Athletes of the Week Nov. 1

Jaden Davis

A senior running back for the unbeaten Salisbury University Seagulls, Jaden was the leading ground gainer for Cape football his last two seasons and also a starting midfielder on the lacrosse team. Jaden had a hat trick in the 2021 12-10 loss to Salesianum. Jaden has 300 yards rushing and two touchdowns this season for the 7-0 Gulls. In 2022 as a sophomore, Jaden played in 11 games and rushed for 554 yards. A notable feat: there have been few graduated Cape running backs who have gone on to play four years of college football and pop out the other side with a college degree. Salisbury is currently ranked No. 6 by D3football.com. Jaden is a team captain majoring in sociology. He plans to go to graduate school to pursue a degree in counseling. Salisbury beat Rowan by a score of 42-35 Oct. 26, at the Seagulls’ Homecoming game. The game was carried live by the Delmarva Sports Network. Next up is The College of New Jersey with a record of 5-2.  

Jake Hutchison

A senior goalkeeper on the Cape soccer squad, Jake helped lead the Vikings when their backs were against the wall in the final weeks of the season. Coach Patrick Kilby knew his team needed to win out to give themselves a chance at making the state tournament. Not only did they do that, but they also won the Henlopen North title, defeating Caesar Rodney in a winner-take-all match Oct. 30. Hutchison was a big part of that win with 10 saves. The Vikings will now work to keep the streak alive when they try to avenge a loss to Sussex Academy earlier this season in the Henlopen Conference Championship Saturday, Nov. 2. “Jake always comes up big when our team needs him most,” Kilby said. “His stellar saves have turned the tide of many games this season. He is a huge reason for a lot of our success this year. Jake’s ability to make himself big, cover both posts, along with his athletic ability, are all attributes that go along nicely with his fearless play.” 

George Sapna

George is a threat on offense for the Sussex Academy boys’ soccer team. The junior has put together a strong season that’s only gotten better as the state tournament nears. In a 5-0 Senior Night win over Seaford Oct. 29, George scored two goals and assisted on another. A week earlier, he tallied two second-half goals in a 4-0 win over Woodbridge. “George is a tremendously gifted player,” said Sussex Academy coach RJ Dina. “He’s great 1-v-1 and can finish the ball in any way. He’s a wonderful leader on and off the pitch. He was a first-team all-state player as a sophomore. He is the guy you game plan for.” George has eight goals and five assists on the season. George and his Seahawks teammates will attempt to claim the Henlopen Conference Championship for the second straight season when they take on Cape Henlopen Saturday, Nov. 2, in Lewes. After that, they’ll begin their journey to defend their Division II state title. 

Sean Saxton 

This 26-year-old is straight out of Dover. He was a state champion for Dover High in 2017. Sean won the Sea Witch Half Marathon Oct. 26, in a time of 1:16:55. Sean was the youngest runner to place in the top 10, as Brad Layman, 38, of Philadelphia was second in 20:46. Sean uses single-event competitions for training and tempo, as he is more geared for ironman triathlons. He has won the Dave Reynolds Biathlon in Rehoboth Beach three times. In 2021, Sean set a record on the Delaware Bicycle Route 1 path of 7:04:31 that was ratified as a World Ultra Cycling Association world record in the Cross State Category. “In 2024, I started off my year by winning the CLASH Miami AG overall title in March. I won the AG overall Arizona State Champs Tri race in Tempe,  Ariz., in April. I qualified for Ironman 70.3 Worlds in Taupo, New Zealand [set for] Dec. 15. That is what I am preparing for now, and the half-marathon was used as a training stepping stone toward that pinnacle goal of the season.”