Big hurts and redshirts stepping up and stepping out

Big hurts and redshirts - Brent Reed (Cape), a 6-foot-6, 252-pound tight end at the University of Delaware, tore his ACL the second day of practice, which required surgery. The injury also revealed a meniscus tear. He was forced to miss the season. Brent is an honors economics major and will graduate this spring with a 3.5 GPA in finance. Brent actually has a fifth and sixth year of football available due to redshirt status as a freshman and medical redshirt this year, but he is leaning toward entering the workforce. The young man looks awesome dressed up with no helmet or helmet head. His dad Joe is a Cape guy and 1987 University of Delaware graduate. Both Brent and Joe are described in my household as nice kids. Ed Brown, starting quarterback three years at West Chester, declined to pick up his fifth-year option to play. Clint Park, starting quarterback at Villanova and son of friend Thom Park, had a fifth-year option but decided to graduate and move on. My granddaughter Anna decided against a fifth year for Temple lacrosse and when I laid a guilt trip on her – “What about me? I’ve been following you since you were in fifth grade. What am I supposed to do?” – Anna just laughed, knowing I couldn’t possibly be serious. I could go on with stories, but in all the examples above, we’re talking student-athletes who got their college degrees, which is the point of showing up in the first place.  

The quintessential truth, Ruth - Line from film “Do The Right Thing.” Coach Jodi Stone of Indian River field hockey has been on it the last four winning seasons, trying to get her team to level up and compete with Cape to the north and Delmar to the west. This season, the Indians finished the regular season 14-1 and are the second seed in the Division II state tournament. They will open play Saturday, Nov. 9, at Sussex Academy against Newark Charter. “We hope to represent the Henlopen Conference well,” coach Stone said after walking out of Champions Stadium Nov. 4 after a friendly scrimmage versus Cape. The Indians are fast. They remind me of those basketball teams of the ’90s when the crowd chanted, “River! River!” Another impressive coaching job was turned in by first-year head coach Torrie Huk, who guided Polytech to a 10-4-1 record with close losses against Indian River 2-1, Cape 3-1 and Dover 1-0. The Panthers hosted Mount Pleasant Nov. 7 (after our deadline). Whoever prevails gets the winner of Cape versus Wilmington Charter. Jodi and Torrie both turned in great coaching performances, and I understand little of coaching women in sports, but according to Zen Master PJ Kesmodel, when fall rolls around, I become “Mr. Field Hockey.” 

What chance? No chance! Bob Carpenter Center. March 6, 2010. Cape girls’ basketball warming up in quarterfinals of state tournament. Their opponent Saint Marks was 19-0. They flashed through layup drills then went to spots and buried jump shots. Teresa Allen, a former student and mother of Johnesha Warren, came over and asked me, “What chance do we have against this team?” I told her in one word, “None!” She laughed, knowing I am half crazy. Cape went on to steal that game 43-41 behind 24 points from Warren and another 11 from Capri “3-Ball” Murray. Cape lost in the semis to Smyrna 59-55 with Warren netting 25 points. Smyrna lost to Sanford in the finals 51-36.

State cross country champions - What chance do the Sussex County and Henlopen Conference champion Cape Henlopen boys have of bringing home the Division I state title from Killens Pond State Park this weekend? The answer is the same as listed above, “No chance!” Cape must deal with Charter of Wilmington, Salesianum, Caesar Rodney and Concord. The Vikings need to run great to snag third place. Charter and Sallies, both blessed with depth of elite runners, should battle for the title. Veteran runners who race have tremendous self-awareness are rarely suckered by their own enthusiasm, but rarely isn’t never. Padua is the class of Division I girls. Tatnall boys and Ursuline girls are favored in the Division II race. My key concern is whether “Big Loser Boy” and his blue chair will be allowed to set up inside the finish chute. A good chance of no chance. Race schedule is Division II girls at 1 p.m., Division I girls at 1:40, Division II boys at 2:20 and Division I boys at 3.

Snippets - Anthony Caruso is wrestling at 141 pounds for the Midway University Eagles, an NAIA school in Midway, Kent. They compete in the River States Conference. Last weekend, he won his first college match in the 26-team Patriot Open in Williamsburg, Kent., 16-1 over Colin Silva from Cumberlands University. Practice for fall sports begins Monday, Nov. 11. Fall athletes playing a winter sport are entitled to take some time off, but most don’t. Go on now, git!