Cape boys’ lax resumes practice after COVID shutdown
The Cape boys’ lacrosse team with veteran coach Mark D’Ambrogi at the helm and an experienced staff surrounding him started practice March 1, welcoming a talented crew of players, all of whom lost the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 shutdown. The Vikings won the last state championship contested in 2019, when they defeated Salesianum 12-10.
Cape was the first public school in Delaware to have a boys’ lacrosse team, going back to the 1970s, but the state championship tournament for boys’ lacrosse didn’t begin until 1993.
Salesianum and Cape have been consistently at the top of the mountain for boys’ lacrosse, with Sallies winning 10 championships and the Vikings seven.
Tatnall has won four titles, the last in 2003; Caesar Rodney three (coach John Coveleski), the last in 1999; Tower Hill two and St. Andrew’s one.
Cape’s head coaches winning state titles include D’Ambrogi with five, and Steve Aubrey and Jack Lingo with one each.
Players who lost their 2020 senior season include Ross Crockett, Andre Currie, Felix Harmon, Robert Rickenbach, Finbar Rishko and Baxter Travers.
Cape has a stacked 15-game schedule that includes away games at Gilman School (Md.), Episcopal Academy (Pa.) and Worcester Prep (Md.).
Cape will play Salesianum at the newly refurbished Abessinio Stadium Monday, April 19.
The Vikings have five hopefuls in goal, including upperclassmen Carson Kammerer and Michael Sposato along with freshmen Todd Warwick, Gus Musika and Will Aikens.
“It is interesting this year. It’s a lot of fun watching these guys step in and develop as players,” said veteran goalie coach Geoff Shupard. “We put them in different drills and game-like situations, see how they handle it, and determine where we feel they will grow into good players and will serve the program best.”
There are about 52 players practicing this spring.
“We have about 28 on varsity and 24 on JV, with a few swing players to build depth on both teams,” D’Ambrogi said. “We have a solid group of varsity players that have game experience from the 2019 season and were expected to play major roles in the 2020 season. We expect the same from those key contributors in the 2021 season, and look forward to the younger players filling in the additional roles.
“Both Gilman and Episcopal were looking for opponents, and we were happy to have the opportunity to play such quality competition. Both of these games are on the road, and the kids are excited to play. Without any scrimmages, we will have to be ready from the first game on. It puts the onus on our preseason preparation.
“Everyone across the country was disappointed in the cancellation of their season, and we were no different. In Delaware, we have been very fortunate that the DIAA has made it possible to play, and we want to do everything we can to have a successful season. The preseason is a grind, and with no scrimmages, it can be redundant. We just want to give the kids the fundamentals and realistic game situations, so when we do play, we will be ready.
“Right now, our seniors have done a really good job coming into the season ready to play. They played a lot indoors over the winter and seem to be embracing the chance to lead this year's team. We are pleased to see them to lead us on the field and in the locker room as well. A lot of these guys have been together since elementary school, so they know each other, they like each other, and they have done a good job of pushing each other. A real key will be the development of the younger players, because we will need them throughout the year to keep getting better.”
