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Athletes of the Week Oct. 18

October 18, 2019
Ethan Edery 

“I don’t think Ethan realizes how fast he is,” said veteran cross country coach Rob Perciful after watching the Cape sophomore run 16:48 on cruise control to win a five-team race Oct. 15. Edery stunned coaches last spring when the freshman went from being a 4:55 miler to posting a 4:28 at the end of the track season. In a tri-meet at Polytech Oct. 9, Edery posted a time of 16:49, running away from Kenny Guy of Polytech, who ran 17:27. “Sometimes over the last mile I feel maybe I can run faster, but it’s all still pretty new to me,” Edery said. Most of the hot coppers in Delaware will be at the Joe O’Neill Invitational Friday, Oct. 18, at Bellevue State Park, providing an opportunity for Edery to drop some seconds. 

Brody McMahon

Brody was a long-pole levitator for the 2019 Cape state championship lacrosse team. Still photos caught would-be attackers laid out horizontal after coming into the 6-foot-6, mild-mannered defenseman’s area code. “Brody went from average middie to excellent defenseman in two years,” said coach Mark D’Ambrogi of his all-conference and all-state player. Brody is now a freshman at St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, Pa. The Bearcats are a Division III program. His coach Peter Tulk said, “Brody has been a great addition to our squad. We have a four-week, 16-day fall season that includes an alumni game and a scrimmage against the University of Pittsburgh’s club team. Our coaching staff also noticed much improvement from our first contact when he was a high school junior until he joined our team this fall. He is a great kid and wants to get better. Very coachable, good stick handler, and a very aggressive defensive player. He will be an impact player for us.”

Faith Mitchell

Milford Central Academy houses high school and middle school in the same building. This year, with DIAA approval, the Bucs decided to allow eighth-graders to play up on varsity and junior varsity teams. Eighth-grade veteran runner Faith Mitchell, with a few years of Seashore Striders racing in her resume, elected to run varsity. “Faith can just compete. She is tough,” said her Striders coach Tim Bamforth. “She will not let go of a race.” Racing against friends from other schools like Cape and Sussex Academy Oct. 15, Faith went to the front and stayed there, finishing in 20:24, just ahead of Cape and Striders buddy freshman Katie Kuhlman in 20:36. Faith will be running in the Joe O’Neill Invitational Friday, Oct. 18.

Aydan Vanderwende

A 15-year-old sophomore soccer player at Woodbridge, Aydan has been coming to races with his dad Breck since he could toddle at full throttle. He’s a pleasant person who would rather chat you up than dust you off. At the Herring Point race Oct. 13, Aydan jumped in the 5K for something to do while his dad ran the 10K. Aydan smiled as he crossed the finish line in first place in 20:52. “My dad will be surprised when he gets back from his run,” Aydan said. Breck, 46, ran his 10K in 47:51, good for ninth place. Aydan is on the JV soccer team at Woodbridge and is hoping he may get to run in a few cross country meets. Last spring, he ran distance on the Woodbridge track team. 

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