Cape, Sussex Academy split swim meet
The Cape boys’ swim team overpowered Sussex Academy 118-52, but the Seahawks’ girls’ squad squeaked out an 87-83 win over the Vikings Jan. 30 at the Sussex Academy Aquatic Center.
The Vikings’ boys remain undefeated at 11-0, while the girls are 10-1. The Seahawks’ girls are unblemished at 8-0, while the boys are 5-2.
“It was a great meet, as always,” said Cape coach Bill Geppert. “They have a very solid, well-coached team. Swimming against [Sussex Academy] brings out the best in both programs. The kids know each other so well. The swims tonight bode well for both teams at conferences and states.”
“This meet gets circled as soon as the schedule comes out,” said Seahawks coach Tom Martiner. “I bet it’s the most competitive meet in the conference for the last 10 years. Cape is a great team – well coached, well trained and very talented athletes. Our boys fell short. We’re dealing with some injuries with a week to go until the conference championship.”
Scores in the races are 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 for individual races and 8, 4 and 2 points for relays.
The Cape boys’ squad won 10-of-11 races in the contest.
“This shows where we are as a team,” said Cape sophomore Jaxen Edwards. “I think we’re looking pretty strong for the conference meet.”
The Cape girls took first in 6-of-11 battles, but the scores indicate how important second- and third-place finishes are to the final tally.
Going into the final 400 free relay, the Seahawks were ahead 81-75. Cape needed to take first and second to win the meet or first and third to tie the Seahawks. The Seahawks took second and third to give them the four-point victory.
“I’m proud of my team,” said Sussex Academy junior Anna Mumford. “We are going to keep this energy up to help us next week in the conference meet.”
“Without doing the math, I’d say our girls’ team is the best I’ve ever had,” said Martiner. “Thank goodness, as we relied on every bit of it against Cape this year. That’s a slim margin for our 60th straight win. Great test for them heading into the championship season.”
Full results can be found at www.capevikingssports.com.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
