Athletes of the Week March 3
Patrick Donahue
Patrick went from JV state champion to Henlopen Conference 215-pound champion in a span of two weeks, launching from his perch as bottom seed in the bracket and powering over three opponents with a combined record of 95-30 to the improbable title. Sussex Tech coach Scott Layfield bellowed loudly, “Donahue’s got to be Outstanding Wrestler.” The voters like a good Saturday Afternoon Kids’ Special story. Patrick dropped 40 pounds to make 190, but captain Alex Taylor elected to stay at 190. Patrick reflected on his season, ranging from losing to Ryder Robinson of Sussex Central in a dual meet, getting pinned in seven seconds, to beating Robinson by a 10-0 major decision in the semifinals of the conference tournament, then his 6-1 win over Khelei Tillman of Woodbridge in the finals. “If anything, I felt guys were being cautious against me because they had no idea what to expect,” Patrick said.
Ja'Onna Lee
This Cape senior guard may be small in stature, but she’s has earned the nickname "Little Giant" because she can battle with the biggest of opponents on the basketball hardwood. She recently hit two free throws with 19 seconds left to seal the deal in Cape’s Henlopen Conference Championship win over Woodbridge. "Ja’Onna has done a great job this year," said Cape head coach Pat Woods. "She gets us organized and handles pressure, and finishes very well at the rim." Ja'Onna has earned second-team All-Henlopen Conference honors for the 2023 season. She scores 7.4 points per game, while grabbing 6.4 rebounds per contest. Controlling play in the offensive end, she dishes off 2.4 assists while making 2.8 steals a game. Teammate Hayden Hudson said, "When the team is in a tough situation, Ja'Onna always comes through."
Andrew Long
A football guy from Sussex Central, Andrew is blossoming as a 144-pound wrestler (40-7) in his senior year. Andrew, who seems to be related to everyone along the Route 9 corridor, won the Henlopen Conference championship Feb. 25. Andrew beat Xavier Limehouse of Laurel 2-1 in the quarterfinals, Dustin Elliott of Sussex Tech in the semifinals, then Case Dempsey of Lake Forest 10-3 in the championship bout. Andrew is seeded No. 3 in the state tournament this weekend. He’s likely heading to a semifinal matchup with Jack Duffy of Tower Hill. Duffy (23-7) lost in last year’s final to Mikey Frederick of Cape Henlopen. Jamar Wells (39-6) of Caravel Academy sits atop the bracket. The aforementioned Limehouse is also a dangerous dog in that weight class.
Nick Walker
Nick Walker, a Cape freshman wrestling at 132 pounds, flies into the fray without hesitation or reservation – that’s his style. And 132 is a stacked weight class. Nick lost to Nathan Moore of Caesar Rodney 8-7 in a dual meet and 8-6 in the state duals. He lost to Talon Savage of Sussex Central in a dual 7-0. At the Henlopen Conference Championships Feb. 25, Walker beat Savage in the semifinals 11-3 and Moore in the finals 5-3 to secure the conference title. “You can't be scared; you have to go hard the entire match, from neutral or on bottom or top,” Walker said. “The guys I am wrestling are really good, and it gives me confidence to know I’m as good as them.” Nick is seeded No. 2 in the state tournament. He’s likely to meet Brayden Fabian (41-10) of Red Lion Christian, an eighth-grader, in the semifinals. Luke Poore of Caravel (48-6) is the top seed.
