Cape girls' swimmers win conference meet

It has been a number of years since Cape swimming coach Bill Geppert has not enjoyed being ceremoniously thrown into the pool after the Henlopen Conference meet. After winning four straight titles with the girls, Geppert's boys' team won back-to-back championships the last two years. Now, he's back at it again with the girls' squad.

The Vikings dominated all competition this season by posting a perfect 11-0 regular-season record and winning the conference meet Feb. 16 by 62 points over second-place Milford. The boys' team fell just short of a three-peat, finishing second behind Sussex Tech by 12 points. Cape's only regular-season loss was to Tech, as the team fell by six points Dec. 13.

Despite the disappointing end for his boys' squad, Geppert said he was proud and pleased with the performance of both teams at the conference meet.

“Everybody swam their best times,” Geppert said. “We just had some really, really great times today. The kids worked hard.”

Geppert was named coach of the year for the girls' season. Sussex Tech coach Michele Thomas earned the honor on the boys' side. Sussex Tech swimmers swept swimmer accolades, as B.J. Daisey and Briana Hall were each honored with the Vince Morris Outstanding Swimmer Awards.

Hall won two events at the conference meet, posting a 27.95 time in the 50 free and finishing in 1:10.72 in the 100 fly. Daisey was a three-time winner Feb. 16. He set a new conference record in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:08.23, shattering the previous record of 1:11.52. He also won the 200 individual medley and was part of the Ravens' winning 200 medley relay team.

Cape's lone individual winner was Jack Weeks. The freshman cruised past all competitors to win the 100 back by more than 4.5 seconds with a time of 1:03.25.

The Cape girls earned major points with relay teams. The 200 medley relay team of Colleen Bailey, Grace Brokaw, Kaitlin Philcox and Hannah Schrock posted a time of 2:16.39 to win by three seconds over second-place Sussex Tech. Brokaw and Schrock then teamed up with Basha Dobrzanska and Romy Stancofski to win the 400 free relay with a time of 4:36.43.

Individually for the Cape girls, Bailey and Philcox racked up points for the Vikings. Philcox and Bailey finished second and third, respectively, in the 200 individual medley. Bailey, a senior, then finished second in the 100 breast, and Philcox was runner-up in the 100 back.

Winning coach of the year, Geppert said, is really an honor he shares with assistant coaches Pete Olson, John Zacharias, Kristina Lingo, Tina Johnson and Rick Brokaw.

“My assistants have done a phenomenal job. I feel sometimes like I'm just the manager,” he said. “I write the workouts, but they really go through all the stroke mechanics.”

Geppert said credit also goes to his swimmers, whose strong work ethic makes it easier to coach.

“It's more of a tribute to the team than anything else because there are times when they make us look good by swimming out of their mind,” he said.

The season is over for some swimmers, but others who've qualified will prepare for the state meet at the University of Delaware Wednesday, Feb. 27 to Saturday, March 2.

Girls' team results

Cape Henlopen 293

Milford 231

Sussex Tech 182

Dover 138

Caesar Rodney 125

Indian River 71

Sussex Central 70

Lake Forest 58

Seaford 2

Boys' team results

Sussex Tech 238

Cape Henlopen 226

Caesar Rodney 175

Dover 122

Indian River 114

Sussex Central 106

Lake Forest 100

Milford 61

Seaford 28

Individual girls' winners

200 medley relay, Cape, Colleen Bailey, Grace Brokaw, Kaitlin Philcox and Hannah Schrock, 2:16.39.

200 free, Sussex Central, Melaney Heald, 2:19.37.

200 individual medley, Milford, Osi Chilton, 2:49.41.

50 free, Sussex Tech, Briana Hall, 27.95.

100 fly, Sussex Tech, Briana Hall, 1:10.72.

100 free, Dover, Brianna Solomon, 1:03.03.

400 free, Milford, Sara Lingo, 4:54.34.

200 free relay, Ali Sanders, Jessica Downes, Sara Lingo and Osi Chilton, 2:01.50.

100 back, Dover, Brianna Solomon, 1:10.59.

100 breast, Milford, Sara Lingo, 1:27.68.

400 free relay, Cape, Grace Brokaw, Hannah Schrock, Basha Dobrzanska and Romy Stancofski, 4:36.43.

Individual boys' winners

200 medley relay, Sussex Tech, Michael Dopler, BJ Daisey, Gray Venables and Jake Procino, 1:53.30.

200 free, Lake Forest, Alan Bundschuh, 2:08.49.

200 individual medley, Sussex Tech, BJ Daisey, 2:15.59.

50 free, Seaford, Adam Crouse, 24.72.

100 fly, Lake Forest, Alan Bundschuh, 1:00:49.

100 free, Caesar Rodney, Aaron Green, 55.31.

400 free, Caesar Rodney, Alexander Stauff, 4:42.27.

200 free relay, Sussex Tech, Jake Procino, Timmy Bada, Ryan Seeley and Gray Venables, 1:44.81.

100 back, Cape, Jack Weeks, 1:03.25.

100 breast, Sussex Tech, BJ Daisey, 1:08.23.

400 free relay, Indian River, Kees Elling, Ben Boonin, Keaton Burke and Merrick Kovatch.