Athletes of the Week April 21
Mary Kessler
This 74-year-old, low-mileage runner from Harbeson started late in the sport, but she has a natural talent and fluid style. At the Coastal Delaware Running Festival April 16, Mary ran the half-marathon in 1:56.58, breaking her own age-group state record of 1:57.09. Mary began running when she was 40. Last season, Mary was selected the Seashore Striders’ Runner of the Year. Mary and her husband moved to Sussex County three years ago and live between Routes 23 and 24, somewhere near Hollymount Road. She follows the Jack Daniels running formula (save the jokes). Daniels recommends two to three days of quality running per week, with one day of primary emphasis, one day of secondary emphasis and sometimes one day of maintenance emphasis. When Mary turns 75, a whole bunch of records will be going down, as long as she does not overtrain.
Claire Lopez
A Cape freshman varsity field hockey and lacrosse player, Claire bided her time on a loaded team in hockey, but she has cracked the starting lineup on the 13-time state championship lacrosse team. The team is now 6-0, including close wins over Queen Anne’s 13-12, Sussex Academy 10-7 and Broadneck 12-11. Claire has 14 goals and 14 assists over six games for 28 total points, which qualifies as a breakout. She has also recorded three hat tricks. Big games lie ahead. Fortunately for Cape, Claire has three-and-a-half more years of big games. Claire’s sister Anna, a junior, is Cape’s starting goalie and has 22 saves on the season. Claire also fits the academic profile of the field hockey and lacrosse athlete at Cape, which is honor roll and honors classes.
Abby Marsh
Abby is the quintessential Cape kid. Just a sophomore, she plays field hockey and softball. Abby is quick and a stud hockey player who will be ready to rock in fall 2023. This spring, she has been sharing pitching duties with Bri Windish, helping Cape softball to a 12-9 win over Woodbridge in the back end of a doubleheader, then went the distance for a 7-2 win over Conwell-Egan Catholic High School from the Philadelphia Catholic League. Abby struck out five in a 3-0 loss at Caravel while also hitting a double. A young Cape team stands at 4-3 ready to host Sussex Central (7-1) and star pitcher Madge Layfield. Abby is an honor roll student taking honors classes.
Andrew Schaen
He’s a wrestler and graduating Cape senior who maintains straight As while taking honors and AP classes. Andrew’s senior-year record was 39-11 with seven pins. He won three matches at the tough Southern Slam and two at the Beast of the East, and was a Grapple at the Brook champ. Andrew finished as a Henlopen Conference and Delaware state runner-up. He plans to continue his wrestling career next year at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. Coach Chris Mattioni said: “He is one of the hardest workers that I’ve had the privilege of coaching. He asks questions, wants to watch films, stays after practice to work on improving his wrestling skills, lifts weights; he does all the little things the right way. He never cuts corners and improved a lot during the two years he was at Cape.” Andrew finished his junior year with a record of 25-19 with eight pins.
