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Locals swim strong in Henlopen Conference Championships

Cape places second in girls’ competition
Members of the Caesar Rodney, Sussex Academy and Cape Henlopen squads cheer on their teams in the 400 free relay to decide the final outcome of the girls’ championship. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
February 10, 2020

The Caesar Rodney girls’ swim team eked out a two-point, 373-371, victory over Cape in the Henlopen Conference Championships Feb. 8, while the Riders boys’ squad dominated the field, taking a 388-308.5 win over second-place Sussex Academy.

Sussex Academy placed third in the girls’ competition with 347 followed by Sussex Tech in fourth with 270 and Sussex Central in fifth with 181.

Indian River took third for the boys with 308 points, while Sussex Tech placed fourth with 265 and Cape Henlopen was fifth with 229.5.

The Lady Vikings went into the last event, the 400 free relay, up by eight points, looking for their eighth straight Henlopen Conference Championship. Caesar Rodney won the event with a time of 3:47.16, garnering 40 points. Cape was awarded 30 for placing fourth.

“I’m really proud of my swim team,” said Cape coach Bill Geppert. “Almost all of them swam personal-best times. They also displayed great sportsmanship afterward, congratulating CR on their wins. We almost won our eighth title on the girls’ side, losing by only two points out of the 2,000 points possible in the meet. Our ladies accepted this tough loss with dignity and grace, and I couldn't be more proud of their character. If anything, it will serve as motivation for next season.

“Aya Daisey is only 0.2 seconds from breaking our 50 free record that has been held since 2009. Our seniors swam great in their last time in the pool. Gianna Vayda showed a lot of heart, gutting out her two events with injured shoulders. Anna Stancofski and Sky Dunmyer both scored valuable points in the butterfly. The unsung hero, though, goes to Amaya Daisey who swam events she normally doesn't in order to give us a chance to win. She personifies the word “team” - what a great young lady! 

“On our boys’ side, senior Tanner Dade finished his career by posting personal bests in the fly and back. The boys showed heart and promise for next season. I know we have states coming up, but I can't wait until next year already.”

Sussex Academy head coach Tom Martiner was voted both the conference girls’ and boys’ Coach of the Year.

“The talent level of all swimmers has increased tremendously, leading to great competition throughout the conference meet,” said Martiner. “It’s a great opportunity for the swimmers to lay it on the line and show how good they are.”

Ethan Herring of Caesar Rodney was voted the Vince Morris Outstanding Boys’ Swimmer while the Riders’ Danielle Stewart was voted the Vince Morris Outstanding Girls’ Swimmer.

Caesar Rodney was presented the regular-season boys’ and girls’ Northern Division championship trophy, while the Sussex Academy boys and girls were presented the regular-season Southern Division trophy.

The DIAA Swimming championships will begin Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the University of Delaware.

 

Members of the Caesar Rodney, Sussex Academy and Cape Henlopen squads cheer on their teams in the 400 free relay to decide the final outcome of the girls’ championship. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Thomas Weeks takes off from the blocks to start the medley relay. He along with teammates Liam Leishear, Marcus Gromofsky and Josh Reinhold placed fourth with a time of 1:49.99.
Alissa Silva leaves the blocks to start the medley relay. She and Amaya Daisey, Aya Daisey and Erin Morressey took third with time of 1:59.48.
Sussex Academy’s Tyler Burger swims the breaststroke leg of the medley relay. He and teammates Dylan Steinwedel, Trey Mitchell and Cole White took third with a time of 1:49.54.
Sussex Central’s Madelynn McTeer swims the backstroke leg of the medley relay. She and teammates Maggie Walker, Carolyn Munoz and Stephanie Wilson took fifth place with a time of 2:02.70.
Marcus Gromofsky swims the fly leg of the medley relay.
Caesar Rodney’s Georgia May heads for the turn in the medley relay. She and teammates Victoria May, Zoe Edelman and Danielle Stewart took the top finish with a time of 1:57.38.
Cape’s Amaya Daisey swims the breaststroke leg of the medley relay.
Emily Trout swims the fly leg of the medley relay. She and teammates Tess Mariner, Grace Maughan and Lindsey Guida took second in the event with a time of 1:58.92.
Cape took top honors in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:43.63. Shown are (l-r) Erin Morrissey, Amaya Daisey, Julie Heffernan and Aya Daisey.
Cape head coach Bill Geppert, left, and assistants Pete Olson and Rick Brokaw tally results to create the relay teams.
Indian River’s Will Douds celebrates his first-place finish in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.85.
Cape’s Sam Schoenfeld leaves the blocks in the 50 freestyle. He swam a time of 25.24.
Cape senior Tanner Dade swims the 100 butterfly. He finished with a time of 1:13.48.
Cape’s Samantha Connors finishes the 50 free with a time of 28.55.
Sussex Academy’s Ty Hudson swims the 50 free for the Seahawks, finishing with a time of 24.49.
Cape junior Erin Morrissey swims to a fifth-place finish in the 50 free with a time of 26.82.
Sussex Tech’s Owen Pogwist battles Caesar Rodney’s Ethan Herring in the 100 butterfly. Pogwist took first with a time of 52.82, while Herring scored a time of 53.02.
Lindsay Rambo swims the free for the Vikings. She finished with a time of 1:02.06.
Cape senior Sky Dunmyer swims to a time of 1:15.99 in the 100 butterfly.
Sussex Tech sophomore Molly Dopler swims to second place in the 500 free with a time of 5:30.16.
Sussex Academy head coach Tom Martiner was voted both the Henlopen girls’ and boys’ 2020 Coach of the Year.
Danielle Stewart and Ethan Herring of Caesar Rodney were voted the Vince Morris Outstanding swimmers.
Sussex Tech’s Tyler Burger swims to a time of 5:35.21 in the 500 free.
Swimmers prepare to take off in the 200 free relay.
Cape’s Gianna Vayda swims the 100 backstroke. She garnered a time of 1:15.68.
Cape’s Lindsey Guida prepares to leave the blocks in the 400 free relay.
Sussex Academy’s Itzel Gomez-Sanchez swims to a third-place finish in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:07.06.
Cape head coach Bill Geppert looks to give a push to his 500 freestyle swimmers.
The Cape squad cheers on their teammates.

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