Sussex Academy athletes shone during fall season

Seahawks claim state championship, Henlopen titles, individual accolades

Representatives from all four fall sports at Sussex Academy won DIAA academic awards during the 2023 season. Shown are Joseph Herrera Gomez (soccer), Carmen Merrick (volleyball), Shelby Manlove (field hockey) and Lily Bowe (cross country). AARON MUSHRUSH PHOTOS

Aaron R. Mushrush

December 7, 2023

Sussex Academy athletes soared to new heights during the fall season.

“This fall really set a good example for the rest of the year, and for our student body to really show what our school and our student-athletes are capable of,” said first-year Athletic Director Taylor Gibbs.

Volleyball won its first Henlopen South title and hosted the school’s first Henlopen Conference championship. Field hockey advanced to the second round of the state tournament. Both cross country teams won the Sussex County championships, with the girls taking home the Henlopen Conference title.

En route to its first Henlopen Conference championship, the boys’ soccer team won its first division title. It capped off the fall sports season with a Division II state championship.

Gibbs said she believes the four teams set a tone for what the small school is capable of doing.

“To have a lot of students present at our home soccer game, some of the big away soccer games, and all of the other athletic events here really brings us together as a school,” Gibbs said.

A total of 29 Seahawks earned All-Henlopen Conference honors, with eight making all-state teams. Additionally, four picked up academic awards.

Volleyball coach Hailee Gooch and soccer coach R.J. Dina were each named Henlopen Conference Coach of the Year for their sports. Dina was also named the 2023 Delaware Coach of the Year.

“Our students work hard in the classroom, but also, as we saw this fall, they work hard on the court, field and the track,” Gibbs said. “I think it just goes to show what hard work can do, and I hope it motivates them to continue to work hard.”

All-conference

Volleyball - Carmen Merrick, Danica Duncan, Grace Fiorilla, Dymond Steele and Savannah Montgomery

Cross country - Paige Ballinger, Lily Bowe, Katya Geyer, Riley Moriarty, Makenna Blades, Ryan Moody, Justin Friscia and Ryan Moody

Field hockey - Rilyn Lehman, Shelby Manlove, Callie Short, Madison Jones, Morgan Leeper, Ryan Lowe, Ava Yenovkian and Kacie Rawlings

Soccer - Andres Romero-Nieto, Ethan Couch, George Sapna, C.J. Norton, Andree Mendoza-Martinez, Joseph Herrera Gomez, Aiden Villar and Liam Stegall

All-state

Cross country - Paige Ballinger

Field hockey - Rilyn Lehman, Callie Short and Morgan Leeper

Soccer - Ethan Couch, C.J. Norton, George Sapna and Liam Stegall

Academic honors

Joseph Herrera Gomez, Carmen Merrick, Shelby Manlove and Lily Bowe

The Sussex Academy boys’ soccer team won the first Division II title in program history Nov. 18. Shown in back are (l-r) Keenan Williams, Austin Taylor, Jesse Jean-Louis, Chase Ballinger, C.J. Norton, Ethan Couch, Carson Klahr, Aiden Villar, Ethan Boladas, Joseph Herrera Gomez, Benjamin Steimel and McKenna Danahy. In front are Aleksander Danilenko, Andres Romero-Nieto, Noah Benz, George Sapna, Andree Mendoza-Martinez, Richard Velasquez Perez, Johnson Ventura Lopez, Brandon Jaimes and Bohdi Wiliams. Not shown are Nathan Falcone, Esteban Lara Nieto and Liam Stegall.

Sussex Academy had nine soccer players named to the All-Henlopen Conference squad. Shown are (l-r) Andres Romero-Nieto, first team; Ethan Couch, first team; George Sapna, first team; C.J. Norton, first team; Andree Mendoza-Martinez, second team; Joseph Herrera Gomez, honorable mention; and Aiden Villar, first team. Not shown is first-team honoree Liam Stegall.

Four soccer players made the all-state team. Shown are (l-r) Ethan Couch, first team; C.J. Norton, first team; and George Sapna, first team. Not shown is second-team honoree Liam Stegall.

The Sussex Academy field hockey team played a grueling schedule, but players’ hard work was noticed as eight were named to the all-conference team. Shown are (l-r) Rilyn Lehman, first team; Shelby Manlove, first team; Callie Short, first team; Madison Jones, second team; Morgan Leeper, first team; Ryan Lowe, second team; Ava Yenovkian, honorable mention; and Kacie Rawlings, second team.

Players selected to the all-state field hockey team are (l-) Rilyn Lehman, Callie Short and Morgan Leeper.

Sussex Academy’s cross country runners experienced both team and individual success. Seven Seahawks made the all-conference team. Shown are (l-r) Paige Ballinger, first team; Lily Bowe, second team; Katya Geyer, second team; Riley Moriarty, second team; Makenna Blades, honorable mention; Ryan Moody, first team; and Justin Friscia, honorable mention. Not shown is honorable mention recipient Duncan Winger.

Seahawks eighth-grader Paige Ballinger turned a lot of heads in the Delaware running scene this fall and was named to the all-state team following her first year competing at the varsity level.

The Sussex Academy volleyball team captured the program’s first Henlopen South title, hosted its first Henlopen Conference championship and made it to the DIAA tournament for the first time since 2017. Five girls were named to the all-conference team. Shown are (l-r) Carmen Merrick, first team; Danica Duncan, first team; Grace Fiorilla, first team; Dymond Steele, honorable mention; and Savannah Montgomery, second team.

Two Sussex Academy coaches were recognized for their efforts in 2023. Soccer coach R.J. Dina, left, was named the Henlopen Conference and Delaware Coach of the Year, while volleyball coach Hailee Gooch earned Henlopen Conference Coach of the Year.