Cape swimming looks for senior leadership
The Cape boys’ swim team went undefeated 11-0 in the last year’s regular season and took a dominating victory in the conference meet. The girls’ squad dropped just one meet to Sussex Academy during a 10-1 regular season, but got revenge in the conference meet by grabbing the top podium spot.
The Vikings lost a few great swimmers to graduation, but Cape coach Bill Geppert, in his 28th year of coaching, is looking for his players to step up and be the 2025-26 leaders.
“We have some big shoes to fill this season,” said Geppert. “Losing our senior leadership each year is tough, but what makes it even harder is that our graduates last year were not only awesome in the pool but were also great captains as well. They constantly collaborated with the coaching staff on lineups. Jenna Reinhold, Hailey Hassell, Holden Tighe and Shane Toback will be tough to replace.”
The boys’ senior class this year is Brooks Leonhartt, Ryan Morgen, John Keys, Nolan Moore, Trent Neal and Garrett Vansant. The girls’ seniors are Norah Block, Sidney Caldwell, Kacey Callaway, Rylie Cathkart, Alysa McCarthy, Gianna Razze, Dilyla Rohls and Leah Sullivan.
Geppert hopes his upperclassmen can help to get both squads on the top podium.
“We have to replace some good swimmers that graduated,” said Leonhartt. “But we have some good younger guys ready to step up.”
“We are committed to getting better every day,” said Moore.
“It’s a numbers game,” said Caldwell. “Having good depth gets you points. We have a great group of girls this season.”
“We have new swimmers at every position,” said Sullivan. “Some really good young swimmers came out in every class. It’ll definitely help us.”
“There is a great opportunity for this year's seniors to learn from the past and work to be their very best,” Geppert said. “Great moments like this present great opportunity for others to step into the spotlight and have a season to remember. I am looking forward to seeing what they can deliver. It's what makes coaching so rewarding and why we continue to do it for so long. I can’t wait for the season to start.”
Back on the pool deck this season with Geppert are assistant coaches Pete Olson, Colleen Bailey, Julianna Danese and Rick Brokaw.
The teams open their 2025 regular season Monday, Dec. 8, at Lake Forest.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
