Sussex Central High School
Sussex Central High School
| Location | Georgetown |
|---|---|
| Conference | Henlopen |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Colors | Royal Blue, Gold |
| Mascot | Golden Knight |
| # of Dual Meet Wins | 683 {{Citation needed}} |
| # Dual Meet State Championships | 3 |
| First State Champion | 1962 - Vic Pizzaia (Georgetown) |
| Individual State Champions | 57 |
| Conference Champions | 110 |
Team Overview
Sussex Central wrestling has been a Delaware power since its formation at Millsboro High in 1959 and Georgetown High in 1960. Early success included Henlopen Conference championships for Millsboro and Diamond State Conference championships by Georgetown in the 1960’s, prior to consolidation of the schools in 1969. Famed for its 56-match winning streak in the mid-60’s Georgetown ruled downstate wrestling while Millsboro was a dominant team in the small-school Henlopen.
The wrestling program at Millsboro High was started in 1959 with Charles Bailes as the first coach. John Young was Millsboro's last coach prior to the merger in 1969. Millsboro competed in the Henlopen Conference for dual meets and individual tournament. The team competed in the Independent Schools tournament in 1963 and 1964 to qualify individuals for the State tournament until the Henlopen Conference tournament became a qualifier in 1965.
Georgetown High wrestling began in 1960 when Herm Bastianelli formed a team of strong local farm boys. Georgetown teams dominated downstate wrestling in the 1960’s, winning numerous Diamond State Conference championships and compiling the famous 56-match winning streak from 1962-1968. Georgetown’s first individual state champion was Vic Pizzaia in 1962. Five more individual state championships followed before consolidation in 1969.
The two schools merged in 1969 during the statewide school consolidation initiative. The Golden Knights and the Blue Devils became the Blue and Gold of Sussex Central and the winning continued.
Sussex Central started with the same success as in the past - defeating Caesar Rodney in their first match 34-14. Regular epic battles in the 70’s against CR and Smyrna in packed gyms led to the ‘Big 3’ label as these programs vied for conference titles year after year. Bastianelli coached a total of 11 state and 60 conference champions. In 1976, after winning the Henlopen Conference championship, Herm Bastianelli turned the team over to Phil Shultie.
After some lean early years, the program returned to prominence, churning out wrestlers that terrorized the competition – nobody liked to go against the tough wrestlers from Central. Individual state and conference championships piled up – 37 state titles and 80 conference champions was the tally for the Shultie years. During the 2010 season Sussex Central was a nationally ranked wrestling team.
Shultie and longtime assistant coach Chip Illian retired in 2017 after winning that year’s state dual meet championship. Phil Shultie remains the winningest wrestling coach in Delaware wrestling history with 432 victories. SC wrestler Shane Miller followed Shultie and led the team to a state title in 2024 and the state finals in 2025.
Sussex Central has won three team State Championships – 2008, 2017, and 2024. The Golden Knights have been finalists eight times. The combined programs have crowned 57 individual state champions and 157 conference champions.
Sussex Central wrestling continues to roll into the future with strong middle school programs and a vibrant youth wrestling system.
Legacy Schools
Coaches
| Years | Name | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1969-1976 | Herman Bastianelli | |
| 1976-2017 | Phil Shultie | 432 |
| 2017-Present | Shane Miller | 101 |
Team State Champions
Individual State Champions
| Year | Wrestler | Weight Class |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Vic Pizzaia (Georgetown) | 95 |
| 1963 | Vic Pizzaia (Georgetown) | 95 |
| 1965 | Robert Johnson (Georgetown) | 95 |
| 1966 | Ralph Clausen (Georgetown) | 103 |
| 1968 | Dick Schmertzler (Georgetown) | 165 |
| 1969 | Dick Schmertzler (Georgetown) | 165 |
| 1974 | Steve Bastianelli | 105 |
| D.J. Gray | 185 | |
| 1975 | Steve Bastianelli | 119 |
| 1976 | Steve Bastianelli | 119 |
| Joe Booth | HWT | |
| 1977 | Doug Mays | 119 |
| 1982 | Paul Bastianelli | 138 |
| 1983 | Fred Vann | 112 |
| Jeff Stevenson | 119 | |
| 1984 | Jeff Stevenson | 126 |
| 1987 | David Stevens | 105 |
| 1988 | Marc Hansen | 160 |
| 1989 | Scott Layfield | 275 |
| 1992 | Shawn Davis | 103 |
| Bill Baxter | 135 | |
| Kirk Rogers | 145 | |
| 1993 | Chad Davis | 125 |
| 1994 | Jesse Savage | 112 |
| Shawn Davis | 125 | |
| Chad Davis | 130 | |
| 1995 | Jesse Savage | 125 |
