Athletes of the Week April 12

Gabe Best

A sophomore attackman on the Cape lacrosse team, Gabe had six goals April 6, as Cape beat a 4-1 South River team from across the Chesapeake Bay. “My teammates were setting me up for some great looks. I just had to step in and shoot,” he said. Gabe had 16 goals through the first five games, but none in a 22-0 win over Sussex Tech, deciding to let his teammates ring the bell. “The work Gabe has done in the off-season has been paying off so far,” said coach Mark D’Ambrogi. “He has done a good job getting open and playing off his teammates.” Best ran cross country and indoor track as a freshman. “I’m working on getting him for football,” said coach JD Maull.

Luke Johnson

A 6-foot-1, 195-pound power hitter, this junior shortstop/pitcher seems to get bigger and stronger between games. “I put in time in the weight room, and I’ve hit a growth spurt,” Johnson said. Luke has a pair of wins on the mound and has cranked three home runs this season, two against Middletown, including the game-winner in extra innings. He has already committed to UMBC to play baseball. “I think of myself as an infielder and always enjoyed playing there” Johnson said. “But I’m thinking that in college I will play both.” Luke takes all honors classes. He credits assistant coach Jay Conn for helping him get stronger in the weight room.

Maryann Tietbohl

A Cape senior holding down the first singles position the last three seasons, Maryann and her teammates upset favored Caesar Rodney 3-2 April 8 to remain undefeated at 5-0 on the season. Cape had not beaten the Riders in at least 11 years. Maryann remained unbeaten on the season. “Their usual first singles player wasn’t there, not sure of the reason,” Maryann said. “I can only play who’s across the net.” She won 6-0, 6-0. Speaking of first singles, Maryann has been first in her class academically the last three years. She is heading to the University of Delaware to major in honors biology. “I think if we play well, we can get second in the conference tournament,” she said. But it’s hard to find the word second on her resume.

Sydney Zych

Zych the Streak is a fleet-footed middie on Cape’s undefeated soccer team that has started the season by posting six straight shutouts. “I’m accustomed to playing outside, but this year coach [Patrick] Kilby moved me more to the inside to play defense,” Sydney said. “We have a lot of strong players who just go after those 50/50 balls. There is never any backing down.” Assistant coach Gary Montalto said, “There are two types of players on a soccer field: artists and soldiers. Zych is the ultimate soldier – energetic, fearless and a battle for the full 80 minutes. If you don't have soldiers like Zych to disrupt, break down and destroy the opposing team’s plan, then you don't win.” Sydney takes all honors and AP classes. “The season is about to bump up in seriousness. It's a little nerve-racking,” she said.