Delbarton Wrestling delivered a statement win on Wednesday night, knocking off national powerhouse Faith Christian Academy 31–29 in what will be remembered as one of the biggest dual meets in program history. The victory sent shockwaves through the national wrestling scene as the #6 Green Wave handed #2 Faith Christian its first dual-meet loss of the season.
Delbarton set the tone early at 106 pounds, where Finn Andersen opened the night with a composed 3–0 decision. After FCA answered back at 113, the Green Wave seized momentum through the middle of the lineup. Cameron Sontz picked up a crucial forfeit at 120, followed by a dominant 21–6 technical fall from Tommy Marchetti at 126 to push Delbarton in front.
Faith Christian countered at 132, but Delbarton responded with clutch performances when it mattered most. Freshman Nico Marchetti controlled the action in a 4–1 decision at 138, and Ryan DeGeorge electrified the crowd moments later, pinning his opponent in just 24 seconds at 144. Trevor Jones added another key decision at 157, and Jayden James delivered a with a commanding 19–4 technical fall at 165, giving Delbarton a 31–12 advantage heading into the upper weights.
Facing a nationally ranked opponent stacked late in the lineup, the Green Wave had to withstand a furious push from FCA. Faith Christian earned a win by pin from 175 cutting into the lead, but Delbarton's resolve never wavered. Leading by 10, tough major-decision losses by Brody Ismael at 215 and August Moser at 285, were just enough to protect the margin and secure the dramatic two-point victory.
Head Coach Bryan Stoll praised his team's grit in the closing moments of the dual.
"Those four upperweights are capable of pinning anybody," Stoll said. "Gabe got caught in that scramble which was unfortunate. CJ hung in there with Waters even though he beat him last time. But then the big guys were wrestling Top-5 in the country guys. What they did out there was all guts and all heart. I'm so darn proud of those guys."
In a dual that lived up to the national hype, Delbarton proved it belongs among the country's elite, delivering a signature win fueled by toughness, composure, and belief from start to finish.