| 1999 | Teddy Thompson | 135 |
| Anthony Andrews | 140 | |
| Deon Brunskill | 160 | |
| 2001 | Corey Strohmeyer | 130 |
| 2003 | Jason Dickerson | 140 |
| 2005 | Connor McDonald | 103 |
| 2006 | Connor McDonald | 112 |
| 2007 | Connor McDonald | 119 |
| 2008 | Codey Combs | 125 |
| PJ Barch | 140 | |
| Brock Budesheim | 171 | |
| 2009 | Codey Combs | 140 |
| 2010 | Cody Broomhall | 140 |
| Codey Combs | 145 | |
| Jay Matheus | 160 | |
| 2011 | Cody Broomhall | 140 |
| Codey Combs | 152 | |
| Joey Spicer | 215 | |
| 2016 | Justin Bennett | 145 |
| Brandon Bautista | 152 | |
| 2017 | Rashad Stratton | 126 |
| Blake Chambers | 170 | |
| 2018 | Mason Ankrom | 106 |
| Rashad Stratton | 132 | |
| 2021 | Josh Negron | 182 |
| 2022 | Malachi Stratton | 106 |
| 2023 | Malachi Stratton | 113 |
| 2024 | Malachi Stratton | 120 |
| Gabe Cannon | 175 | |
| 2025 | Malachi Stratton | 120 |
Team Division Champions
- 1970
- 1971
- 1975
- 1976
- 1989
- 1995
- 2008
- 2010
- 2011
- 2023
- 2024
Team Conference Champions
- 1972
- 1976
- 2008
- 2010
- 2024
- 2025
Individual Conference Champions
| Year | Wrestler | Conference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | John Kline (Millsboro) *Selected | Henlopen | No conference tournaments
Selected to State Tournament |
| 1961 | Vic Pizzaia (Georgetown) | Diamond State | Diamond State Tournament First Held |
| Eddie(?) Cathell (Millsboro) *Selected | Henlopen | No Henlopen Tournament
Selected to State Tournament | |
| 1962 | Vic Pizzaia (Georgetown) | Diamond State | |
| John Brandt (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Merrill Rogers (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Bill Tracey (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Ken Rementer (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Allen Hudson (Millsboro) *Selected | Henlopen | No Henlopen Tournament
Selected to State Tournament | |
| Lee Joseph (Millsboro) *Selected | Henlopen | Selected to State Tournament | |
| Darwin Halll (Millsboro) *Selected | Henlopen | Selected to State Tournament | |
| Gene Geiger (Millsboro) *Selected | Henlopen | Selected to State Tournament | |
| 1963 | Vic Pizzaia (Georgetown) | Diamond State | |
| Bill Tracey (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Ken Rementer (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Jim Bender (Millsboro) *Selected | Henlopen | No Henlopen Tournament
Selected to State Tournament | |
| Jim Layfield (Millsboro) *Selected | Henlopen | Selected to State Tournament | |
| 1964 | Bob Johnson (Georgetown) | Diamond State | |
| Don Smith (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Elliot Workman (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Wayne Todd (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Frank Jones (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Preston McIlvaine (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Dennis Crawford (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Preston Rogers (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Glenn Davis (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Lee Joseph (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Chuck Hall (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Jim Layfield (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| 1965 | Bob Johnson (Georgetown) | Diamond State | |
| Wayne Todd (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Preston Rogers (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Al Hudson (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| 1966 | John Thornes (Georgetown) | Diamond State | |
| Ralph Clausen (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Bob Smith (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Wayne Thornton (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Greg Joines (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Chuck Hall (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| 1967 | John Thornes (Georgetown) | Diamond State | |
| Ralph Clausen (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Jim Baxter (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Mike Thoroughgood (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| 1968 | Mark Bastianelli (Georgetown) | Diamond State | |
| Dick Schmertzler (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Steve Brittingham (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Marvin Morris (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| 1969 | Mark Bastianelli (Georgetown) | Diamond State | |
| Dick Schmertzler (Georgetown) | Diamond State | ||
