Athletes of the Week Jan. 11
Mehkia Applewhite
One of Cape’s highly touted freshman basketball players, Mehkia can play up top or down under the basket. She scored a career-high 17 points Jan. 2 in a 47-41 win at defending Henlopen Conference champion Sussex Tech. Her cousins are Paige Morris, a track star at Sussex Tech and University of Delaware, and Jada Smack, a former basketball player at Sussex Central who is now a senior at Swarthmore College, where she is a manager for the girls’ basketball team. “I can play the point, but that position belongs to Dania [Cannon],” Mehkia said. “I’m just learning to be a better player.” Mehkia is an honor roll student who plays AAU ball in the off-season. She may run track this spring.
Anthony Caruso
Anthony, a senior, went 8-0 at the recent Iron Horse Duals and is now Cape’s overall school record holder in wins with 107. The previous record of 102 was held by three-time state champion Thomas Ott. Anthony was state champion his freshman year at 106, beating Robbie Rossier of Milford 3-2 in the finals. Everyone remembers his smile on bottom the last six seconds of the match. In his sophomore season, he lost 3-1 in the 120-pound finals to Nick Natarcola of Smyrna. And last season, he lost in the finals 3-1 to Cameron Hayes of Caesar Rodney. “I’m a nice person off the mat,” Anthony said. “But on the mat, it’s all business. I just focus on what I have to do. Coach Brian Tobin has helped me with technique and mental approach. I always feel ready when I step on the mat.”
Andre Currie
A junior three-sport athlete, Andre injured his hip last summer playing lacrosse. “I broke my pelvis and tore my hip flexor,” Currie said. “It basically shut me down for four months and I had to miss football. Then I injured my knee at the start of this wrestling season and missed another three weeks.” Currie has been back on the mat at 152 pounds recently winning the Battle at the Beach tournament and looking good in dual meets. His style is lightning quickness and balance. “My philosophy is simple: ‘Make weight and wrestle,’” Currie said. “I don’t pay attention to rankings. I’ll just wrestle whoever shows up.” Andre is looking forward to lacrosse season. “I’m a middie and just love the game,” he said. “I would never think of not playing.”
Morgan Mahoney
A freshman forward on the Cape girls’ basketball team, the 5-foot-11 talented scorer is learning to play with teammates, all of whom have talent and can score. “All our girls this year have been Option 1 in their past, and now they are just one of the options,” Mahoney said. “We’re still figuring out how to make that work.” Morgan has been figuring it out, scoring 14 in a 47-41 win at Sussex Tech Jan. 2, followed by a career-high 22 points in a 59-40 win at Appoquinimink. “My scoring has been all around,” she said. “I play mostly on the wing, but I’m also aggressive in the post. When I don’t start, I still push hard.” Morgan is on the honor roll and plays AAU ball in the off-season.
