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Sussex Academy cross country teams inch toward Henlopen South Title

Lake Forest stands in the way of division titles for both boys and girls
Sussex Academy senior Aiden Zook powers his way through the final third of the race to finish at 19:34, giving the Seahawks six runners under the 20-minute mark in the Seahawks Tri-Meet victories over Laurel and Woodbridge Sept. 24. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Aaron R. Mushrush
September 25, 2025

Sussex Academy boys’ and girls’ cross country teams are a Lake Forest victory away from claiming the Henlopen South title in 2025 following a tri-meet win Sept. 24.

The Seahawks welcomed Laurel and Woodbridge to Sandhill Fields for Sussex Academy’s second Henlopen South tri-meet of the year. Girls’ times might have been higher than they wanted, but they still toppled Laurel 15-48 and Woodbridge 17-46.

“We worked them hard this week — I didn't expect a lot of PRS today because I worked them hard on Monday — we've got some good things happening on boys and girls,” Coach Jay Diaz said. “Packs forming on the boys, the girls spread time is getting tighter, and we're still progressing forward.” 

One of the girl runners, however, did set a personal record.

“I was proud of Reagan O'Connor's PR,” Diaz said. “I don't come in off the course until all my sheep are in and that sheep had a PR today, so I'm very proud.”

Muggy conditions and a temperature fit for August created less-than-ideal conditions, but the Seahawks trained with ice packs to warm up and monitored their fluids.

“Everyone's going through the same thing, but we survived it today,” Diaz said.

Sussex Academy took the top three spots in the girls’ race with Riley Moriarty (21:24), Jordan Blades (21:45), and Katya Geyer (21:57) finishing first, second and third under 22 minutes. Woodbridge’s Adriana Shrock’s 22:02 broke up a top-five finish for the girls. Taegen Forester (23:22) and Jaslene Brunskill (23:43) gave the Seahawks five of the top six finishers.

Blades, a freshman, noted that she was caught off-guard by the humidity, but powered through as she inches toward a sub-20 minute run that Diaz thinks she is capable of.

“I just have to push through because there’s nothing I can do in the race,” Blades said.

Pack running was instrumental for the strong finish.

“When I get with my teammates I can push so much harder,” Blades said.

On the boys’ side, Sussex Academy’s Ryan Moody blew the field away, again, with a 16:34 time. Ben Moody (17:52) and Will Parker (17:54) took second and third utilizing group running.

“The pack is getting a lot closer and a lot closer,” Parker said.

Moody and Parker pulled away on the final stretch, but Seth Moore (18:12) was also part of that pack.

“Together, we all slowly picked it up, trying to beat each other and just all together, that really pushed us,” Parker said.

Rounding out the top six were Noah Furlong (19:10) and Aiden Zook (19:34), making it a Seahawks six-pack at the top of the race, all of them below the 20-minute mark. Laurel’s Nathan Moore (19:40) and Woodbridge’s Logan Marchincin (19:57) also joined those finishing in the teens.

Seahawks senior Keiran Probert and sophomore Adam Solovey lead Laurel’s Makhi Strugis and Woodbridge’s Kaileb Herold on the trail.
Sussex Academy senior Doug Kleintop strides and glides.
Seahawks sophomore Alec Villar stays focused.
Sussex Academy freshman Zander Pine hovers over the gravel.
Seahawks sophomore Rico Nock powers through.
Sussex Academy junior Riley Moriarty won the girls race with a 21:24 time.
Seahawks senior Katya Geyer took third at 21:57.
Sussex Academy junior Jaslene Brunskill makes her way into the woods.
Seahawks sophomore Talia Stegall races along the trees.
Sussex Academy freshman Maggie Roblero-Chavez paces herself along the foliage.
Seahawks junior Jaslene Brunskill bursts from the woods.
Sussex Academy junior Makenna Blades comes out of the forest.
Seahawks sophomore Sharon Roblero-Chavez takes it in stride.
Sussex Academy junior Riley Moriarty pushes through to the finish.
Seahawks freshman Jordan Blades took second with a time of 21:45.
Sussex Academy senior Katya Geyer finishes up.
Woodbridge’s Adriana Schrock took fourth place.
Seahawks sophomore Teagan Forester rounded out the top five.
While it wasn’t follow the yellow brick road, it was follow the yellow shoes of Ryan oody.
Sussex Academy sophomore Lucas Ducote keeps his stride, which is running 101.
Seahawks eighth-grader Seth Moore is making an impact as a youngster, and finished fourth at 18:12.
Sussex Academy eighth-grader Nolan Furlong was one of six Seahawks to finish below the 20-minute mark, 19:10.
Seahawks teammates Keiran Probert, left, and Adam Solovey fly together.
Sussex Academy sophomore Rico Nock closes in on the final stretch.
Seahawks sophomore Eduard Tantiangco focus on his run.

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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. 

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