Celebration time: Cape hockey banquet honors third straight state title
Booster rocket - The 2013 State Championship Field Hockey Banquet shut down Dec. 11 at the Lewes Yacht Club and lost in the love-in was the departure of relentless booster Lori Voss, who still has basketball and lacrosse to go through before her last child Lindsay graduates. I texted Lori several times the day of the banquet; she is my leader dog for the blind before I walk in to emcee and summarize a season, providing my own spin.
I remember when Cape’s Brian Donahue returned to the high school from Mariner, he asked my son Dave, ”Who is this Lori Voss?” and Dave answered, “Just get out of the way and let her do what she does and run whatever she wants. She’ll make your life a whole lot easier." I have mixed up many siblings' names in the course of writing my sports column and finding Athletes of the Week - I find it one of my endearing qualities - but once unintentionally I had Lori Voss with double-digit saves in a lacrosse game. I meant to write Gina but somehow Mom ended up in goal. Thanks, Lori, for saving me and countless others during your stint as a field hockey booster parent.
Sweet T - The field hockey banquet also celebrated the career of Tiara Duffy, who came off the last six months having won a world title in travel ball, the World Series Big League Championship, and her third straight state championship in field hockey. She was also named State of Delaware Player of the Year. Tenesha is Tiara’s mom, a teacher at Milford, and after Tiara was named Player of the Year, her mom said, ”Only one Cape player on first team all-state is ridiculous. If they are not going to do it right, they should just do away with it." The “T” is all about team for the Duffy clan.
Memorabilia man - The term “man cave” has gotten to be so in it’s already on the way out. But Eric Gooch had been Memorabilia Man and Artist in Athletic Action since I tried to talk him out of an original lion painting 30 years ago. The Cape room at Eric’s house is amazing; I know if I give him anything Cape it will live forever somewhere in that room. Eric takes photos at field hockey and lacrosse games. I got him a press credential, because if I get one, he certainly needs one, and he puts together an end-of-season presentation for hockey. Eric is a regular Spike Lee. You have to pay attention to see the artistry in his photos.
Sometimes the Cape player is the only one in color - everybody else is black and white. And on the sidelines, mostly what he says is, “I love these girls, man. They are just so tough.” He absolutely never makes it personal or grumbles about his own daughter Lexi’s playing time, and she’s a sophomore who is going to be a great one the next two years. There have been times when I have said to my son Dave, ”I wish some parents would just back it down; they are their own kids' worst enemy." He answered, “Not everyone can be Eric Gooch.” Ain’t that the truth? Heard that! You got that right! I hear what you’re saying.
No they didn’t! - Cape wrestling won 80-0 at Seaford Dec. 11, and the less said about that the better. That total was achieved by four forfeits, eight pins, one major decision and one tech fall. Cape’s next dual meet is Wednesday, Dec. 18, at home versus Caesar Rodney. Cape is the underdog against the Riders, who will be performing at the Milford Invitational this weekend. Last season, CR beat Cape 45-18. Cape hopes to give the Riders a run for their money, but the Riders wrestle tough in big matches.
Real endurance - Anyone can train and run a marathon, do an Ironman or swim from Cuba to Florida, but try spending nine hours with a newly toddling, no-napping 1-year-old. Last Wednesday I took my eyes off Baby James for a few seconds to find him on the kitchen table, having tossed a wicker sled with silver bells to the floor, and he was eating a Vanilla Wafer and sporting reading glasses. I looked at him and said, “You are not funny, dude,” which was the wrong thing to say, because every slapstick comedian loves a fall guy and that was me.
Snippets - University of Delaware is sticking with its commitment to sign Cape’s Andrew Grau, who suffered an ACL injury early in the football season. The plan is to redshirt Andrew his freshman year. Not only will Grau add to the character coefficient of the team; he’s a can’t-miss, big-time college player. Go on now, git!
