Delmarva Christian splits home meet with Sts. Peter & Paul
A young Delmarva Christian boys’ swim team picked up its first victory of the season Dec. 12 against ESIAC foe Sts. Peter & Paul.
While the girls’s team fell just short, 60-51, the boys won all but two events en route to a 67-20 victory.
Sean Dawson led the way with two individual wins and two relay team victories; however, freshman Trax Rogers tied the senior's totals and even qualified for states in the 500 free.
“I'm really excited,” Rogers said. “It's been a great time, and I've been practicing really hard both here and with my club. This was my biggest goal this season, and I'm glad I accomplished it early.”
Rogers said the key to his success is winning the mental battle.
“You just got to keep focusing on positive thoughts,” he said. “Once you start questioning yourself, that's when you start failing to swim.”
Rogers said while he is happy to contribute early on, he sees a lot of room for growth.
“I think it's great motivation for everybody, not just him,” said Royals coach Anne Mahan. “He's a freshman, and this is his second meet. That's just a great motivation for all the rest of the swimmers to continue to work hard and to lean on each other.”
Joining Dawson and Rogers in the individual win column was freshman Samuel Kastor, who won the backstroke. Kastor and Rogers were joined by sophomores Brayden Payne and Cole Parker on the winning 200 medley relay, while Dawson, Parker and Payne teamed up with Emery Messick to win the 200 free relay. Messick, Dawson, Parker and Rogers made up the 400 free relay team.
Although the girls couldn’t get the victory, they had valuable contributions from young swimmers, including one who nearly qualified for states.
Sophomore Emi Obertubbesing won the breaststroke in 1:20.93. She said she put in a lot of work to put herself in a position to succeed. Joining Obertubbesing in the winner’s circle were freshman Claudia Warren (200 free) and sophomore Libby Dawson (100 butterfly). The three were joined by junior Natalie Ekholm on the winning 200 medley and freestyle relay teams.
“We're still a young team and looking to grow,” said Mahan. “Half of our team has never swum competitively in high school.”
The Royals will host Salisbury Christian School and the Salisbury School at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 15, at the Sussex Academy pool.
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.
