VIDEO: READY FOR RUTGERS – Dominating upper-weight run sends Lower Cape May to state title match for first time in program history

Posted: February 21st 2026

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

ERMA – Eight bouts into Friday’s state Group II semifinal wrestling match, there was significant nervous energy swirling about in the gymnasium at Lower Cape May Regional High School.

Caldwell held a 22-15 lead, and Lower’s Danny Byrne was locked in a 6-6 tie with Nicco Capaldo midway through the third period.

But that’s the moment when the tenor of the match changed.

Byrne scored a takedown at the edge of the mat – barely keeping his right foot inside the circle as he did so – with 56 seconds remaining in the bout to take the lead and finished with a 12-7 decision that brought the crowd to its feet.

Shortly thereafter, Ashton Ray blew the roof of the gym.

Ray’s second-period pin in the next bout at 175 pounds caused the crowd to erupt with euphoria as the result gave the Caper Tigers the lead for good. The efforts by Byrne and Ray were the start of five straight victories for Lower – the last four of which came via fall – and secured a 42-27 victory by the Caper Tigers that sends the program to the state championship match for the first time in program history.

“It’s been a long, long time coming,” Lower coach Billy Damiana said. “It’s been a long build – a long-time build – to get here. The amount of hours and sacrifices by the kids and the coaches over the years has been incredible. Now we just want it to pay off on Sunday.”

Lower (22-3) will face Rumson-Fair Haven Sunday at Rutgers University for the state title. The match is currently scheduled for 2:30 p.m. but may be moved earlier in the day due to the snowstorm expected to hit the area late Sunday afternoon. An announcement on the schedule is expected sometime early Saturday.

Lower is expected to be at full strength for Sunday’s match. Ryan Morgan, the team’s usual 126-pounder, has been battling an injury and missed the match against Caldwell but is expected to be available for the title match.

“We’ll try to put ourselves in the best position to be successful,” Damiana said. “We’ll clean some things up in practice Saturday and have our full team ready for Sunday. We’ll go up there and try to give them hell.”

Following Ray’s pin at 175, Shane Morrell (190), David Douglass (215) and Jake Hearon (285) followed with dominating performances that each resulted in wins by fall in the first period. Douglass and Hearon each needed less than a minute to pin their respective opponents.

“The upper weights came through for us, but this was also a complete team performance,” Damiana said. “They were looking for some bonus points down low but our guys wrestled tough and we saved a lot of them. Then Danny Byrne starting that rally and Jake Hearon capping it and sending us to Rutgers is a fantastic feeling.”

The result of Ray’s bout at 175 was critical to the result of the match, Damiana said.

“We knew we’d have a good chance to really seal the deal if Ashton took care of business,” Damiana said. “He’s a three-sport athlete and a really tough kid. He went out there and aggressively got to his attacks and took care of business.”

Tristan Rosemeyer posted an 18-4 technical fall at 113, Eli Glover scored a 17-4 major decision at 132 and Chase Hansen bumped up two weight classes and won by fall in 51 seconds at 150 for Lower Cape May’s other wins in the match.

Lower Cape May drew some inspiration from the presence at the match by former longtime Lower Cape May wrestling and football coach Bill Garrison, who’s considered an icon around the school community. Garrison was the head football coach and an assistant wrestling coach when Lower Cape May won championships in both sports in the early 1980s.

“We did this for the community and we did this for Coach Garrison,” said Damiana, who’s also Lower Cape May’s head football coach. “Whether it’s during football or wrestling, we always talk about what Coach Garrison means to this community, not just as a coach but as an educator and a symbol of being tough and being a great member of the community.”

Damiana paused before becoming emotional and said, “This is just so great for the kids.”

(photos courtesy Heidi Ray)

Lower Cape May's wrestlers celebrate shortly after beating Caldwell in the state semifinal by rushing toward head coach Billy Damiana (far right).

Lower Cape May's Ashton Ray moves into position to pin his opponent in the 175-pound bout.

The match official begins dropping his hand to signal a pin for Lower Cape May's Jake Hearon in the 185-pound bout.

Former longtime Lower Cape May wrestling and football coach Bill Garrison with current head wrestling and football coach Billy Damiana.