Athletes of the Week Dec. 20

Rico DiSalvo

Certified at 157 pounds, Rico stepped up to the 165-pound bouts for Sussex Academy's tri-meet Dec. 11 against A.I. du Pont and Indian River. While he pinned his A.I. du Pont opponent in the first round, the sophomore found himself trailing in the Indian River match 12-5 after the first period. Settling down in the second, Rico flipped the script and picked up a pin for his second six points of the night. Rico’s love of contact sports began with taekwondo when he was 4, and it led him to join the Sussex Academy wrestling program in eighth grade. Although he was knocked out early in the Delmar Invitational, his coaches said he had his most complete match yet as a wrestler in the seventh-place match. Rico’s favorite subject, psychology, may help him as he continues on his wrestling journey. He encourages prospective grapplers to get involved in the sport, saying it helped build up his confidence and work ethic. He enjoys spending time with his family and likes to play soccer with his brother.

Grayce Glover

A three-sport athlete – volleyball, basketball, softball – at Sussex Academy, Grayce is not just a staple of Seahawks athletics, she is also usually at the center of the action. The sophomore had a monster game in Sussex Academy basketball's Dec. 10 victory over Laurel, scoring 21 points, grabbing 17 rebounds and blocking five shots. Although her favorite sport is softball, she loves playing basketball and enjoys the physical nature of the paint. She is a power-hitting shortstop on the softball team, an outside hitter on the volleyball team and a forward on the basketball team. Unafraid to take on players older, and in some cases bigger, Grayce never backs down on the court, and fights hard for boards and jump balls. She has been playing basketball since she was 10 and believes the way she reads angles is beneficial to her rejections. Her brother Mason is a freshman on the boys' team, and when she is not on the court or playing softball for the Delaware Diamonds, she likes to play against him. Her favorite subject is science.

Mikaela Gordon

An honor roll and AP student at Cape, this 5-foot-6 freshman is playing like a veteran since coming off the bench due to Havyn Greene's knee injury. She has proven she can play with the big girls in the paint or the quick Henlopen North guards out front. “Mikaela has been great for us this year," said Cape head coach Pat Woods. “She can handle it, dish it, defend, rebound and score. And she does it all with a smile on her face. She brings confidence and enthusiasm, and just positive vibes to our team." Along with her four points against Dover, she grabbed six rebounds, dished off three assists, swiped a steal and blocked a Senators shot. She is active in the Morgan’s Message club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Mikaela plays midfield for the Chesapeake Club Lacrosse travel team and will be playing for the Vikings lacrosse team in the spring season. In her spare time, she can be found at the gym working out with her friends.

Havyn Greene

This 6-foot-2 senior Cape honor roll student has been battling an injury since the Smyrna loss Dec. 7. But she came back with ferocity in the recent game against Dover, scoring 14 points, snagging nine rebounds, making three steals and blocking three shots in 26 minutes of play. "Havyn came into this year with a new energy and determination," said Cape head coach Pat Woods. "She has drastically improved her shooting and confidence in doing so. She has missed some time with a knee injury, but in the Dover game, she showed she is back and feeling good. She is quiet, but caring and is learning how to impose her will in competition." Havyn volunteers for the Delaware Shooting Stars Girls AAU basketball club and also volunteers with the Delaware State Housing Authority. In her spare time, she works on her game and getting stronger. She loves playing with her German shepherd, Boston. She has committed to play basketball at Webster University.