Personal bests and milestones in the sports landscape

Raven flies high - “Air” Jordan Welch, a Sussex Tech senior high jumper, took the top off the event Jan. 3, winning the sixth annual Golden Wolves Challenge at Alveria University’s indoor facility in Reading, Pa., clearing the bar with a personal best 6-feet-10-inches. Welch also won the long jump in 22-11 and triple jump in 44-8. Welch’s high jump puts him in the top 10 list nationally for high school high jumpers indoors. Sprinter Savannah Stevenson won the open 400 meters in 1:02.8. The Ravens are coached by Brian Elliott. Jordan finished fourth in last May’s Division I state championships with a jump of 6-4. 

Top ranked - Milford heavyweight Greg Lockett is the top-ranked 285-pounder in Delaware high school wrestling. He wears a T-shirt that says “Buccaneer Wrestling 285.” He’s built like a road grader ready to flatten an opponent, which he did at the end of the Cape match by pinning Javier Morales in 2:51 to earn his 100th career win. Greg is described as the nicest kid by those in Milford who know him well. He was presented with a banner by the boosters. I was hoping coach Don Parsley and Lockett would turn around from the home stands to the far side of the gym so I could get a photo or maybe ask them where I can get a T-shirt that reads “Old Guy Cape 285.”   

Overuse Syndrome - I have not kept up with all the DIAA rules that have loosened constraints on athletes in terms of coaching contact hours or length of practices or number of games per day or per week. Liberalization is not good for lax ligaments. Playing on turf fields and hard courts is taxing on the body. We smart people all know that, yet there is a general let-the-ponies-run mentality. Many athletes play on school teams and travel teams during the same season. Often they’re different sports, and sometimes the same sport. But rest is therapeutic and restorative, and basically there is no risk in rest unless you fall out of bed. 

Billick on a Boardwalk bench - Eighteen years ago, before Super Bowl-winning Ravens coach John Harbaugh, there was Brian Billick, who also won a Super Bowl. I kinda sorta knew Billick – not sure he would say the same. One summertime morning, I saw him sitting on a Boardwalk bench at the top of Wilmington Avenue, so I sat down next to him. I gave coach a “What’s up?” I said who I was quickly, exiting with, “Have a great vacation.” I was gone like lifeguard Woody with a hammer in search of nail heads. The same beach off Wilmington Avenue – beaches are their own neighborhoods – my son Dave was a 14-year-old beach boy with his own shack. Actor William Devane, now 86 years old, known for ”Knots Landing” and “Space Cowboys,” came up to rent an umbrella. Dave has the double-recessive German gene for under-appreciating self-important people. He did mention, “You’re William Devane.” Devane said, “Keep it down, I don’t want any of these people to know who I am.” Dave told him, “You could introduce yourself to them and they still wouldn’t know.”  

Down to 14 - There are 32 teams in the NFL that play a 17-game schedule. That’s 544 games played to cull the herd to 14 teams leading into Wild Card Weekend. Including the Division I college football semifinals, there are meaningful games one at a time over five straight days. I don’t gamble, but here are my picks with no points. Miami over Ole Miss. Oregon over Indiana. Rams over Panthers. Bears over Packers. Jags over Bills. Eagles over 49ers. Patriots over Chargers. Texans over Steelers.   

Peter the Kid - Billy “The Kid” Reardon is Peter Gellene’s late grandfather. Bill played for Salesianum and married Meg. The family lived on Savannah Road. Peter is Beth Reardon and Matthew Gellene’s son. As a freshman (2024-25) for Catholic University, Peter appeared in 14 games, making two starts. He averaged 7.3 minutes per game, 2.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. He grabbed four rebounds and added three assists at Juniata Jan. 15. He scored five points at Scranton Jan. 18. He had seven points and a rebound versus Scranton Feb. 8. He scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds versus Juniata Feb. 11. In high school, he was a two-time Catholic Conference all-star at Catholic Memorial. He has three siblings – John, Rosie, and Dave. His parents both rowed at George Washington. He is majoring in business. 

Snippets - The house lights are dimmed prior to varsity wrestling matches, which is why the JV photos are brighter with more clarity. I am in the heart of darkness most Wednesday nights. I feel like Marlon Brando in “Apocalypse Now.” Many of my photos have a Peebles changing room hue to them, and no one looked good in those mirrors. Go on now, git!