Athletes of the Week June 23

Rubie Goffena

Rubie, 13, dropped from the sky by way of Hempstead, Md., for the Milton Irish Eyes 5K and easily won the overall female title with a time of 19:41, a 6:20 mile pace for those who like their data relatable. Rubie was second overall behind Martin Rodriguez, who won in 17:59. Rubie runs for the Westminster Track Club. She ran a 5:40 mile as a 12-year-old at a fall fest mile, and at a 5K last fall in Westminster, she ran 21 minutes. Running for Hempstead Elementary School, Rubie broke the school record for boys and girls with a 6:10 mile and girls’ record of 1:15 in 400 meters. This outdoor season for the Westminster Wolfpack Club, she has run 2:45 for 800, 5:27 for 1,500 and 11:51 for 3,000.

Anna Lopez

A rising sixth-grader at Shields Elementary School, Anna impressed the coaches at the Vikings Lacrosse Camp this week with her intensity, drive and willingness to learn the game of lacrosse. "Anna has a great attitude," said camp coach Anna Frederick. "She is always asking questions and looking to get better at her position." Goalie is her natural position, but she also took her turn at playing in the field. "I love playing goalie," she said. "I like being the last resort on the defense and the feeling that I have the whole team on my shoulders by saving a ball that could have scored." Her favorite subjects in school are art, reading and social studies. When not playing lacrosse, she loves riding horses English-style and bodyboarding at the beach. 

Jordan Marvel

This 2017 Sussex Tech graduate represented the Ravens in the recent Blue-Gold All-Star Football Game, where he played linebacker and tight end. Jordan was a varsity football and baseball player all three years of high school, but a catastrophic knee injury in preseason football cost him the season, and he chose to sit out baseball, so being on the Gold squad for football was that important to him. Jordan’s oldest brother Lance suffered the same injury 10 years ago and now works as a farmer. Shane, a 2012 Tech grad, went to St. Joe’s for baseball before transferring to Salisbury, where he played three years of football. Jordan will do the SEED program with the University of Delaware in the fall while helping coach football at Sussex Tech.

Robert Mitchell  

A big two-way tackle with quick feet, Robert was discovered in his senior year, not only making the Cape team, but seeing increasing action in prime-time minutes. Robert is a baller and a brawler. He will attend Lackawanna College, a two-year school, in Scranton in the fall, where he will play football for the Falcons to get himself ready to play at a four-year school. Sussex Tech’s Kani Kane played two years for the Falcons and signed with the University of Delaware last month. “Robert is a serious kid. ROTC did a lot for his leadership abilities, and I have no doubt he will be successful at the next level,” said Cape football coach Bill Collick. Robert was Cape’s lone representative in the Blue-Gold All-Star Football Game June 17.