Athletes of the Week Sept. 27
Jacob Alt
Recently moved from defense to the midfield, Jacob has proven to the coaches that it was the correct move to make. "He was all over the field in the Indian River game," said Cape head coach Patrick Kilby. "He is outperforming our expectations of him. Jacob is the player who is setting the tone for the team. His effort is now starting to set the bar for his teammates to match." A junior honors student at Cape, Jacob came up through the Henlopen Soccer Club program and Mariner Middle School soccer team, and now plays travel ball for the Delmarva Alliance Soccer Association. His mantra is, “Put the hard work in, then you get the result you want.” When he’s not on the soccer turf, you can find him surfing, fishing and cruising on his skateboard.
Connor Hochrein
Connor is the third of the Hochrein brothers to play soccer for the Vikings, but he is distinguishing himself as a force in his own right at the defensive position while also making offensive plays from the sky. He has scored four goals on the season, three off headers at the opponent’s cage. "He is very versatile on the field," said coach Patrick Kilby. "Connor can play in the central-mid position as well as at center back. He takes set pieces while also being the target on corner kicks." Connor has gone through the Henlopen Soccer Club and to the Delmarva Alliance Soccer Association travel club team. When not on the turf, he can be found swimming the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke for the Vikings swim team. Connor hopes to play soccer in college while getting a degree in education.
Trent Kauffman
This seventh-grader blew away a 50-runner field in his cross country debut, cruising the 3K Virden Center course in 11:31 to lead Beacon to a 17-46 victory over Mariner Sept. 23. Sticky 87-degree conditions did little to faze Kauffman, who took command from the gun and won by 45 seconds in what looked to be a controlled effort. “He works hard and does whatever he’s asked,” Beacon coach Paul Ecker said of his new ace, who also plays soccer for the school. “If I ask him to run, he just says, ‘How far?’ On top of that, he’s very humble.” Kauffman’s time places him among the top 10 Cape district middle schoolers ever to compete at Virden, and he’s just getting started.
Ali Stevenson
This Mariner seventh-grader kicked hard over the final 400 meters to take the individual crown in her team’s 24-33 win over Beacon Sept. 23. Battling blazing temperatures, Ali covered the 3K course at the Virden Center in 14:30, five seconds clear of Beacon’s Lindsay Fernandez. “Ali did her job today and showed the toughness that has always set her apart from the pack,” said Mariner coach Kenny Riedel. “She’s willing to take on anyone. She’s pretty quiet, but you’d never know it from the way she competes.” An honor roll student who takes part in Mariner’s Academic Challenge program, Ali set school records at 1,600 meters (5:50) and 800 meters (2:42) last spring. Cape assistant cross country coach Rob Perciful likens her to former Seaford and UNC-Greensboro standout Kristin Irwin, a former two-mile state champion.
