Athletes of the Week Aug. 19

Thomas Gibbs

“Thomas had the best off-season attendance and effort of his career, from what I was told,” said Cape coach Mike Frederick. “He was a two-way standout – at defensive end and tackle – in the scrimmage last Saturday at Hodgson.” Thomas has quick feet, which were made quicker after two seasons of lacrosse. He’s a lineman who scores like his cousin Aaron Burton.

“I owe a lot to coach Mark D’Ambrogi for giving me opportunities and just making me a better athlete,” said Thomas. There is no doubt Thomas projects as a next-level college lineman, and his 4.1 GPA is further incentive to any college to get Thomas Gibbs on its campus. “I’m just not sure about football or lacrosse in college,” Thomas said, but we know he has his own world in his hands. His father Tommy Gibbs is the youngest of 17 children of Charlie and Alberta Gibbs, and his mom is Robin Savage. ”I don’t know all my cousins,” Thomas said. “Let's just say there’s a lot of them.”

Jackson Cunningham

Jackson is playing inside linebacker, and this junior is ready to rumble. “I don’t think he missed an off-season workout, and he really elevated his game in the scrimmage last Saturday. I was a little surprised he played so well, but I shouldn’t have been,” said coach Mike Frederick.

“I play running back on offense, but my main focus is to be a linebacker,” said Jackson. “Brenn Scott and I on the inside have lots of confidence in each other.” Jackson is the son of Ryan Cunningham, with Jack Cunningham as his grandfather and Mike Cunningham his great-uncle, and Billy Cunningham, who won a state baseball title at Appoquinimink, is his uncle. “My family has been mostly baseball, but I’m 100 percent a football guy,” Jackson said.  

Shelby Manlove

Shelby has been a starting midfielder the last two seasons for Sussex Academy, and she is just entering her sophomore year of school. Shelby just returned from the USA National Team Development Program Combine at the USA Headquarters in Sparks, Md.  Eighty-four girls were selected from a national pool of players, and Shelby was the only girl from Delaware. Lydia  Colasante from Tatnall was on the U18 team. Last season, the Seahawks of Sussex Academy reached the DIAA semifinals with a 15-1 record before losing to Tatnall. Shelby had five goals when Sussex Academy upset Tatnall 20-16 in the last regular-season game and scored three in a 15-5 tournament win over Wilmington Friends. She also plays field hockey. Shelby Manlove projects as one of the top returning midfielders for Delaware women’s lacrosse. 

Konner Knarr

Konner, a rising senior on the Cape Henlopen track team, is a proven, too-legit-to-quit sprinter. Step onto the track in a world of fast people, and Konner is one of the fastest. Last week, the Henlopen Acres Beach Patrol lifeguard competed under the Sussex County banner at the United States Lifeguard Association National Championships in Hermosa Beach, Calif. Konner won the U19 beach flags event, then came back to win the U19 90-meter sprint, so he returned to the Cape Region with two gold medals against national competition. Konner also placed eighth in the open beach flags competition. A rising Cape senior, Konner is a solid academic student with an interest in business.