Cape girls’ lax has a history of academic excellence
The Cape Henlopen girls’ lacrosse team is currently on ice, sitting in the cooler with 11 straight state championships and 137 consecutive wins against Delaware opponents.
The Vikings have accomplished the incomprehensible with an array of student-athletes who have continued to achieve excellence as college students, workplace professionals and, in some cases, young mothers.
There are 72 athletes on the list below. Most have graduated from college, some are still in school, while seven seniors have committed to college and are waiting to see if they get the opportunity to chase state title No. 12.
The Cape girls are the reverse of the coaching cliché, “We make them better people, then they become better players.” It’s more like, “We are good people, just make us into great lacrosse players.” The Cape girls are a synchronized German cuckoo clock, minus the cuckoo.
Cape graduated five seniors from its 2009 state championship team, all of whom went on to college: Leigh Ann Redefer, University of Delaware; Hilary Merlo, University of South Carolina; Lindsay Shook, Widener University; Raelyn Grogan, Johnson & Wales; and Kara Voss, University of Delaware and Beebe School of Nursing.
The class of 2010 had four seniors: Kaci Coveleski, Northeastern; Alec Perry, High Point and Campbell College; Sarah May, University of Richmond; and Autumn Dailey, Christopher Newport.
Three teammates from the class of 2011 went on to the University of Delaware, including Maura Johnson, Katie Yeager and Emily Farrell. Other seniors that year were Caroline Judge, Northeastern; Meg Bartley, Virginia Tech; Claire Kalb, University of North Carolina Wilmington; Sammi Reed, Delaware Tech, now a licensed vet tech and adjunct professor; and Lydia Miller, NYU.
Four members of the class of 2012 headed to UD, including Gina Voss, Jacki Coveleski, Kelly Smith and Christine Bristowe. Lexi Huering headed to West Virginia University, Erin Ricker to Lehigh and Jenna Steele to Mary Washington.
Class of 2013 student-athletes were Sara Young, University of Pennsylvania; Anna Frederick, Temple; and Bre Marsico, UD.
The class of 2014 included Kat Judge, Winthrop; Allie Yeager, Winthrop; Claire Carnevale, UNCW; Karalyn Joseph, Tampa; Karissa LeMaire, Lynchburg; Riley Wagner, UD; Lindsey Voss, West Virginia University; Alyssa Mocci, UD: Maggie Delp, UD; and Amanda Smith, Beebe School of Nursing.
Class of 2015 teammates were Coryn Cannon, Florida State; Taylor Gooch, Temple; Sarah Tappan, UD; Sam Broadhurst, UD; Jordan Brown, West Chester; and Lexi Woodruff, UD.
Class of 2016 included Lizzie Frederick, Temple; Tess Bernheimer, Drexel; Liz Lockwood, UD; and Alison Palmer, James Madison.
The class of 2017 included Korinne Lemaire, Lynchburg; Sarah Rambo, University of Virginia; Izzy Cryne and Cailey Thornburgh, Mercer University; Katie Klabe, UD; and Eddy Shoop, University of Florida.
Class of 2018 teammates were Carly Truitt, Tennessee; Katie Frederick, UD; Mallory Jones, Penn State; Lindsay Monigle, West Chester; Annie Judge, Temple; Victoria Lockwood, UD; Mary Grace Cannon, South Carolina; Leah Barry, Tulane; Jody Boyer, Shippensburg; and Kaylie Truitt, Lynchburg.
Class of 2019 student-athletes included Jillian Seker, Lenoir-Rhyne; Alia Marshall, Northwestern; Karissa Worley, La Salle; Jackie Cannon, UD; and Chloe Schaeffer, Mercer University.
In the current class of 2020, all seven seniors have committed: Talbot Buck, East Carolina University; Meredith Lockwood, Vermont; Lola Messick, Mary Washington; Anna Stancofski, Johns Hopkins; Sawyer Walker, Winthrop; Lee Lee Wilson, Mary Washington; and Delaney Zolper, University of Mississippi.
P.J. Kesmodel coached the first eight state championship teams, with Lindsey Eichner Underwood at the helm the last three years.
Cape girls’ lacrosse has always built fun days into the long season, from crazy hat and bad hair days to leprechaun lunacy to the annual short versus tall game.
The articulation of Cape lacrosse with the Atlantic Lacrosse program and the Eastern Shore Lacrosse League is also crucial to success, and now both Beacon and Mariner have lifted off middle school programs.
Fred Harvey has driven the bus to and from every state championship, and has been front and center for every team celebration photo.
