Prep notes: Del. Wrestling Alliance gets national award

(From left) Michael Clavier of Caesar Rodney, Alexander Spahr of Charter of Wilmington, Nathaniel Vincent of Delmar, Sara Davis of Woodbridge, Kalen Wilson of Smyrna and Shane Cawman of Delaware Military Academy each received $8,000 college scholarships from the Delaware Wrestling Alliance.

The Delaware Wrestling Alliance had some exciting news to share at its 52nd annual awards banquet last Friday night.

Legendary wrestler and coach Dan Gable presented the Dan Gable America Needs Wrestling Award to the DWA at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament last month at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The award was displayed for all of Delaware’s high school wrestlers to examine at the banquet, and Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, was on hand to salute the organization’s achievements.

“This is just a special group,” Moyer said. “They’ve been at it for over 20 years, they’ve given over $800,000 in scholarship dollars. We’re going to work with them next year at the Beast of the East tournament, trying to help them realize even more revenue so they can give more.”

Those scholarships are always the highlight of the banquet, as DWA executive director Donna Silvestri Fecondo details the lengthy list of academic, community service and wrestling accomplishments of each recipient. DWA awarded six $8,000 scholarships this year, bringing its 23-year total to $826,000.

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Michael Clavier of Caesar Rodney received the Howard L. Duncan Scholarship. Shane Cawman of Delaware Military Academy took home the Louis J. Sneed Scholarship, and Alexander Spahr of Charter of Wilmington earned the John J. Meys Scholarship.

Nathaniel Vincent of Delmar received the Alfred “Buddy” Hurlock Scholarship, which honors the late News Journal high school sports reporter, and Kalen Wilson of Smyrna won the Zane Robinson Memorial Scholarship.

And a manager earned a scholarship for the first time, as Sara Davis of Woodbridge was presented with a DWA Special Recognition Award and scholarship for her contributions as a volunteer in Delaware and nationwide.

Reese Rigby was named Division I head coach of the year after leading Charter of Wilmington to its first Blue Hen Conference title. Don Parsley of Milford was named Division II head coach of the year after guiding the Buccaneers to the DIAA Division II dual meet championship in his return to coaching.

Charter’s Zach Plerhoples was honored as Division I assistant coach of the year, and Milford’s Luke Pierson was recognized as Division II assistant coach of the year. Charter also earned the Team Academic Award, and Christiana took home the William H. Laurelli Team Sportsmanship Award.

Mike Hartnett was named the Matthew J. Holloway official of the year, and A.I. du Pont won the DWA Service Award.

DWA also presented awards to the All-State first-, second- and third-team wrestlers. The group also recognized 318 wrestlers and managers as Academic All-State selections for participating in wrestling while maintaining at least a 3.25 grade-point average.

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Sign ’em up

The final National Letter of Intent signing period of the school year began last week, and numerous Delaware high school senior athletes made their college destinations official.

Appoquinimink had 15 seniors take the next step, led by Shirle’ Brown, who signed to play women’s basketball at Delaware State. Other Jaguars going to the next level include John Dunbar (Widener lacrosse), Nick Ferrara (Elizabethtown lacrosse), Matt Dina (Wesley soccer), Kelsy Fitzgerald (Shippensburg soccer), Andrew Longhurst (University of Maine at Farmington soccer), Kace Peters (Gwynedd Mercy soccer), Stephane Ratsimbazafy (Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy in London), Austin Russo (Virginia Wesleyan soccer), Erica Sieben (Longwood soccer), Matt Lloyd (East Stroudsburg track and field), Jon Ramos (Salisbury track and field), Kevin Banning (Goldey-Beacom baseball), Chandler Fitzgerald (Delaware State baseball) and Mikayle Holloway (Cabrini baseball).

Six Middletown football players will continue to compete in college: Isiah Mitchell (Stony Brook), Markel Weldon (Wesley), Ty Henry (Delaware Valley), Alex Finch and Khari Griffin (Morehouse) and Frankie Datillo (Saint Vincent).

Delaware Military Academy announced seven commitments: Alena Foley (Southern Arkansas cross country and track), Kylie Jones (Georgian Court cross country and track), Justin Carroll (Frostburg State lacrosse), Emma Thomas (Drexel swimming), Cassie Kowalski (Washington College volleyball), Brady Mattson (Penn State Behrend swimming) and Trevor Hill (King’s College football).

Tatnall’s Michael Flanagan is headed to Appalachian State to run cross country and track, and Ursuline’s Erin Turulski will swim at Delaware.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.