Sussex Academy swimming downs Cape

Seahawks boys and girls prevail over Vikings

The Sussex Academy swim teams celebrate Senior Night with a victory over Cape. Shown are (l-r) Julia Helou, assistant coach Stephanie Hartsoe, Lindsey Guida, Molly Martiner, Jake Mundok, John Kent, head coach Tom Martiner, Bradley Garcia and Michael Podrasky. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Dan Cook

February 3, 2020

The Seahawks proved to be just a little too strong for the Cape girls’ swim team, as the Vikings kept it close until the last event at Sussex Academy’s Senior Night 90-80 victory over the Lady Vikings Jan. 30. The 400 free relay team of Ellen McKay, Tess Mariner, Lindsey Guida and Sanne Elling took first place with a time of 4:01.21 and carried with them the meet victory.

Sussex Academy won seven of the 11 events in the meet. The Seahawks move to 11-1, while the Vikings are 9-2.

“Every year, the meet is a highlight of the year,” said Sussex Academy head coach Tom Martiner. “Cape has been a powerhouse program for years and a great opponent. The kids on both teams have mostly grown up together. It’s a shame we can’t harness the energy created at that meet; it could light up the county.”

“We definitely all swam really well and it was a close meet the entire time,” said Cape senior Gianna Vayda. “It all came down to the last event, where we ended up falling through. But even though we lost to CR and Sussex Academy, we can still get them at conferences with no problem, like we’ve done in previous years. We are working in practice to improve our times and putting work in physically and mentally to come out with another conference meet championship.”

The Sussex Academy boys’ squad took control of the meet, winning six of the 11 events to garner a 109-61 victory.

The Sussex Academy boys move to 11-1, while the Vikings are 7-4.

Cape will celebrate its seniors Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the Sussex Family YMCA, when they swim against Salisbury School. Sussex Academy will return to its pool Saturday, Feb. 8, to host the Henlopen Conference Championships.

Full results can be found at capevikingssports.com.

Sussex Academy’s Ellen McCay looks at her score as she garners first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:10.47.

Cape’s Amaya Daisey wins the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:04.31.

Cape’s Thomas Weeks leaves the blocks in the 100 backstroke, which he won with a time of 1:02.72.

Sussex Academy captain Lindsey Guida leaves the blocks in the freestyle.

Cape’s Marcus Gromofsky wins the 50 free with a time of 52.64.

Erin Morrissey swims the anchor leg of the medley relay. She and her teammates Aya Daisey, Alissa Silva and Amaya Daisey took first with a time of 2:01.46.