The Delaware Wrestling Hall of Fame will induct four former state champions and a person behind the Beast of the East’s growth this fall.
State champions Paul Antonio and Kanamti Solomon from William Penn, Randy Brown, who wrestled at Laurel and Delmar, and Smyrna’s Brent Fleetwood will be joined by contributor Dr. Michael Axe.
They’ll be honored Oct. 16 at a 7 p.m. banquet at the Chase Center, preceded by a 5 p.m. unveiling at the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame across the street at Frawley Stadium. Tickets are $50.
The 2026 inductees:
Paul Antonio
Antonio won state championships at 160 pounds in 1989 and 1991 and at 171 pounds in 1990 after placing third as a freshman at 152 for William Penn. He also was runner-up in the national high school championships before becoming a 4-year starter, 2-time NCAA Tournament qualifier and 1996 Eastern Wrestling League 158-pound champion at Clarion.
Michael Axe
The orthopedic surgeon served as head physician at the Beast of the East Tournament and was viewed as instrumental in its growth to becoming one of the nation’s largest and most competitive high school events.
Randy Brown
Brown won 98- and 119-pound state titles for Laurel in 1984 and 1985 before transferring to neighboring Delmar, where he prevailed at 126 and 132 pounds his junior and senior years. Brown was also a three-time Henlopen Conference champ and logged a 101-2 career record while going unbeaten his final three years.
Brent Fleetwood
Fleetwood was a 4-time state champion for Smyrna, winning at 103 in 2011, 106 after the weights were altered in 2012 and then at 113 and 120 the next two years. His career record was 160-18. He was also Beast of the East 113-pound champ as a junior and runner-up at 120 his senior year. Fleetwood was also a USA Wrestling National Cadet freestyle champion. He wrestled collegiately at Central Michigan and North Dakota State, going 83-45, qualifying for three NCAA tournaments and finishing as 2019 Big 12 runner-up at 125 pounds.
Kanamti Solomon
Might mite Solomon was the state 103-pound champ as a senior in 1990 after placing third as a junior. He also won USA Wrestling National Cadet titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman in 1989. Solomon wrestled for Delaware State but also made an impact nationally. Typically wrestling at 105 pounds, Solomon won the 1994 University Nationals in freestyle, earned a bronze medal at the 1994 Pan-American Games, took second in the 1996 Olympic Trials and was 1997 U.S. Open champ.
Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Wrestling Hall of Fame to induct 4 state champs, contributor
