrestling people,” Smyrna coach Kurt Howell said. “We were running a JV tournament, and I said, ‘Why don’t we just turn it into a varsity high school and JV tournament?’ Get our kids some wrestling time, and we can have everything at home.”
The Eagles, Delaware’s top-ranked team in Division I and the three-time defending D-I dual meet champs, scored 228½ points to easily outdistance archrival Caesar Rodney (176). St. Georges (152½) was third in the 10-team field, followed by John Carroll (151) of Bel Air, Md., and Dover (146).
Howell was especially proud of freshman Nick Natarcola (106 pounds) and junior Nate Bryant (138) after both earned the first individual tournament titles of their high school careers.
“He wrestled really well,” Howell said of Bryant. “He’s great on top. I’m so impressed with what he’s able to do on top. He’s got so many weapons.”
The Eagles also got a big win at 160, as Kalen Wilson fell behind early but rallied in the third period for a 4-2 decision over Zeke Marcozzi of Indian River.
“That was a really nice match,” Howell said. “[Wilson] is such a wily competitor. He’s a senior, and it shows. He lost the first takedown, but you just never see his confidence flag.”
Smyrna’s other wins came from Cole Sebastianelli at 126 and Chase Archangelo at 132. Archangelo, a state champ at 113 last year, cranked out an 8-2 decision over conference rival Anthony Fisher of Dover.
“It’s good experience to go a few rounds with one of the toughest guys in the Henlopen,” Archangelo said. “I know he’s going to be my competition, so I tried to keep imposing my will over him and keep grinding.”
Caesar Rodney’s Andrew Sudler was trailing Smyrna’s Larsen Wilson 3-2 with 10 seconds remaining, but scored a takedown and held on for a 4-3 win. Afterward, it was all a blur for the winner.
“Honestly, I have no idea,” Sudler said, when asked about his winning move. “There was a lot of adrenaline, a lot of wrestling, and I just got it and held him down.”
Another Smyrna wrestler was upset in the 285 final when Jake Somerville of A.I. du Pont controlled the third period for a 4-1 win over Terren Carter.
“It’s a really big win,” Somerville said. “I just do more than my opponents. That’s all I try to do.”
St. Georges’ Nicholas Novarnik was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler after making a first-period takedown stand up for a 2-0 victory over CR’s Mason Harrington.
“I stuck to my basics,” Novarnik said. “He was a really tough opponent, so I had to be very cautious when wrestling him. … I’m hoping to see him at states in the finals again.”
St. Georges also got a win from Austin Clayton at 182. Other individual winners were CR’s Cameron Hayes (113) and Mike Clavier (195), Newark’s Nazr Roberson (220), Victor Kenderdine of Manheim Township, Pa., (145) and Andy Millner of John Carroll (152).
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.