Vikings conquer Knights in North swim meet
After competing against two divisional opponents to start the 2023-24 season, both Cape Henlopen swim teams are undefeated. The Vikings made it two in a row by defeating Sussex Central Dec. 15.
The boys were victorious in all timed events, taking first place in the scorebook in everything but the breaststroke and 400 relay.
“We stopped scoring at a certain point,” said Cape coach Bill Geppert. “It's an exhibition, and we're not trying to run the score up on anybody. We try to make it competitive with our kids because we're trying to find that right lineup, and all our teams do a good job with that.”
Although the Knights put up a fight, it was the internal competition fueling the Vikings to push themselves in a majority of the meets. The winning 200 medley relay team comprised Trent Neal, Keiran Morrissey, Ryan Morgan and Ellis Jack. They finished with a time of 1:49.47. The second-place team of Shane Toback, Brooks Leonhartt, Oakley Roberts and Kevin Lewandowski came in at 1:50.48.
In a razor-tight 50 freestyle, Lewandowski took first in 23.40, while Sussex Central senior Chet Mariner finished second in 23.69. Nipping at their heals were Cape’s Jack in 23.90 and freshman Brady Schell in 24.84.
Lewandowski settled for second in the 100 freestyle, as his time of 52.64 was bested by fellow senior Brian Fleming in 51.38. In the butterfly, Toback recorded a time of 57.82. The 200 freestyle relay and 100 backstroke competitions were also decided by less than a second. Toback, Leonhartt, Roberts and Lewandowski won the 200 freestyle relay, while Holden Tighe won the backstroke.
“We put a lot of kids in different events to try to give them the opportunity to see what they can swim in. They did a really nice job and they're super excited,” Geppert said.
Excitement is one explanation for the girls’ 112-35 victory over their local rival. The squad pulled off first place in almost every event, with Sussex Central’s Amelia Meyer taking the top spot in the 200 individual medley.
Junior Jenna Reinhold, sophomore Sidney Caldwell and freshman Isla Touw led the way for the Vikings with two individual victories apiece. The underclassmen won the 50 freestyle (27.35), breaststroke (1:24.02), 100 freestyle (59.48), backstroke (1:09.66), 200 freestyle (2:16.70) and butterfly (1:11.35). All three joined Hailey Hassell on the 200 medley (2:09.99) and 200 freestyle (1:54.41) relay teams to secure victories in those events. Chloe Wood, who finished second in the breaststroke, won the 500 freestyle.
Cape will host Seaford at the Sussex Family YMCA at 3:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 18, before they welcome Lake Forest Wednesday, Dec. 20.
