Share: 

Athletes of the Week Feb. 8

February 8, 2019
Giovanni Bendfeldt  

A Cape junior, Gio set a personal best in the pole vault Jan. 24 at the Henlopen Conference Indoor Championships at the Worcester County Recreation Center, vaulting 12-feet-6-inches to win the competition. “I pulled a muscle during the competition, and it didn’t heal in time for the state meet,” Gio said. “I cleared 11 feet, but I could barely make it down the runway. I felt like I could have won it, but everyone has a story.” Gio ran cross country in the fall to build up his endurance for the 110-meter hurdles, his other specialty event. “I ran about 20 minutes. It was fun and really helped me,” he said. Gio takes three AP classes – physics, chemistry and computer science – the rest are honors classes and he goes to Academic Challenge for math. “I’m just hoping to get healthy for spring track,” he said.

Josiah Miller

A 6-foot-2, 252-pound Cape sophomore, Josiah threw the shot put 46-feet-9-inches Feb. 2 at the DIAA state championship meet. “It was my best throw by three feet,” Josiah said. “I use three different techniques in the circle – the spin, glide or shuffle. My good throw came on the shuffle.” Joshiah can break down his event, sounding like a physics professor. He placed fourth at the recent Henlopen Championships with a throw of 43-8. “My older sister Alyssa was fourth in the state her senior year, so we have a little family competition,” Josiah said. “I played football for the first time this year, played JV the first game before moving up to varsity. I played mostly on the defensive line, but a couple games on offense.” Josiah did karate for five years and has great feet on the football field. He takes all honors classes and is on the A honor roll. “I’m a science and math guy, and its academics first for me,” Josiah said.

Carlin Quinn

A transfer from Elizabeth Seton High School in the tough Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, this junior was quite the find for the Vikings girls’ basketball team. She pulled down 17 rebounds and scored eight points in Cape’s 61-29 win over Lake Forest Feb. 5. "She is just so gritty and so tough," said Cape coach Pat Woods. "She does whatever we ask her to do and is happy doing it. I literally said at halftime ‘Carlin, when you get the ball down low, make a move,” so she goes in and gets buckets. I’m like ‘is that all I have to say?’” She also plays softball, where she was awarded all-conference at Elizabeth Seton last season. Quinn will be needed when Cape takes on Sussex Tech in a big Henlopen North matchup Friday, Feb. 8.

Patrick Tkach

This senior two-way end and punter signed his letter of intent Feb. 6 to play football for the Millersville Marauders of the tough PSAC football conference in Pennsylvania. Patrick is a coach’s kid – his dad, Mike, a long time coach. He can play multiple positions and is the quintessential team player. Patrick and Austin Mendes are Cape’s representatives to the Blue-Gold All-Star Football Game this summer. Patrick has thrown the shot put the last two years for indoor and outdoor track, and he throws about 43-5. Just recently, the senior joined the wrestling team at the request of captain Billy Ott. “I weigh 220. Cape has guys hurt, so Billy asked me to come out and fill in,” Patrick said. “I liked the idea of being able to help out while learning a new sport.” Pat got a 3-2 win in a JV match versus St. Georges and looked good doing it.  

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter