Chase Ballinger
A senior in the most successful class the Sussex Academy soccer program has ever had, Chase got the Seahawks to the 2025 title game when he settled overtop a bouncer and cranked it into the net five minutes into the semifinal against Sanford Nov. 12. That morning, he committed to play at Elizabethtown next season. In his senior year, Chase scored nine goals and had six assists, finishing second on the team with 24 points. Elizabethtown will be getting a passionate player with a high IQ, killer instinct, and good combination of strength and speed.
Jaxon Benton
A key member on the first Cape unified flag football team to reach the state championship, Jaxon is the Vikings’ primary pass rusher on defense and leading rusher on offense. Jaxon helped ice the quarterfinal game against Mount Pleasant Nov. 13, and scored the first touchdown in Cape’s 52-44 upset of defending champion Indian River Nov. 19. The junior ended the game with two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions, giving him 16 points in the semifinal. Jaxon wreaked havoc in the opposing backfield and came through with a critical sack late in the fourth quarter.
Chloe Cawthern
This 9-year-old Love Creek Elementary student competes for the Seashore Striders and recently won the overall female title at the Tunnel to Towers 3.43-mile race in Lewes in a time of 25:34. Chloe, who ran 24:00 at the Sea Witch 5K, split through the T2T 5K in 22:59 en route to her first overall road win. Chloe will race at the Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championships Saturday, Nov. 22, in Knoxville, Tenn., with her Seashore Striders team. With a mom as a Striders assistant coach and Cape track coach, and a grandfather as a longtime Maryland coach, Chloe was born into the sport of running.
Deacon Odenwelder
This 10-year-old Love Creek Elementary student races like a confident middle schooler. With a soccer background, Deacon took the lead early in the Tunnel to Towers 3.43-mile race Nov. 15 in Cape Henlopen State Park and stayed out front the whole way. Deacon, who also ran 20:13 at the Nicola Pizza 5K Run in Lewes, crossed the line in 23:37 for 3.43 miles at the Tunnel to Towers event. A very smooth and efficient-looking runner, Deacon looks to have a bright future in the sport of cross country, track and road racing.
