Athletes of the Week Sept. 20
Ariana Adili-Khams
This freshman straight out of Beacon was the closer at the Sept. 18 cross country quad meet at Sussex Central versus the host Golden Knights along with Caesar Rodney and Indian River. CR and Cape each had four runners across the finish line and counted. The Vikings had the lower number, but needed the fifth runner to get home. Ariana (23:09) led a pack of Cape runners as Elizabeth Melson, Peyton Evans, Caroline Maull and Taylor Johnson roared home all in a row. “That was a personal best time for me,” Ariana said. “I ran track for coach [Tim Bamforth] at Beacon last year, but not cross country. I ran the 800 and 1,600, so this is all new to me. I know this was a big win for the program, but I just got here, so I’m just trying to do my best.”
Nick Campbell
A 123-pound sophomore running back and safety, Nick went off Sept. 16 at Legends Stadium as the Cape JV football team beat visiting William Penn 14-12 for the program’s first win since summer practice began Aug. 12. Nick scored a first-half touchdown and intercepted a pass to turn back a scoring threat by the Colonials. In the second half, Nick became the featured back. He makes his money finding the creases on the inside and scored another touchdown as Cape led 14-6. William Penn hit a wheel route up the sidelines to tighten the score to 14-12. The run wide for two points was stopped short of the goal line and Nick was in on the tackle. Later on, when Cape needed a first down to keep the ball and chew up the clock, it was Campbell on the carry. “Credit goes to the line,” he said.
Mia Nuebling
Mia, a sophomore out of Mariner, is a show-up-on-game-day type of runner. In the big win over Caesar Rodney Sept. 18, she left no gas in the tank, running 21:52 to finish as Cape’s No. 3 on a deeply talented team. Mia was just four seconds behind Caesar Rodney’s No. 1 Keely Arndt. “Mia is just a tough and talented athlete,” said Cape coach Matt Lindell. “Really, our top nine runners will be pushing each other all season.” Mia could not be found immediately after her race because she was on a cool-down run and post-race stretching routine. Mia’s father Chris is a former soccer player for Cape. Mia placed 12th over at the recent Lake Forest Invitational with a time of 22:30.
Rileigh Wilson
A one-sport sophomore who plays volleyball year-round, Rileigh gets some serious ups at the net. She had her best match Sept. 12, just killing it against Caesar Rodney with 11 kills at the net in the Vikings’ dramatic 3-2 win over the Riders. “It was really exciting,” Rileigh said with a smile. “All the fans and students with rally towels really inspired us.” Spring athletes’ coaches from other sports should try to recruit her, as she looks like a high jumper/hurdler and certainly a lacrosse player. But it’s her love of volleyball that keeps her flying high and killing it. Borrowing a quote from Michael Jordan, “The sky is the roof” for Rileigh Wilson. Her mom, Jill Daisey, was a softball pitcher for Cape.
