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Athletes of the Week Sept. 6

September 6, 2019
Gary Hayes

A sophomore returning starter for the Cape soccer squad, this right mid is known for his hustle and always being around the action, taking on larger opponents with a tenacity unparalleled in the Henlopen Conference. "Gary is a second-year varsity starter as an outside mid and has shown very well this preseason. He is really physically fit and a very hard worker. We are really looking for him to be a big contributor on the offensive end this season," said head coach Patrick Kilby. Gary is known more for his passing across the middle and getting assists to his teammates instead of taking the individual glory of scoring the goals. "Besides soccer, I'm concentrating on my grades and keeping in good shape," said Hayes. A 160-pound representative for the Cape wrestling team, Gary surfs and works out with his father in his time away from the turf of Legends Stadium.

Darby Klopp

Local fans are not surprised but delighted that Franklin and Marshall freshman field hockey player Darby Klopp (straight out of Cape Henlopen) was an instant impact player for the Diplomats, scoring a pair of goals in a 6-1 road win over the Elizabehtown Blue Jays. Darby is listed as a defender. She scored two minutes into the second quarter, settling a loose ball and sending it between the legs of the goaltender. Senior Erin Coverdale, another Cape kid and Division III All-American, scored for the Dips for a 3-0 lead at halftime. Darby scored again in the 40th minute and also had an assist, which begs the question, who is playing defense? Darby was a team captain at Cape in 2018 and won the Barbara Dougherty One Tough Cookie Award. Her sister Riley is a junior on the Cape hockey team. 

Kevin Perez-Escalante

Kevin is a senior honors and Advanced Placement student who is entering his second year on Cape’s varsity soccer squad. "He has shown great improvement over the past year," said coach Patrick Kilby. "He has great pace and fantastic work ethic." A left-footed outside mid, he has impressed his opponents so far this preseason, splitting quality playing time with senior teammate Chris Gonzalez. He has also impressed his teachers in the classroom. "Kevin works very hard in class and he's a really nice kid," said social studies teacher Shane Jensen. Kevin is part of the education pathway at Cape and wants to study business while playing soccer in college next year. He spends part of his Cape school day working with third-graders at Love Creek Elementary School.

Kaylie Truitt

A former hockey player at Cape, Kaylie is now a sophomore at the University of Lynchburg. She started all 22 games her freshman season at midfield as the Hornets posted a 16-6 record. Hosting Lebanon Valley in the season opener Aug. 31, Kaylie scored early in her first game playing forward. With the game tied 1-1, Alexis Brown scored at 47:37 to give the Hornets the victory. Kaylie was on two state championship field hockey teams at Cape and four lacrosse state title teams. She was an academic all-conference and academic all-American at Cape. Her brother Jake plays lacrosse for Cape, and her sister Lexi is a freshman field hockey player.

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