| Phil Shultie (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Dwight Duffield (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Bob Radish (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Larry Harman (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| Bob Donaway (Millsboro) | Henlopen | ||
| 1970 | Roger Bennum | Henlopen | |
| Mark Bastianelli | Henlopen | ||
| Warren Baynard | Henlopen | ||
| 1971 | Phil Shultie | Henlopen | |
| Mark Bastianelli | Henlopen | ||
| Henry Justice | Henlopen | ||
| 1972 | Mark Bastianelli | Henlopen | |
| Dan Bastianelli | Henlopen | ||
| Mel Joseph | Henlopen | ||
| 1973 | Tony Neal | Henlopen | |
| 1974 | Steve Bastianelli | Henlopen | |
| 1975 | Joe Booth | Henlopen | |
| Steve Bastianelli | Henlopen | ||
| Howard Swain | Henlopen | ||
| 1976 | Joe Booth | Henlopen | |
| Steve Bastianelli | Henlopen | ||
| 1977 | Doug Mays | Henlopen | |
| Gerald Cordrey | Henlopen | ||
| 1982 | Paul Bastianelli | Henlopen | |
| 1983 | Fred Vann | Henlopen | |
| Jeff Stevenson | Henlopen | ||
| John Young | Henlopen | ||
| 1984 | Jeff Stevenson | Henlopen | |
| 1986 | David Stevens | Henlopen | |
| 1987 | David Stevens | Henlopen | |
| Marc Hansen | Henlopen | ||
| 1988 | Chip Ilian | Henlopen | |
| 1989 | Kirk Rogers | Henlopen | |
| PJ Oliphant | Henlopen | ||
| Scott Layfield | Henlopen | ||
| 1990 | Kirk Rogers | Henlopen | |
| 1991 | Kirk Rogers | Henlopen | |
| Monty Carey | Henlopen | ||
| 1992 | Shawn Davis | Henlopen | |
| Bill Baxter | Henlopen | ||
| Kirk Rogers | Henlopen | ||
| 1993 | Ronnie Thomas | Henlopen | |
| Chad Davis | Henlopen | ||
| 1994 | Jesse Savage | Henlopen | |
| Shawn Davis | Henlopen | ||
| Chad Davis | Henlopen | ||
| 1995 | Jesse Savage | Henlopen | |
| EJ Loucks | Henlopen | ||
| 1996 | Jason Moore | Henlopen | |
| 1998 | Joey Davis | Henlopen | |
| Ryrico Nocks | Henlopen | ||
| 1999 | Teddy Thompson | Henlopen | |
| James Leyh | Henlopen | ||
| Steve Swain | Henlopen | ||
| Anthony Andrews | Henlopen | ||
| Deon Brunskill | Henlopen | ||
| 2000 | Teddy Thompson | Henlopen | |
| Corey Strohmeyer | Henlopen | ||
| 2001 | Corey Strohmeyer | Henlopen | |
| Raheim Brunskill | Henlopen | ||
| 2002 | Richard Dondarski | Henlopen | |
| Orion Cameron | Henlopen | ||
| Raheim Brunskill | Henlopen | ||
| Jordan Lowe | Henlopen | ||
| A.J. Rovillard | Henlopen | ||
| Casey Strohmeyer | Henlopen | ||
| 2003 | Jason Dickerson | Henlopen | |
| 2004 | Richard Dondarski | Henlopen | |
| 2005 | Connor McDonald | Henlopen | |
| 2006 | Connor McDonald | Henlopen | |
| Justin Illian | Henlopen | ||
| 2007 | Connor McDonald | Henlopen | |
| Brandon Shultie | Henlopen | ||
| Scotty Lawrence | Henlopen | ||
| 2008 | Brandon Shultie | Henlopen | |
| Codey Combs | Henlopen | ||
| Joel Collins | Henlopen | ||
| Stevie Brown | Henlopen | ||
| PJ Barch | Henlopen | ||
| Brandon Hazel | Henlopen | ||
| Brock Budesheim | Henlopen | ||
| 2009 | Brandon Shultie | Henlopen | |
| Codey Combs | Henlopen | ||
| 2010 | Brandon Shultie | Henlopen | |
| Joel Collins | Henlopen | ||
| Cody Broomall | Henlopen | ||
| Codey Combs | Henlopen | ||
| Joey Spicer | Henlopen | ||
| 2011 | Cody Broomall | Henlopen | |
| Jeremy Miller | Henlopen | ||
| Codey Combs | Henlopen | ||
| Joey Spicer | Henlopen | ||
| 2013 | Keith Jones | Henlopen | |
| 2016 | Rashad Stratton | Henlopen | |
| Justin Bennett | Henlopen | ||
| Brandon Bautista | Henlopen | ||
| Lucas Hudson | Henlopen | ||
| 2017 | Rashad Stratton | Henlopen | |
| Blake Chambers | Henlopen | ||
| Lucas Hudson | Henlopen | ||
| Johnny Morris | Henlopen | ||
| 2018 | Drew Morris | Henlopen | |
| 2019 | Michael Wright | Henlopen | |
| 2020 | Dylan King | Henlopen | |
| 2021 | Mason Ankrom (Selected) | Henlopen | Covid |
| Josh Negron (Selected) | Henlopen | ||
| Gabe Cannon (Selected) | Henlopen | ||
| 2022 | Malachi Stratton | Henlopen | |
| Chase Murray | Henlopen | ||
| Josh Negron | Henlopen | ||
| 2023 | Malachi Stratton | Henlopen | |
| Andrew Long | Henlopen | ||
| 2024 | Malachi Stratton | Henlopen | |
| Evan Cordrey | Henlopen | ||
| Gabe Cannon | Henlopen | ||
| 2025 | Malachi Stratton | Henlopen | |
| Evan Cordrey | Henlopen |
External Links
- Official School Athletics Page - GoldenKnightsSports.com
- Sussex Central Athletics - YouTube - Wrestling
- Sussex Central Wrestling - Facebook
References
- ↑ https://education.delaware.gov/diaa/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/Wrestling-Dual-Team-Brackets-2024_FINAL.pdf
- ↑ https://www.flowrestling.org/nextgen/events/11430705/information
- ↑ https://education.delaware.gov/diaa/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/Wrestling-DI-Team-Champions-History-2022.pdf
- ↑ https://www.flowrestling.org/nextgen/events/8034703/information
- ↑ https://www.flowrestling.org/nextgen/events/8034703/information