Clarke Brothers getting it done from abstract art to Abu Dhabi

Clarke Brothers - Brandon and Tres Clarke are Cape graduates; their mom Renee Kenner was a Cape district teacher. Brandon (Cape 2000-04) has a master’s degree in architecture from Hampton University and a master’s in design and construction from Auburn University. During the pandemic year, Brandon branched out into the professional art realm, creating abstract expressionism paintings. Brandon recently entered a major international art show, Art Basel. Brandon’s work can be found at brandonclarkedesigns.com and on Instagram: @brandonclarkedesigns. I like one of his paintings titled “Mikey.” I'm not sure I can commit 12-by-12-feet of wall space to “Mikey,” but I’m thinking about it. Brandon was MVP of the Cape soccer team his senior year, was band president, on the swim team, part of the theater group performing in several plays, and was named prom king. Brandon’s older brother Tres (Cape 1995-99) played lacrosse, did theater and was drum major in the band. Tres is in Abu Dhabi as the head director of the new SeaWorld. 

Livi and leaves of grass - “I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of Summer grass.” – Walt Whitman. Livi Davis takes a break after a 5K ride in a stroller pushed by her mom Felicia Davis, who runs honoring the memory of a friend's son. Felicia advised Livi, “Get up! There are biting bugs in the grass.” But Olivia was oblivious. Poets just be like that sometimes.   

Charlie Boy and Coach Cuthrell - I saw the two legendary coaches of Henlopen Conference football standing together Tuesday night at Champions Stadium watching the Cape hockey scrimmage. Charlie Hudson and Bob Cuthrell share granddaughters and Cape players Hayden and Grace Hudson. Cuthrell was Charlie Hudson’s high school coach at Sussex Central and later coached at Dover. Charlie was head football coach at Sussex Central. Chuck Hudson and Amy Cuthrell Hudson are the parents of Grace and Hayden. They met when both were McCabe scholars at Swarthmore. I could follow a number of branches on this family tree, but it’s safer not to go out on a limb. 

Mikey Fred - Mikey Frederick flew to Macon, Ga., last week to visit Mercer University, recruited to play lacrosse and attend the school of engineering while he’s waiting for practice to start. Three days back in Delaware, the academic/athletic package arrived and Mikey verbally committed pending acceptance and early decision. Mercer is a Division I program that plays in the Southern Conference. The Bears play a grizzly lacrosse schedule, which last spring included Duke, North Carolina, Utah, Air Force, Jacksonville, High Point and others. Head coach Charlie Surman and assistant Tim O’Branski both played at Salisbury, so they know what’s up. Sports grandaddy had no involvement in this process anywhere along the line. I remember Cape coach Mark D’Ambrogi, who has coached Mikey since Atlantic Lacrosse days, said, “Mikey is fast and fearless and he don’t give a damn.” That means Mikey will meet the moment, won’t flinch and will never back down. 

Rileigh Wilson - Rileigh Wilson, high-flying hitter for Tyler Coupe’s Cape volleyball team, has verbally committed to play volleyball for the Moccasins of Florida Southern College. The first time I saw Rileigh play, I was so impressed with her ups. After the game, Jill Daisey standing next to Chris Wilson said, “Fredman, do you know who Rileigh Wilson is?” I put one and one together and got three and said, “Your daughter?” Then the next two years I tried unsuccessfully to recruit Rileigh for track as a high jumper. Florida Southern College is in Lakeland. They are Division II, which means they have athletic money. The Mocs are 5-1 on the season. Cassidy Markel, out of Delaware’s Ursuline Academy, is a sophomore on the team.

Snippets - I’m rooting for the Giants to win the National League mainly because Tommy Coveleski was such a Giants fan, always wearing that beat-up SF hat and finding the Giants on TV or ham radio. The Eagles are three-point dogs when they play in Dallas on Monday night. They then follow that game with a Sunday home matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Philly fans would always prefer a win over the Cowboys. Weekend football inside packed stadiums filled with maskless fans doing the Jump Around should be the miracle whip of super spreader events. Social scientists sitting in home offices watching flatscreens with their vaccination card secured behind a refrigerator magnet are predicting something or nothing, pick your pundit. Kemosabe, jump on it!  Go on now, git!