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Athletes of the Week Dec. 2

December 2, 2016

Finley Jones

This 11-year-old fifth-grader at Milton Elementary School was crowned Junior World Duck Calling Champion for 2016 last weekend in Stuttgart, Ark. Fin was also the starting catcher on the Milton 9-10 state champion baseball team that played in the Eastern Regionals finals in Rhode Island. “I made the cut, final four, moving to the finals, going four rounds of Main Street, which is ringing loud and squealing at really high pitch and then quacking,” Fin said. He demonstrated without a duck call and mentioned he could also do a turkey, dog and seagull, saying his dog was so good he fooled his own dog. “My dad was doing Facebook Live on the iPad, and when I won he started jumping and flopping around; all his friends called him Flounder.” Finley IV and “Flounder” Finley III had a weekend they will never forget.    

Collin Mattia

This Cape senior and stellar student just finished his high school football career as the quarterback of the scout team. Collin is eying Delaware and Maryland to major in business; his career goal is to work in an NFL front office. “I just love football,” he said. “I bought into the weight room last year and senior year, and got a lot stronger. I think of myself as an athlete. I worked hard this year every day at practice to do what was best for the team. Football teaches a lot of things, hard work but also humility.” Collin is a focused young man who will be in the game well after others are long gone.

Cole Smith

A senior guard and linebacker on the Cape football team, Cole plans to go to the University of Delaware and major in environmental engineering. In his spare time, Cole is a bass fisherman. “I learned how to control my anger through football,” he said. “Football is a game where you can play angry. It helped me in dealing with other people.” Cole added, “When you’re a senior and not getting much playing time, it’s frustrating. Running scout team in practice is like game day. I know I’m a stronger and more confident person because of football.” Cole is a smart young man who is physically tough and academically motivated, and he can catch bass. Best of luck at Delaware.  

Jack Whittam 

Jack came to Cape from New Jersey in ninth grade. The junior just completed the football season, where he was a backup left tackle. Jack, now 17 years old, has been a Boy Scout for 12 years and is two signatures away from earning his Eagle Scout badge. “Jack is a leader on our team,” said coach Bill Collick. “I was the FCA leader along with Robert Mitchell and Zach Savage,” Jack said. “Spiritually, the team had something to believe in.” Jack said he went from being a weak person in the weight room to now doing dumbbell presses with 80 pounds and benching 225, not bad for a guy who weighs 175. “My focus is getting accepted into the Naval Academy,” he said. “That is my dream.”

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