Three Delmarva Christian players reach 1,000-point milestone

It’s not unusual for a large basketball program to have a player reach the 1,000-point milestone during their career, but for a school of 165 students to have three players surpass 1,000 points during the pandemic-shortened season is totally remarkable. It’s also special that all three reached that landmark within the last two weeks of the 2021 season.

Delmarva Christian High School senior Gracie Fetterman hit her 1,000th point in the Feb. 24 win over Caravel. Jayson Handy garnered his 1,000th in the March 3 state tournament loss to Seaford. Finally, junior Sierra Troyer scored her 1,000th in the March 8 tournament loss to Woodbridge.

Fetterman followed in the footsteps of her mother Rachel, who scored 1,000 points for the Greenwood Mennonite School in 1997. Fetterman also plays libero on the volleyball squad, shortstop and catcher on the Royals’ softball team, and lends her talents on the Delaware Union U18 tournament travel soccer team in the summer months.

“We definitely made a big statement this basketball season,” Fetterman said. “We came a long way, playing the great teams we played with just six players. We became one big family.”

“Grace is an phenomenal athlete and a wonderful person,” said head coach Jedidiah Roach. “There was never a time in practice or in a game where she didn’t give it her absolute all. I call her my little Corvette because of her blazing speed. I don’t think anyone in the state was faster with the ball in their hands, and she really has an opportunity to be a first-team all-state pick. She put the team on her back most of the season when girls were out due to injury and COVID. She was so fun to coach. It’s an incredible feat to reach 1,000 points, and she earned every point. We will miss her tremendously.”

Troyer missed eight games this season due to injury, but still reached the 1,000-point mark. A transfer via Greenwood Mennonite School, where she played in eighth grade, and Sussex Tech as a freshman, Troyer started for the Royals as a sophomore and junior.

A 4.0 student at DCHS, Sierra plays outside hitter on the volleyball team and also plays for the Premier volleyball travel team.

“This year was definitely a challenge for us, playing all upstate teams,” she said. “That prepared us for the tournament. We played together and stuck together as a team, and that made us successful.”

“Sierra is a wonderful player,” Roach said. “She was able to come back from injury and take our team to the next level. She is a diligent hard worker and does whatever is asked. Reaching 1,000 points is incredible. She’s one of the best pure shooters in the state. I’m glad we have her back for another season.”

Junior Jayson Handy transferred to DCHS from Wicomico High School in Salisbury, Md., where he started since his freshman year. A 6-foot-2 forward, he led the Royals with an average of 15 rebounds per game. He also averaged 15 points. Handy also plays soccer, where he performs as goalie and fullback. His is very devoted to his family and the church.

“We learned a lot from our losses this season,” he said. “We aren’t mad or sad about the losing season because we had such a hard schedule, and at the end of the day, we learned a lot about ourselves and the team. It was a good season.”

“We’ve been thrilled and blessed to have Jayson with us this year,” said Royals head coach Micah Twedell. “He’s worked extremely hard to become the player he is. Obviously Jayson’s a great scorer and rebounder, but one of my favorite things about Jayson is how he leads his teammates.”

“We are blessed to have three awesome athletes, three awesome kids here all at the same time,” said DCHS Athletic Director Keith Stonebraker. “For them to all get 1,000 all within a few days of each other is wonderful to be a part of and to witness. It’s exciting for the school, and to see the kids celebrate it together is just great.”

“These three student-athletes are champions both on and off the court,” said DCHS Head of School Matt Kwiatkowski. “I am so proud of what the Lord is doing in and through them with the sport of basketball.”

Fetterman is considering Salisbury University for her collegiate career, while Troyer and Handy are back at DCHS for the 2021-22 season.