Athletes of the Week March 10

Giovanni Bendfeldt

This is a freshman track guy who is always the last athlete to leave the track. He outworks everyone, that is his focus. Giovanni runs the high hurdles and intermediates and also long jumps. “Coaches are looking for a fourth event for me,” he said at practice. He came to Cape through the Beacon program, having been coached by Tim Bamforth and Gilbert Maull. “The hardest-working middle school boy I ever coached,” said Bamforth. “We had to tell him every day at 6 p.m. to go home. Coach Maull deserves the credit for making him a hurdler.” Giovanni is a straight-A student who takes honors classes and does Academic Challenge.

Tucker Brown

This Rehoboth Beach native and Worcester Prep junior was named ESIAC Player of the Year for boys’ basketball. He is a three-sport varsity athlete who helped lead Worcester Prep to its second consecutive ESIAC tournament basketball championship and regular-season title. He led the team in points, rebounds and blocks, and made the all-conference team. He is on the Headmaster’s List for academics and also excels in varsity soccer and lacrosse. Coach Keith Geiger said, “Tucker won Player of the Year because he is the best player on the best team the past two years. He scores a lot of points, but most impressive is his humble attitude and sportsmanship.” Brown resides in Rehoboth Beach with his parents Doug and Diane, and brothers Reece and Mason. 

Leigh Lingo

This Worcester Prep senior was named Player of the Year for girls’ basketball for the second straight year. Lingo was the point guard who helped lead Worcester Prep to the ESIAC championship game. She led the team in points, assists and steals, and made the all-conference team. Coach Scot Dailey said, “Leigh is one of the toughest kids I have ever coached. She is a true leader and demands her teammates give their best effort as much as she does. Her attitude and attention to detail is second to none!” Always on the Headmaster’s List, she is a highly competitive three-sport student athlete who has committed to play lacrosse for Virginia Tech after she graduates. Lingo plays alongside her twin sister Regan on all three Worcester Prep varsity teams, including field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. The twins reside in Rehoboth Beach with their parents Derrick and Ann Lingo. Their older sister Meg is a junior at Furman University, where she plays Division I lacrosse. 

Shelby Schirmer  

A different kind of story. Shelby played two years of lacrosse at Sussex Tech as a sometimes-starter in goal. She now attends Wesley College, majoring in nursing. She works part time for compassionate care as a certified CNA. Shelby went out for Wesley lacrosse as a junior and earned a starting spot, and the Wolverines are off to a 5-0 start, and they have never won five straight in the history of the program. She is tied for third in saves in the Colonial Athletic Conference with 31. Coach Jillian Lontz said, “Shelby is the anchor of the defense for the Wolverines after joining the team this year. She has a great work ethic and is a great motivator for the rest of the team.” Her dad Carl threw the shot for Cape, her brother Jamie wrestles for Sussex Tech and her mom Julie Crouch Schirmer “runs the show.”