By Andy Walter

SMYRNA — Even before the first match starts, the Carpenter Center becomes a wrestler’s paradise.

With countless teams and wrestlers from around the region spread out on mats throughout the arena, the atmosphere is electric.

“That building just has a whole different vibe whenever you walk in there,” said Smyrna High senior Gabe Giampietro, “knowing that the best kids in the country are about to clash right there in that gym.

“It’s just a whole different energy. It really hypes you up right before you go out for a match.”

Delaware wrestlers in particular missed having that experience last December when the prestigious event was canceled because of the COVID pandemic.

But they’re looking forward to it that much more with the 28th edition of the Beast of the East on tap Saturday and Sunday at the Carpenter Center in Newark. Competition starts at 8:30 a.m. both days with the finals slated to begin at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Along with Smyrna, Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Milford, Sussex Central and Sussex Tech are all slated to have wrestlers competing in the event.

With such a high caliber level of competition, wrestlers are not necessarily there to win titles as much as they are to challenge themselves.

“Iron sharpens iron,” said Smyrna coach Aaron Harris, who competed in the tournament himself. “This is a sport where you don’t get better by winning. This is a sport where you get better by getting your butt kicked.

“Some of our guys go in there and get their butt kicked and they come out and they’re sharper for it. And then some of our guys can go in there and compete, actually place and get on that podium.”

A senior 120-pounder, Giampietro is one of those guys.

Two years ago, as a sophomore, he placed fourth in the 113-pound bracket. As a freshman he placed seventh at the Beast.

“I definitely want to go back and do better this year,” said Giampietro. “I want to get top three. That’s always been my goal. You’re definitely going to have some good, hard matches to get there but I’ll do what it takes.”

Whatever happens this weekend in Newark, Giampietro has already accomplished one major goal this week. On Wednesday, the three-time DIAA individual state champion officially accepted a scholarship from NCAA Division I Drexel.

“I got that stress off my shoulders,” Giampietro said about making his college decision. “I can finally just focus on the small details, trying to just get better and not have that stress of, ‘Oh, college coaches are watching from the corners.’”

Senior Bryce Mullen is another Eagles wrestler who will be competing at the Beast this weekend. But, after being away from wrestling the past two seasons, he has a little different perspective.

Mullen finished third in the state as a freshman at 145 pounds. He just wants the chance to challenge himself against some great competition.

He went 2-2 in four Beast matches as a freshman.

“It really opened my eyes to high-level wrestling,” said Mullen. “I really experienced some of the best wrestlers. Going out there as a freshman and really being able to prove myself was one of the best experiences for me.

“I almost didn’t feel like I belonged because I was a freshman. ... I really gained confidence in myself.”

In some ways, Mullen is trying to have the same experience all over again. After two seasons away from the sport, he needs to regain some confidence in himself.

“It’s been hard getting back to the grind,” he said. “But, a senior, I definitely set high expectations for myself. I’m shooting for the stars, reaching for the moon. Just being able to get back into that high-level competition, it’s going to be really amazing for me.”

The thing that Harris likes about the Beast is that it can provide great learning experiences for wrestlers no matter what level they’re competing at. And because they can go into the tourney with a ‘nothing-to-lose’ mentality, sometimes upsets happen.

“I’ve taken kids to the Beast that I knew weren’t going to win a match,” said Harris. “It’s just about being in a room with the greatest wrestlers in the country and actually feeling a part of it. You leave there with a lot of confidence — if you take it the right way.”