Athletes of the Week Sept. 18
Ryan Baker
Ryan is a veteran Cape cross country runner. The rising sophomore is just 15 years old with no driver’s license. Ryan is quiet and projects a gentle personality, but as a runner, he is tough, meaning he can push his own pace and endure the pain outside his comfort zone, which looks pretty comfortable. At the Bottle & Cork 5K Sept. 12, Ryan placed fourth in 17:46. He was the youngest runner in the field of 130, which shows the dangers of virtual running. Last Cape season, Ryan was anywhere from third to sixth man behind Ethan Edery and Justin Calloway on Cape’s talented team. He ran 17:36 in the Division I cross country state meet. Ryan ran 16:38 at last fall’s Sussex County Championships, good for sixth place overall. Coach Matt Lindell said, “Ryan is taking my AP U.S. government class in the spring, displaying the same work ethic and drive in the classroom as he does on the XC course and on the track.”
Maggie Dawson
This rising Cape senior field hockey defender fits the academic profile for athletes playing that sport at Cape: all honors classes, Advanced Placement and Academic Challenge with a 4.1 GPA. Maggie hopes to crack the lineup on defense for Cape this fall. “Last year I played behind Anna [Stancofski],'' Maggie said with a smile. “We have so many great players, and everyone just always pulls for each other.” Maggie came up to the offensive zone on a corner and scored a goal, and all her teammates went bonkers. She is that kind of teammate and energizer. Maggie’s dad Mark Dawson (Class of 1990) and her uncle Keith Dawson (Class of 1988) were wrestlers for Cape back in the Little Big House days.
Natalie Derrickson
This volleyball player has been working on her skills all summer and is hoping for a fall season. According to her coach Dion Lamb, “Natalie has willingly stepped into an unfamiliar role as a setter to help out her team this fall in the East Coast Power fall league. With limited experience, she is meeting the challenge head-on and has played a critical role in the team’s early wins.” Natalie is debating between pursuing a degree in nursing or sports medicine. She is an honor roll student. Cape coach Tyler Coupe said, “Nat has a history of working hard. Even at her young age, she showed leadership and grit during her freshman campaign on JV last year. I think she has a diverse skill set that we are looking forward to helping us in a variety of ways, and knowing Nat, she'll be willing to help her team out in whatever way we ask of her.”
Katie Knarr
Katie led the way with seven kills in the most recent matches at the East Coast Power fall league at the 76ers Fieldhouse in Wilmington. Her coach Dion Lamb says the senior outside hitter for the Beach Team has been putting in maximum effort to ensure she can be a contributor for the Cape high school team this year. “We have a large class of seniors and Katie has been a strong player the last three years, and we look forward to leaning on her skill set and leadership this fall,” said Cape coach Tyler Coupe. Katie is in the top 5 of her class (she gets that from her mom, according to dad John) and her college focus is on southern schools like Miami, USC, Charlotte and UNC. Katie is interested in nutrition as well as physical therapy. She has a 4.1 GPA and is enrolled in Academic Challenge, AP and honors classes.
