Clearing the decks: tracking athletes and coaches

Injured and Ignored - Injured athletes and those not in the rotation for reasons unknown stand on the sidelines or sit on the bench during games, and mostly what they do is “feel stupid.” Why is playing time so important? Because these athletes grew up on teams and they want to contribute. They don’t want to hear, “there are other ways to contribute besides playing” because that takes a magnanimous, unselfish personality type, a Walmart greeter on the sidelines just waiting for their chance.

The first time I came off an injury, I sat on the bench all four quarters during a Temple freshmen basketball game. When my roommate missed a layup for the winning basket, I must have smirked because the head coach was in my face, “you think this is funny, Frederick?” “No, coach, smirk worthy, but not funny.” But what I did know was “he hated me for not living up to expectations.” Be a good coach and play as many people as you can and always pay attention to injured players. 

Super snippets - Clearing the decks - Billy Cunningham of Lewes, who led the Appoquinimink Jaguars to the state championship of baseball in 2015, with a 10-2 win over Cape in the finals, has switched jobs this spring and is now an assistant coach for the Charter Force. Dan Saggione is the head coach of Charter. The Force were 7-10 least season. Appo was 14-4 last season under Cunningham, losing to Cape in the quarterfinals 6-5. “It was a great opportunity to work closer to home,” Billy said.

Austin Mendez and Patrick Tkach are Cape players on the Gold Squad for the 2019 DIFCA All-Star football game. Sussex Central players are Isaiah Barnes and Elijah Moorer. Sussex Tech will send Trey Hatfield and Ian Williams.

Olympic weightlifter Brandon Davis, 37, is a coach with the Rehoboth Barbell Club. Brandon recently competed in the annual Arnold Sports Festival March 1-3 in Columbus, Ohio. Competing in Masters 109+ division, Brandon won a bronze in the snatch, a silver in the clean and jerk and bronze overall. Brandon will compete in the World Masters Championships in Montreal, Quebec, this August. Brandon works as a paraprofessional educator for special needs children at the John S. Charlton School, a part of the Caesar Rodney School District. William Harris is the owner of the Rehoboth Beach Barbell Club and a four-time winner on the annual Delaware’s Strongest Man Competition.

Patti Dieterle, 65, walked the March 17 Shamrock 5K in 49:07, which is 15:48 pace. She said to me, “Three years ago, March of 2016, after a cruise, I couldn’t even walk [due to] some autoimmune disorder. Luckily, Johns Hopkins figured out the medication I needed, so completing a 5K today is pretty satisfying for me.” Patti was diagnosed with CIDP or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. People like Patti are the reason I always hang until the last athlete crosses the finish line.

Ronnie Anglin, a Cape senior, asked me to take a picture at track practice. I snapped his photo, then seven other athletes showed up. I had to tell them, "this ain't no high school yearbook." I asked Ronnie Anglin if he was from England, seemed funny enough at the time. Kenny Reidel, Ronnie’s coach at Mariner, said, “One of my all-time favorite Mariner kids. Amazingly hard worker and never a negative word to say to anyone.”

Bill Lewis, straight out of Mariner, played high school football at Cape, Sussex Tech and Sussex Central. He went on to graduate from Delaware State and is a certified educator, I believe in social studies. He would be a good get for any high school looking for a teacher/coach.

Zach Savage (Cape) is a freshman baseball player for the Lafayette Leopards. The Leopards are 3-14 and Zach’s time has been limited, but he’s a gamer and certainly gets the academic/athletic relationship.

Korinne LeMaire (Cape) and Madison Knight (Polytech) are playing lacrosse for the Lynchburg College Hornets. Madi Bada (Sussex Tech) is a sophomore playing lacrosse for the East Carolina Pirates. Erik-Stepan Stancofski is a midfielder for the 7-0 Swarthmore College Garnett.

Terror toddler Luke Underwood (coach Lindsay’s son), dressed as Hulk underneath his jacket, was roaming the Tuesday girls’ practice scooping balls and looking for contact. Katie Frederick (Cape) is a freshman at Delaware playing club field hockey. They will be at James Madison this weekend for a pair of games. Kealey Allison (Indian River) scored five goals as the Green Terror of McDaniel College beat Sewanee 12-7. Kealey has 17 goals on the season.

Zach Dale (Cape), a pitcher at Delaware State, has appeared in six games for the 5-12 Hornets. Zack Gelof has started all 20 games for University of Virginia, playing third base and leading off. He’s batting .309, while 6-of-8 in stolen base attempts. Did you hear about the neurotic base stealer who stole second, felt guilty, so he gave it back? Go on now, git!