Natalie Radecki of Caravel Academy wrestling in the Beast of the East last year, photo courtesy of Caravel Athletics
Newark – The Second Annual Girls Beast of the East wrestling tournament was center stage Friday night at the Bob Carpenter Center on the campus of the University of Delaware. The event attracted 140 girls from 12 states including 12 girls from Delaware.
The first state had a pair of finalists as Natalie Radecki of Caravel Academy returned to the finals to defend her 2022 Beast of the East championship at 100 pounds and Addie Till of St. Mark’s reached the finals at 105 pounds.
Radecki lost her bid to repeat, falling to U17 world bronze medalist Jaclyn Bouzakis of Wyoming Seminary by technical fall 17-2 in 4:30. Bouzakis was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
Radecki earned her return trip to the championship match with an impressive 12-1 major decision over Jamie Hearl of Mt. Airy, North Carolina.
Addie Till Saint Marks wrestler, photo courtesy of Saint Marks
Till also took home second place losing by pin in 3:57 to Julia Horger of Conwell Egan Catholic. Till reached the finals with a thrilling 5-2 decision over Kloi Tighe of Gloucester, New Jersey. The match was tied 2-2 at the start of the third period. Till scored an escape and a takedown in the third period to win the match.
“I had to fight my way through a few tough matches today. It was my choice in the last period, I took down so I could escape and get at least one point,” Till said.
Sussex Tech’s Logan Flood took fourth place at 140 pounds to round out the three Delaware wrestlers to reach the podium on Friday night.
Two others just missed taking home a medal as Olvia Natarcola of Smyrna finished fifth at 105 pounds and Milford’s Autumn Littletown took sixth at 115 pounds.
Blair Academy of Blairstown, New Jersey won the team title scoring 179 points while Gettysburg took second place with 151 points.
While finishing in 23rd place overall Caesar Rodney and Sussex Tech were the highest placing Delaware teams finishing with 49 points followed by Caravel Academy with 41 points and St. Mark’s with 36 points.
“I’m excited to see the growth in girls wrestling. We brought four girls here tonight and in only the second year the tournament is really growing as has girls wrestling in Delaware.” said Trey Mitchell Caesar Rodney head coach.
Mitchell said he credits his assistant Brandy Dolt for helping bring the Riders program along.
“Brandy wrestled at Missouri Valley College, she not only coaches our team, but in the offseason she runs an all girls practice for younger girls from around the state,” Mitchell added.
The Girls Beast of the East is the prelude to the boys tournament. The 31st Beast of the East wrestling tournament begins on Saturday morning at 8:30 and continues through the championship matches on Sunday afternoon.
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