(Jan. 23, 2015) The Stephen Decatur wrestling team finished 14th overall in its 13th annual War on the Shore tournament, held Jan. 16-17, at the Berlin high school.
Twenty-two of the top teams from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia participated in the event, which featured a range of experienced athletes, from state champions to first-year wrestlers.
“I think the field was the toughest ever. All of the coaches loved the competition,” Decatur Coach Todd Martinek said.
Damascus won War on the Shore with 223 points. Mount St. Joseph finished in second place with 205.5 points and Great Bridge took third (159). Decatur scored 80 points for 14th place.
After competing in the tournament, Martinek said the Seahawks learned “that we know how to wrestle, but aggressiveness and strength need to be worked on all year round.”
“I saw a lot of improvement and we were more aggressive than we had been all year,” Martinek said.
Sophomore Robert Kaminski edged out Damascus’ TJ Macklin, 4-3, to take third place in the 106-pound weight class division.
“Robert was our standout. He beat a lot of state-ranked kids,” Martinek said. “He’s getting ready to make a run at the state tournament.”
Sophomore Andy McKahan earned a 2-1 decision over Christian Green of Sussex Central to finished in fifth place in the 132-pound division.
Senior captain Jeremiah Purnell lost 5-4 to Great Bridge’s Kyle Canavan and finished in eighth place in the 138-pound weight class.
The Decatur junior varsity squad had a successful tournament, coming in first place in its competition.
The Saint Marks Spartans are scheduled to come to Berlin Saturday to battle the Seahawks at 1 p.m.
To win the match, Martinek said, “it will be all about bonus points.”
“If we get pinned a bunch we will lose,” he said.
