Two days behind the camera, yet I often miss the money shot

What’s going on - Wrestling is the most intense sport; the dual meets are like indoor football games. The emotional drama and fan enthusiasm always attract a loud and loyal crowd. Yet trophies awarded before the conference meet in February seems causal by comparison. I’m mostly in the wrong position to grab a photo because there is no heads up, the coaches don’t do a 360 like wrestling in the round. I did zoom in on coach Trey Mitchell of Caesar Rodney accepting the trophy for being the dual meet champion. The Riders, with just four varsity returners, ran the table in the Henlopen Conference, only losing to Salesianum inside Delaware. Trey received a trophy that goes to the high school office and medals for each athlete, which he will likely hand over to a manager to distribute. Good job, coach Mitchell and the Riders.

Westside wrestling - Before the DMV became so efficient, it was the perfect place once a year to spend a few hours experiencing the contrasting culture that is the westside of Sussex County. I’m talking Route 13 from Teats Music Store to Johnny Janosik to Chicks of Harrington – Delmar, Laurel, Seaford, Woodbridge and Lake Forest all had super stud, top eliminator wrestlers in their lineups, and they bring fans that are totally into it. Points scored were Laurel with 128, Lake with 111, Woodbridge with 101.5, Delmar with 77 and Seaford with 36. Laurel had two in the conference final and two third-place finishers. There are now eight teams in each division of the Henlopen Conference. Before GPS back in the day, you couldn't give directions to any school with mentioning a local landmark or “turn at the liquor store” in your instructions. Coach Zach Toadvine of Laurel was Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.

Hockey hang around - A golden goal that detonates dreams in an instant happened to Cape field hockey last fall and Canada’s Olympic Ice hockey team Sunday. Both teams were required to endure a silver medal ceremony before the champions got the gold followed by configurations of celebratory photos. I don’t have it in me to be the lovable and gracious loser. I will respect a result I can’t change, live with it the rest of my life, but no agonizing dog-and-pony show. If that is a weakness, just call me the lead singer of Limp Bizkit.  

Demographics - Cape sports had never had a better composite winter season with both basketball teams being strong – boys 17-3 and girls 19-2 – the swim teams – boys 11-1 and girls 10-2 – both indoor track teams deep, and strong wrestling Henlopen Conference meet champions. And yet drive around the school district and discover most middle-class families can’t afford to live here, and there are no beater cars or trucks with duct tape holding up fenders or coat hangers supporting tailpipes. And all the spring teams are also loaded. So I ask, “What is the demographic of the place I call Sesame Street by the Sea?”  

Sports travel - Depending on the college and the sport, athletes take a lot of airplane rides to play games in between taking classes hopefully leading to a degree. Army defeated Michigan in men's lacrosse 13-11 Saturday in Atlanta and are next scheduled to play at Mercer in Macon, Ga. They are back at West Point Saturday, Feb. 28, to play Holy Cross. Given the snow storm in the northeast, I’m guessing they are hanging around Macon for a few extra days. I hope the players like a good dose of Allman Brothers music.

Snippets - Some of my favorite sports websites go dark in the post-season and I can't easily find results. I guess that is the price of efficiency. Wrestling can produce lean and skinny fat guys on the second day of a two-day tournament. I’ve heard coaches say, “He’d rather be fat than be a champion.” In other words, he didn't make his target weight. Speaking of Target Weight, that is a BMI carpet ride. I can see “I’d rather be fat than be a champion” on a T-shirt, a slogan for the Lineman for Life Club. Several local athletes won state championships at the DIAA meet at the University of Pennsylvania over the weekend. Those will be covered in Tim Bamforth’s running column this Friday. Go on now, git!