Athletes of the Week March 13
Landon Best
A major defensive contributor on the 2019 state championship lacrosse team, now junior Landon Best has assumed a leadership role on the 2020 squad. His skill and speed popped during the March 7 play day in Lewes. “I’ll start the game as a close defender and maybe rotate up to long stick middie on the wing on face-offs,” Landon said. “Coaches are also working with me as a face-off man.” Landon plays summer and fall ball. He lifts weights in the wintertime, and also works on speed and agility. Gabe Best, last year’s leading scorer, is Landon’s twin brother. “My dad said, ‘Offense gets the credit; defense wins championships,’” Landon said. “We lost eight starters, but we have talent on this team that’s ready to step it up.”
Aarin Burton
The “Big Cat” is a young member of the Linemen for Life Club. But in high school, the Cape lacrosse coaches gave the 6-foot-1, 275-pound Burton a short stick, put him on the field in man-and-a-half-up situations, and let him get a taste of ringing the bell and scoring. Aarin was hooked on a feeling you can’t find in football when you don’t touch the ball. Aaarin found his way to Division III Bethany College in West Virginia because he wanted to keep playing a sport that he loves. The Bison are off to an 0-3 start, but the Big Cat has scored two goals in each of the first three games. The reality is there are few Afro-American starting attackmen in college lacrosse and none who are 6-foot-1 and 275 pounds rolling the crease and bull-dodging defenders. He’s a smart guy too, so no problem with academics.
Tyler Husbands
Tyler is a junior left-handed first baseman and pitcher for the Cape baseball team. He is just what Cape needs to replace Mason Fluharty, a lefty first baseman who’s now pitching for Liberty University. “Tyler came in this year ready to go and has had his foot on the gas pedal every day at practice,” said coach Ben Evick. “He’s been playing solid defense at first, swinging the bat very well, and has shown great command on the mound.” Tyler played as a 12-year-old for the Milton All-Stars team that won a state championship and advanced to the regionals in Bristol, Conn. “I feel I have good control, and throw the fastball and curveball,” Husbands said, adding, “As a left-handed hitter, I see myself in the middle of the lineup.”
Robert Mitchell
Robert was home on break last week from North Carolina Central and caught the Charter versus Cape girls’ basketball game. It was a good time to catch up with another Linemen for Life athlete. Robert was an All-MEAC center this past season, who played football and basketball when he was at Cape. Mitchell looks trim and fit at 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds, and what he proved in Cape basketball was he had great hands, great feet and is a great teammate. He played two years at Lackawanna College before deciding on North Carolina Central. He is a solid student majoring in mass communications. He repped 225 pounds 30 times and can run a 5.1 40-yard dash. His grandfather Robert is one of 15 children of his great-grandmother, so when so many aunts and uncles call him “Little Cuz,” they are half right.
