Athletes of the Week March 15
Anna Bockius
A Padua sophomore distance runner, Anna ran the lead-off leg for the Impulse Track Club of Delaware squad in the 4-by-800-meter relay at the recent New Balance Nationals. Anna (2:12.8) handed off to Sophia Holgado (2:15.7). Kelsey Wolff (2:15.0) took the third leg, before anchor Mary “Molly” Flanagan (2:10) finished it off. The Pandas pounded the track, blazing to an 8:53.46 finish to capture the New Balance National Championship. That same team won the Millrose Games with a time of 8:49.86, with Anna running 2:13. The Pandas also placed fourth in the distance medley, with Anna running a time of 3:35 on the opening leg (1,200 meters). Her personal-best open times are: 800, 2:13; 1,600, 4:57.68; and 3,200, 11.00.89. Longtime local runner and Rehoboth Beach Patrol lifeguard Troy Bockius is Anna’s father; Ellen is her mom. Padua coach Marnie Giunta said: “Anna is a very special young lady. It’s always a joy and an honor working with kids like her.”
Brady Mauro
A Cape senior who pole vaults 12 feet and plays midfield for the boys’ lacrosse team, Brady is also an honors and AP student. He is part of the vaulting trio that includes Bailey Fletcher and Eddie Houck, who swept the top three places at the recent DIAA Indoor State Championships. But Brady’s passion is ice hockey, and, oh yeah, the boy can play. Brady recently led the Harrington Havoc to the state championship of high school ice hockey. The Havoc beat Saint Mark’s in the quarterfinals and Delaware Military Academy in the semifinals, then defeated Hodgson 4-3 in the championship game. Brady had three goals and seven assists for 10 points over the three tournament games. His future plans include attending the University of Delaware or University of Pittsburgh to play ice hockey.
Max Rial
A senior on the Sussex Academy track & field team, Max is coming off a winter track season in which he won the Henlopen Conference and placed third in the state for shot put. Rial won the conference by a few inches on his final throw and said the look on coach Jay Diaz's face was priceless. Calling the conference title the highlight of his young career, Rial is hoping to be one of the top throwers in Division II this spring, and he’d like to continue competing at the collegiate level. Starting the sport because he needed something to do, Max said the journey to becoming one of the best in the state has been amazing. Rial spoke highly of his world literature teacher, Dr. Andie Davis, and said that's currently his favorite class. When he's not lifting or throwing, Max enjoys hanging out with his friends, playing darts and hiking. While he enjoys Cape Henlopen State Park locally, Old Rag Mountain near Etlan, Va., was his favorite hike.
Patrick Wisniewski
A junior 165-pounder wrestling for the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University (24-5) in Providence, R.I., this former Caesar Rodney grappler won the Northeast Regional Championship March 2, qualifying for the NCAA Division III tournament. Patrick is locally connected to wrestling culture and often works out in the Cape weight room. Wisniewski picked up wins over Nicholas Crotty (Trinity), Henry Forte (Williams), and Sean Monteiro (WNE) to advance to the finals, where he secured a late takedown to defeat Steven Rochard (Coast Guard) via 9-5 decision to earn Northeast Region champion honors. Patrick was second in Delaware in 2020, losing in the final seconds at 138 pounds to Alex Poore of Caravel, a four-time Delaware state champion. Ella Wisniewski, Patrick’s older sister, Notre Dame Class of 2022, was the drum major for the Fighting Irish.
