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Vikings, Seahawks swimmers crowned conference champs

Cape boys, Sussex Academy girls take top honors at Henlopen meet
The Cape boys won the Henlopen Conference Championship meet Feb. 7. Shown in back are (l-r) Nolan Moore, Brady Schell, Elijah Oliver, Cole Huxtable and Liam Passo. In front are Ryan Morgan, Brooks Leonhartt, Jaxen Edwards, Hugh Jack, Jack Bain, Brandt Kuklish and Weston Bohl. Missing from the photo is Kyle Green. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
February 9, 2026

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The 2026 Henlopen Conference Championship swim meet was a repeat of 2025, as the Cape boys and the Sussex Academy girls earned victories at the Sussex Academy Aquatic Center in Georgetown.  

The Cape boys scored 461 points, 148 points better than second-place Caesar Rodney with 313. The Sussex Academy girls won with 412 points, just 11 points more than second-place Cape with 401.

Cape’s Bill Geppert was voted Henlopen Coach of the Year for the girls, and Caesar Rodney’s Brenden Smith took the honor for the boys.

The Vince Morris Outstanding Performer Award was presented to Jacob Madden of Polytech on the boys’ side and Payton Garnsey of Caesar Rodney on the girls’ side. 

“Both our boys’ and girls’ teams showed continued progress toward states in a few weeks,” said Geppert. “The kids gave everything they had, left it all in the pool, and the drop in times showed it. As a conference, all the teams swam well, and the coaches were all pleased. You couldn't ask for anything more from anyone. We have another great opportunity for state times Tuesday [Feb. 10] when we swim Sallies and Ursuline. That will be a great indicator as to where we are and where we need to be.”

Sussex Academy broke seven school records. 

“The boys were very proud to once again win the [Henlopen South],” said Sussex Academy coach Tom Martiner. “Cape remains a state powerhouse. Our girls have won either their division or the dual-meet conference for 10 years straight going back to 2017. The conference meet is always close for the girls, and our depth allowed for the narrow win. I’m very pleased across the conference, as it seems like most all teams are getting stronger.”

Cape sophomore Zoey Neufeld said it was fun to interact with the other schools, which each brought strong competition.

“The close competition pushed us to swim our best and to make the most of the meet,” she said.

Sussex Academy junior Anna Mumford said it was exciting to win the conference championship meet. 

“I’m extremely proud of the whole team for giving it their best and leaving everything in the water,” she said.

“The meet was great,” said Cape senior Ryan Morgan. “A lot of good races were close, and winning it again was another special moment. We lost some seniors last year, but we had younger guys that helped step up to keep us in front during the meet. Everyone practices hard, and the work paid off in the meet.”

Cape hosts Salesianum and Ursuline Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth Beach.

The DIAA state swim meet begins Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the University of Delaware.

 

