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Center stage was set Saturday night for the DIAA Individual Wrestling State Championships at Cape Henlopen High School in front of a sold out crowd where 28 wrestlers would compete for 14 state titles.
Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, St. Mark’s, Salesianum and Sussex Tech each crowned two individual champions and some history was made during the night.
Eddie Radecki of Caravel Academy became the first five time state champion winning the 144 pound weight class with a 4-1 decision over Jerusalem Howard of Lake Forest.
“I am super excited, glad that I got it done and grateful to have the opportunity, it has always been about growing and getting better each year,” Radecki said.
Sussex Central’s Malachi Stratton won his fourth state title with a 4-1 decision over Clif Bakhsh of St. Mark’s. Stratton, already the all-time wins record holder, became the first Delaware wrestler to reach 200 victories.
“It was amazing to see all the people that love and support me. Getting that 200 just showed what a great career that I had and I got to check off everything I wanted,” Stratton said.
Ben Donato won the first of two state titles for Caesar Rodney at 106 pounds with an 8-2 decision over Mason Catania of Salesianum. Trevor Copes followed later with his second state championship. He won the 138 pound title with a 5-2 decision over Jazmon Snead of Delmar.
“I’m emotional seeing my career coming to an end, but I’m excited being a two-time state champion and a five time finalist really means a lot,” Copes said following his match.
Cape Henlopen crowned champions in Nick Walker at 150 pounds and Patrick Donahue at 215 pounds. Walker won the opening bout of the final round with an 11-5 decision over Ricky Jewell of Salesianum. Donahue got one of only three pins of the night to win his title, pinning Zakir Roberson of Delcastle in 1:46.
St. Mark’s got back to back champions with Jacob Ebaugh winning his second state title at 165 lbs with a 20-5 technical fall over Justin Ryland of Delaware Military Academy. Luke Spoor, who won a state title in 2023 and was a finalist last year, won a 10-2 major decision over Frankie Norris of Wm. Penn at 175 pounds.
Spoor followed in his father, Stan Spoor, footsteps as a multiple time state champion at St. Mark.
“I can’t thank him enough for all that he has done for me, he’s quiet up in the stands, but at the house every question I ask he is always there answering, always willing to work out with me,” Spoor said.
Salesianum crowned a pair in Gabe Campaneli at 113 pounds who won by a 16-0 technical fall over Nate Moore of Laurel. At 190 pounds Brayden Ranauto pinned Jeremiah Eastburn of Concord in 1:25 for a state title.
Sussex Tech took home two weight classes as Anthony Andrews won the 126 pound championship with a 2-1 overtime decision over Dominic Lucian of Salesianum. Dustin Elliott was one of six repeat champions winning the 157 pound title pinning Sloan Makoujy of Wilmington Friends in 2:42.
Gavin Mundy of Delaware Military Academy was a finalist last year, but on Saturday night he captured his first state championship at 132 pounds with a 9-1 major decision over Leo Marini of Salesianum.
Eli Jarquin-Torres of Wm. Penn won the 285 pound championship with a thrilling 2-1 four overtime match over two time defending champion Cael DeNigris of Delaware Military.
“I want to give all glory to God and that’s my rock when things get tough,” Jarquin-Torres said.
Salesianum led all teams in the tournament scoring 191.5 points followed by Delaware Military Academy with 146, then Caesar Rodney with 140.5. Sussex Central was fourth with 135 points and St. Mark’s rounded out the top five with 125.
The Class of 2025 won 9 of the 14 weight classes Saturday night and as a group ended their careers winning a collective 22 individual state titles.
