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Sussex Academy XC teams finish clean in the mud

Seahawks battle the bugging elements to soar above IR, Seaford
Sussex Academy senior Ryan Moody led from start to finish, and set a personal record of 16:07, at the Henlopen South tri-meet between the Seahawks, Indian River and Seaford Sept. 17 at Sandhill Fields. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Aaron R. Mushrush
September 18, 2025

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Senior Ryan Moody ran a nice time of 16:07 at Sandhill Fields Sept. 17 to lead his Sussex Academy team over Seaford 15-50 and Indian River 16-39. Moody’s time moves him from third to second on the Henlopen Conference top 20 list.

Will Parker and Ben Moody were second and third, respectively, each in 18:31, while Seth Moore finished fourth in 18:45.  Rounding out the scoring for the Seahawks was young Nolan Furlong in 19:04 for sixth place.

“This is our home course, I know how to run it,” Moody said. “I was going for it today to try to get a PR, so I went in with the mindset of trying to PR.”

The girls’ individual times were not available by deadline, but Sussex Academy went 2-0 with wins of 15-50 over Seaford and 20-35 over Indian River. The top five was Riley Moriarty of Sussex Academy, Leila Hernandez of Indian River, Jordan Blades of Sussex Academy, Katya Geyer of Sussex Academy and Teagan Forester of Sussex Academy.

“I was debating whether to wear spikes or sneakers in this race just because it’s so tricky with the puddles and mud, but you just have to know where you’re going and just take action when it comes,” said Moriarty.

Seahawks senior Will Parker leads a couple of his teammates, senior Rocco Buonopane and eighth-grader Seth Moore, through the flooded grass.
Sussex Academy senior Ryan Moody makes his way through the woods.
Indian River’s Harrison Benner makes his way around the bend.
Seahawks eighth grader Nolan Furlong stays focused through the trees.
Sussex Academy senior Douglas Kleintop keeps his stride on the slime.
Seahawks senior Keiran Probert makes gains in the greens.
Sussex Academy seniors Rocco Buonopane, right, and Aiden Zook make their way through the mud.
Seahawks sophomores Alec Villar, right, and Adam Solovey on the final stretch.
The girls had to navigate some tricky ground conditions.
Indian River senior Leila Hernandez Sandoval breaks up the Sussex Academy running pack that nearly took all of the points.
Sussex Academy senior Katya Geyer runs on the boardwalk.
Seahawks sophomore Teagen Forester runs through the jungle.
Sussex Academy junior Riley Moriarty wins her second race in as many tries, and of her career, by taking first Sept. 17 at Sandhill Fields.
Seahawks freshman Jordan Blades takes third.
Sussex Academy senior Katya Geyer finishes with the front of her legs clean. The back side was a different story, as it was with all of the runners following the Sept. 16 storm.

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Aaron Mushrush joined the sports team in Summer 2023 to help cover the emerging youth athletics scene in the Cape Region. After lettering in soccer and lacrosse at Sussex Tech, he played lacrosse at Division III Eastern University in St. David's, PA. Aaron coached lacrosse at Sussex Tech in 2009 and 2011. Post-collegiately, Mush played in the Eastern Shore Summer Lacrosse League for Blue Bird Tavern and Saltwater Lacrosse. He competed in several tournaments for the Shamrocks Lacrosse Club, which blossomed into the Maryland Lacrosse League (MDLL). Aaron interned at the Coastal Point before becoming assistant director at WMDT-TV 47 ABC in 2017 and eventually assignment editor in 2018. 

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