The Sussex Academy girls won the Henlopen Conference Championship meet Feb. 7. Shown in back are (l-r) coaches Guy Gosselin, Stephanie Hartsoe, Tom Martiner and Nico Caceres. In middle are Claudia Warren, Emily Obertubbesing, Gretchen Maughan, Paige Blaine, Lily Bradley, Morgan Kleintop, Catherine Elder and Kendall Rhodes. In front are Madeline Perchiniak, Sarah Lester-Stranick, Camila Figueroa, Victoria Evans, Anna Mumford, Eliza Evans, Sam Petty and Caitlin Perchiniak.
Cape junior Mia Jaoude leaves the blocks in the 400 free relay. She joined Isla Touw, Hayden Hazzard and Sidney Caldwell to take first with a time of 3:40.46.
Sussex Academy junior Anna Mumford celebrates her winning time of 4:56.76 in the 500 free.
Cape junior Hayden Hazzard is pumped after her second-place performance in the 500 free with a time of 5:35.23.
Sussex Academy’s Caitlin Perchiniak swims to fourth in the 500 free with a time of 5:49.08.
Cape junior Elijah Oliver leaves the blocks in the 400 free relay. He teamed with Jack Bain, Brady Schell and Jaxen Edwards to win the event in a time of 3:16.62.
Caesar Rodney’s Payton Garnsey wins the 100 breaststroke with a record-setting time of 1:03.49.
Cape senior Rylie Cathcart swims the 100 breaststroke to a time of 1:32.85.
Weston Bohl swims to third in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.87.
Cape senior Ryan Morgan leaves the blocks in the 100 backstroke. He swam to fifth-place finish in 1:01.00.
Cape freshman Liam Passo swims the 100 back to a time of 1:08.02.
Cape sophomore Quinn Pidgeon swims the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:16.39.
Sussex Academy sophomore Gretchen Maughan leaves the blocks in the 100 breaststroke. She swam to second place with a time of 1:08.38.
Sussex Academy eighth-grader Cale Argo swims to a time of 1:03.29 in the 100 backstroke.
Sussex Academy senior Victoria Evans swims to second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.53.
Sussex Tech sophomore Jenna Chambers swims to fourth in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:13.16.
Sussex Academy freshman Reed Knowlton places third int he breaststroke in a time of 1:07.33.
Tech junior Drake O'Neill swim to a time of 1:22.82 in the 100 breaststroke.
Cape freshman Sara Caldwell swims to a 1:18.32 time in the 100 backstroke.
Cape sophomore Jaxen Edwards wins the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.72.
Cape senior Brooks Leonhartt swims to fourth in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:07.60.
Cape freshman Julia Moore swims to a time of 1:23.89 in the 100 breaststroke.
Sussex Academy eighth-grader Catherine Elder swims to a time of 2:35.74 in the individual medley.
Sussex Tech freshman Ethan Schirmer swims to a second-place finish in the individual medley with a time of 2:04.18.
Cape junior Hayden Hazzard swims to fourth in the individual medley with a time of 2:21.83.
Cape freshman Lily Touw swims to a third-place finish in the individual medley with a time of 2:19.92.
Cape senior Sidney Caldwell, left, and junior Mia Jaoude celebrate their second- and first-place finishes in the 50 freestyle with their parents in the grandstands.
Cape sophomore Mia Thompson leaves the blocks in the 50 freestyle. She finished with a time of 28.90.
Sussex Central junior Claire Meyer finishes the 200 Individual medley with a time of 2:36.42.
Friends Sussex Academy senior Christian Wright, left, and Cape junior Brady Schell leave the blocks in the 50 freestyle. Schell took first, while Wright finished second in the race.
Cape junior Hugh Jack swims the 100 butterfly in a time of 1:04.54.
Cape junior Mia Jaoude wins the 100 butterfly in 57.38.
Cape senior Ryan Morgan swims the 100 butterfly in 1:00.79.
Cape sophomore Jack Bain leaves the blocks in the 500, which he won with a time of 5:00.91.
Cape’s Jack Bain and Brandt Kuklish celebrate their 1-3 finish in the 500. Cape junior Cole Huxtable placed second for the sweep.
Cape coach Bill Geppert cheers on his girls’ 500 free swimmers.
Getting the sweep in the boys’ 500 free are (l-r) Brandt Kuklish, Jack Bain and Cole Huxtable.
On the podium in the 100 butterfly are (l-r) third-place finisher Michael Whitaker of Sussex Academy, winner Jaxen Edwards of Cape and runner-up Christian Wright of Sussex Academy.
On the podium for the 500 free are (l-r) third-place finisher Zoey Neufeld of Cape, winner Anna Mumford of Sussex Academy and runner-up Hayden Hazzard of Cape.
On the podium in the 100 backstroke are (l-r) third-place finisher Weston Bohl of Cape, winner Jacob Madden of Polytech and runner-up Michael Whitaker of Sussex Academy.
Cape junior Brady Schell leaves the blocks in the 400 free relay. He along with Jack Bain, Eli Oliver and Jaxen Edwards won with a time of 3:16.62.
Competitors leave the blocks in thew 400 free relay.
Milford senior Madi Stahl swims the first leg of the 400 free relay.
Cape senior Sidney Caldwell sings the national anthem to open the event.
The winning 200 free relay team from Cape are (l-r) Zoey Neufeld, Isla Touw, Mia Jaoude and Lily Touw.
Voted Henlopen Conference Coaches of the Year for 2026 are Cape’s Bill Geppert for the girls and Caesar Rodney’s Brenden Smith for the boys.
The outstanding swimmers for 2026 are Polytech’s Jacob Madden and Caesar Rodney’s Payton Garnsey.

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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. 

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