The Connecticut College Camels play in the small college NESCAC up in snowy New England with the Colby Mules, Tufts Jumbos an elephant is the mascot, Bowdoin Polar Bears and Trinity Bantam Roosters. I can’t imagine the mascots and cheerleaders at a conference tournament.
“We are the camels, the mighty, mighty camels; everywhere we go we bring two toes; when we’re in a hurry we go dromedary; am I right for you, one hump or two.”
And now introducing the Lady Jumbos, the crowd does the elephant arm up swing, and goes full bore pachydermic! I could go on endlessly, but most material I am holding in reserve is so “sophmoronic” and offensive.
Here come the Lady Roosters.
ROBIN IS BACK - The first sign that winter is just around the corner is the appearance of Robin Adair and Tower Hill in the finals of the state field hockey tournament. Robin is a Cape graduate and last year was named Delaware Coach of the Year for all sports at all levels for winning her eighth state championship as head coach of the Hillers.
A victory Saturday over Willie Miranda’s Brandywine squad would give Tower Hill its fourth straight field hockey state championship. It must be because they have the best players? It must be because they recruit? Or just maybe it’s because they know how to play the game better than anyone else and Robin, who prefers to fade from the spotlight, has something to do with that.
TALENT-LADEN CAPE - It was my last year coaching boys track and I was walking in pursuit of a boiled hot dog during the running of the endless Henlopen Conference Championship Meet.
I walked up behind two other head coaches who had their Coach of the Year scrap of paper ballot and were conferring and collaborating on their vote.
“What about the Cape coach?” one of them asked, and the other responded, “Heck, anybody could win with the talent he has out there. I hear he doesn’t even make them come to practice.”
I jumped into my own gossip column. “Heck, I don’t even come to practice,” I said. “By the way, how many laps is the mile and how many misses do you get in the high jump?”
I never aspired to be anything of the year, I just wanted to win for the kids and myself. Did I mention me?
That trophy was in the bus at the end of the day and on my kitchen table Saturday night then back at Cape Monday where it languishes in the back of a crowded trophy case.
HELMETS FOR HOCKEY - I am for equality in sports and Title IX which is why I would like to see field hockey go to double-sided sticks and make the sticks longer and let the ponies run!
I know it is not my call that I don’t understand the game, but you have to admit it is kinda girlie, a leftover from when men as administrators thought women needed protection on the athletic fields.
Wear a helmet and ramp up the action! All sticks are right-handed and you can only hit on the flat side? What the heck is that?
Women’s lacrosse is not the same game as men’s, I’ve been told by experts who know much more than me, and I agree. Women’s lacrosse has that late afternoon prep school look to it. But I know watching women play rugby that full-contact sports should be a Title 1X battle cry.
“If the boys can fly around and hit each other, why can’t we?”
TRYOUTS AND COMEOUTS Friday, Nov. 14 is the first day for winter sports practices, or what some sports call tryouts, while others have a policy - come on out, we’re always open.
I always found it interesting that the courts have ruled you can’t put a cut list up on a wall inside a school because it sends the wrong message even though it was fun to read for everyone else. Now it is called a made list and read it as many times as you like, but if your name does not appear then your time is your own.
Boys basketball generally has to make cuts, sometimes even a senior who can’t move any further down the bench and still be in the gym.
Trent Batson, Jordan Allen, Andrew Merlo and Turrell Bowe appear to be the nucleus of this year’s Cape team with lots of talented players competing to fill needed roles like shooter and ball handler and rebounder.
SNIPPETS - Erique Gumbs, a 6-foot-8 senior at Caravel Academy, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Towson University next year. Erique is the son of Cape’s financial director, Oliver Gumbs, who played his college basketball at the University of Delaware. Last week was the early NCAA signing date and what is actually signed by athletes, like the particulars of financial stipends related to a sport, remains confidential. I will say that full blown everything paid for sports scholarships with meals and books paid for and an allowance for laundry are rare outside of football and basketball.
Cape’s Willie Savage, a winner of 11 individual state titles in his high school track career, will be inducted into the Delaware Track and Field Hall of Fame later this month, so anyone with Willie’s cell number please call and tell him - free banquet-open mic - and a plaque to take home.
Lance White, former Cape High All-American cross country runner who only lost one race in high school to Jay the Plummer - Jay Reed - works at George Sherman in Lewes and has been named to the all-decade team of the 1970s. He is also invited to the banquet in December so same message - call Lance, who knows, he may fly back from Italy for the occasion.
My personal approach to banquets and parties at this point in life is “better slighted than invited.”
Cape wrestling coach Chris Mattioni, AKC Scooby Pup and the Cape Takedown Club will sponsor a youth wrestling club this winter. Practices will be held on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the auditorium at the Ninth Grade Campus.
The program is open to any child 5 years of age and older. No experience is necessary, but experienced wrestlers are welcome and encouraged to participate.
The Cape Henlopen High School wrestling coaches, as well as high school wrestlers, will coach the program. Practices begin Monday, Nov. 17. You can register on the first day of the program. For more information, call coach Chris Mattioni at 249-6457.
What do you say to a 5-year-old who cries the first time he is pinned? “Shut up, don’t be a baby! Be a man! And remember, low dog always wins. Go on now, git!”
-
Sports Editor Emeritus
Email Fredman at fredman@capegazette.com
