Zeke Clark inspires runners at SoDel Cares 5K
Who cares? SoDel Cares - “SoDel Cares is the philanthropic arm of the SoDel family, which is made up of four companies: SoDel Concepts restaurants, Southern Delaware Brewing, Surf Bagel and Highwater Management. SoDel Cares gives money to local organizations that assist children, at-risk youth and adults, and the elderly. The primary mission of SoDel Cares is to contribute in a positive way to the communities where we do business.” I covered the SoDel Cares 5K June 7. The race featured 323 runners and another couple hundred walkers. There were more storylines than outriggers in the ocean at the White Marlin Open. The main story was 5-year-old Zeke Clark, who ran with his trainer Chris Antonio, 56. Zeke ran his first 5K with a prosthetic leg – he lost his leg in a lawnmower accident when he was 2 years old. Zeke is an irrepressible personality type, naturally athletic, what locals call “all boy.” Zeke and Chris cruised to a time of 46:59. They were escorted to the finish line by Jason and Ryan Baker, who had run 18:36. Zeke's sister, Chloe DeForrest, 16, ran 25:12. Erik and Andrew Moyer, 23-year-old twins from Schwenksville, Pa., placed 1-2 in the race.
Box of dreams - I taught a sports information and media relations class at Cape; it must be 25 years ago through the social studies department. One day, I brought in a big cardboard box that was collapsing upon itself filled with old trophies with missing arms and unreadable plaques. The letters oxidized over time, making them unreadable. I started to tell a story about Our Lady of Grace beating powerhouse Blessed Sacrament out of Trenton to win a Christmas tournament. I was in eighth grade, scored 31 and was named MVP of the tournament. Kids were squirming in their seats fearing what was coming next. One girl finally said, “Fredman, we love you and all that, but this is a joke, right?” I said, “You’re absolutely right; it's a joke. Now, put my stuff back in the box and slide it up here.” And that is a lesson. Sports memories and trophies are precious memories, but like the athletes themselves, they don’t age well.
Comedic riff - All the hubbub around high school graduations, a couple thousand people arriving 90 minutes early, what is that all about? I used to joke to seniors, “It really isn’t noteworthy if you graduate from high school, but more noteworthy if you don’t.” Like you failed communications skills, Spanish 1 or finite math. And then I could get really stupid bringing in the discipline matrix. But I take it all back. The moment on stage receiving a diploma like a relay baton represents a family effort in a journey that was not always easy. I venture to say no families go 12 straight years without stressors and storms, and perhaps losing people along the way. And so a funny routine at a point in my young adulthood I now realize with accrued wisdom and feet that hurt wasn’t funny at all. Grandchildren Davey and Lina and great-nephew Bodie graduated from Cape last week and people congratulated me ... I assume for staying out of the way.
Solid and steady - Cape hired Ron Dukes to replace Pat Woods as head coach of the Cape girls’ basketball program. I’ve known Ron Dukes since he helped coach football at Woodbridge in 1980. I covered many of his games when he coached the Sussex Central girls from 2007 to 2022. Dukes is old-school cool. I just never saw him lose composure, and he will be a good fit for a talented group of Cape players looking to take a few steps in the postseason tournament.
Snippets - Open fields for Cape field hockey on Tuesday nights at Champions Stadium begin June 10. Conditioning from 5:30 to 6 p.m., then playing field hockey from 6 to 8. This is for Cape players – four classes – from rising freshmen to rising seniors. Cape graduated just two players from last year's state championship team. The JV team of 23 players went 12-0, and three middle schools will send 23 rising freshmen to the high school. The Cape cross country boys’ team sounds loaded for this fall season with four sub-10-minute 3,200-meter guys, including Jason Baker (9:11), Riley Stazzone (9:37), Nick Petito (9:53) and Braden Redd (9:58). Rising freshman Jude Peacock is also predicted as a sub-10-minute two-miler. Go on now, git!
