Cape swimming looks to make a big splash with young athletes
Cape swimming coach Bill Geppert is confident about his rebuilding season this year after graduating 14 seniors including the state championship-winning “Fab Four” of Molly Weeks, Sarah Rambo, Sarah Hyde and Amelia Nigh-Johnson.
The 2016-17 girls’ squad was 14-0, while the boys’ ended its season at 11-3.
“We’re blessed to have kids returning who have worked very hard in the off-season and preseason,” said Geppert. “We also have some encouraging freshmen who have come out for the team.”
Point scorers who returned for the boys are seniors Chase Toback, Wes Humphries, Adam Delp, Zach Simpler, Alex Riggin and Colin Thomas, and juniors Ryan Bixler, Josh Toback, Hunter Knarr and JP Heid.
On the girls’ side, returning point scorers include seniors Madison Buchwald, Laura Markofski, Brynley Mulveny and Lily Smith, and juniors Lindsey Reynolds, Madelyn McGreevy, Stephanie Philcox, Amanda Sponaugle, Anna Stancofski, Gianna Vayda, Elizabeth Finnegan, Hadley Rhue, Maci Long, Shelby Frye and Marlee Geppert.
Coach Geppert is looking to the sophomores and and incoming freshmen to come out of the shadows and shine for the team.
“We, as a coaching staff, are excited about the season,” said Geppert, who is entering his 20th year at the helm. “We had over 80 swimmers come out for the team and had to cut over 20 of them. We have 29 girls and 27 boys on the roster.”
Returning to the edge of the pool are assistant coaches Pete Olson, Tina Nigh, Rick Brokaw and Tina Lingo.
“It’s exciting,” Geppert said. “We have a good interest in the program and continue to hope for success.”
The Vikings will open the season Tuesday, Dec. 5, at St. Andrew’s. The first home meet at the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth Beach will be Thursday, Dec. 7, versus Polytech.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
