Cape balances athletics and academics and gets results
Cape athletes from three different teams rode the big yellow taxi with lucky charm bus drivers named Fred and Half to state tournament games on four nights over five days in May. There had never before been a Cape spring sports season that featured three teams playing for state championships.
Tuesday saw baseball upset Salesianum 9-4 in the quarterfinals at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, and later that night in Dover, the girls’ lacrosse team won its seventh straight state title, beating Polytech 16-6.
The next night at Caravel Academy in Bear, the boys’ lacrosse team defeated Caesar Rodney 9-8 to advance to the state championship on Saturday. And on Thursday night back at Frawley Stadium, the Cape baseball team beat Caravel 8-7 in nine innings in a highlight-filled game that had more heroes than a South Philly sub shop.
On Saturday, the Cape caravan of fans followed the baseball team to Frawley, where the team lost in the championship 10-2 to Appoquinimink. Then it was back down to Caravel, where Cape boys’ lacrosse lost to Salesianum 16-5.
“What a journey. What a season. We’re so proud of our kids,” was the frequent refrain heard from fans. These student athletes, our Cape kids, were ambassadors for the school district, flashing their skill and pride with the word “Cape” emblazoned across their chests.
The academic component is equally impressive. Kai Vitella is a baseball player and class valedictorian. His teammate, David Kwan, is among the top five, and 100 Cape athletes are on the A honor roll, including the majority of the girls’ lacrosse team and many from the boys’ team.
Athletics and academics are aligned and in harmony across the pantheon of sports and scholastics at Cape Henlopen. These warriors of excellence performed in public arenas in front of big, biased crowds. There were photos taken, stories written and interviews granted with special appearances on local television.
Cape’s student athletes handled the media focus with class and intelligence, reflecting on Cape as a school that balances athletics and academics and gets results.
