Cape girls swim past IR for 50th straight dual-meet victory

The Cape girls' swim team defeated Indian River 118-50 Jan 28. for their 50th consecutive dual-meet victory. Cape is now 11-0 on the season. The streak began with a win over Sussex Central Jan. 26, 2012.

“Great kids and a great feeder program from the Y,” coach Bill Geppert said. “We get lost in the winter season, especially the girls' sandwich between field hockey and lacrosse and all those state championships. And we have some of those athletes in our program along with runners and soccer players.”

The boys' team also defeated the Indians 117-51 for their eighth consecutive victory after dropping three to open the season.

A backward glance at the boys' program finds them with a three-year record from 2012-14 of 33-1. Last year, the boys were 9-4 and so far this year they have recorded a 7-3 record.

Geppert, now in his 18th season, has won 305 dual meets combined with the boys' and girls' teams.

Molly Weeks won the 200 freestyle in 2:16.14 and 100 backstroke in 1:07.80. Sarah Hyde won the 200 individual medley in 2:26.46 and 100 freestyle in 1:01.05. Amelia Nigh-Johnson won the 500 freestyle in 27:06 and the 100 butterfly in 1:04.19.

Lauren McCoy of Indian River won the 500 freestyle in 6:13.33, while Lindsey Grow of IR won the 100 breaststroke in 1:17.86

Individual winners for the Cape boys were Ricky Brokaw in 200 freestyle, Josh Toback in the 200 individual medley in 2:26.81 and the 500 freestyle 5:49.37, Jack Weeks in the 100 butterfly in 57.06 and the 100 backstroke in 57.55 and Mike Schrock in the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.85.

IR's Mason Sanders won the 50 freestyle in 23.27 and the 100 freestyle in 52.2.

The Cape boys get crossover athletes from soccer, lacrosse, baseball and an occasional football player.

Coach Geppert doesn’t cut athletes, and over his career he has accommodated many special needs athletes into his program.

The girls' team is led by juniors Sarah Hyde, Amelia Nigh-Johnson, Sarah Rambo and Molly Weeks. That is the stacked medley relay, then those girls branch into individual events after that.

Geppert, a Villanova graduate and teacher of science (chemistry), analyzes the competition and adjusts his lineup accordingly.

“It takes depth to win 50 meets in a row,” Geppert said. "Those swimmers taking second through fourth are piling up points for us. The depth is even more important in big meets like the conference and states."