Cape swimming splashes past Central
The Cape boys’ and girls’ swim teams moved to 4-0 on the season with the boys’ 103-46 win and the girls’ 105-31 victory over Sussex Central Jan. 9, at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth. It was the first dual meet since Dec. 15.
Brady Schell, Jaxen Edwards, Weston Bohl and Brooks Leonhartt started the romp with a 1:47.11 win in the medley relay. Cape’s John Bain continued the winning ways with a 1:56.06 in the 200 free.
Edging out Cape in the 200 IM was Central’s Asa VanDrunen with a 2:14.12.
Brady Schell took first in the 50 free with a blistering 22.39.
“We were in the pool as much as we were able to over break,” said Schell. “Those are the days that we need to be practicing if we want to have a good season. The hours we were putting in over break showed in the success of the meet tonight.”
Golden Knights senior Gary Layfield took first in the 100 fly with a 1:01.92.
Cape’s Elijah Oliver took first in the 100 free with a 51.83. John Bain followed with 5:15.34 in the grueling 500. Leonhartt, Hugh Jack, Oliver and Schell followed with a 1:35.37 in the 200 free relay. Schell won the 100 backstroke with a 56.81.
Central’s Nathanial Juliano took the last event, the 100 breaststroke, with a 1:09.55 time.
The Vikings’ girls kicked off the meet with Sidney Caldwell, Lily Touw, Mia Jaoude and Isla Touw winning the 200 medley relay in 2:02.32. Claire Meyer took top honors in the 200 free with a 2:18.96 time.
Sara Caldwell won the 200 IM for the Vikings. Big sister Sidney won the 50 free at 26.35. Jaoude garnered a 1:01.10 win in the 100 fly. Lily Touw bested the field in the 100 free with a 1:03.10. Hayden Hazzard continued the domination with a 5:44.40 in the 500 free.
Cape’s Sidney Caldwell, Jaoude, Isla Touw and Zoey Neufeld took the 200 free relay in 1:48.14. Sidney Caldwell won the 100 back with a 1:08.41.
Central took the final event with a 400 free relay time of 6:53.69 by the team of Angel Wiley, Lorraine Westphal, Ashley Garcia and Ariel Suggs.
“After a two-week break, our meet tonight with Central was an excellent way to ease the team back into racing,” said Cape senior Dilyla Rohls. “Winning the meet helped everyone regain their competitive mindset.”
“I am excited to see the progress all of our swimmers have made since the start of the season,” said Cape head coach Bill Geppert. “The time from our last meet before Christmas until our first meet of 2026 has been spent well by those who came to practice and continued to work hard. We keep improving as a team, and that's what is most important. There are many challenges that lie ahead, but I am very pleased with their progress so far.”
The Vikings travel to the Lake Forest pool Tuesday Jan. 13, to face Polytech.
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.
