Athletes of the Week June 21
Ava Calciano
A rising senior at Cape, Calciano hit leadoff for the Carpenter Cup runner-up Delaware South squad and proved her worthiness as a future Division I softball player. The University of Connecticut commit batted .591 in the tournament, swiping nine bags, scoring 12 times, tripling thrice and adding a double over the six-game run. The shortstop was a key part of a defense that held the final five opponents to 14 runs. During the team's second game, Calciano singled twice as part of an eight-run first inning. The next game, she led off her four-hit performance with a triple. Advancing out of group stage, Calciano started the June 19 knockout stage with a triple. Going 3-for-4 in the game, the future Huskie singled in the winning run in the sixth inning of a 6-5 victory. She made it three games in a row with a triple in the team's semifinal victory before scoring the team's only run in a 2-1 loss in the championship.
Matthew Klapak
This 21-year-old from Gordonsville, Va., was visiting his grandparents last weekend and found he had lots of options for ways to fill up a three-day weekend at the beach. Matt decided to race in the Seashore Striders Triple Crown Series to test his speed and fitness levels. The series featured three races in three days in three different towns. On Friday night, the Emory & Henry College distance runner began his weekend by winning the Georgetown Library 5K in 17:41. “I prefer 10K and longer races,” Matt said. “The 5K attracts some really fast people.” On Saturday morning, Matt won the Rock ‘N Roll 5K at Hudson Fields in 16:51.6. He was pushed by Andrew Weir, who ran 17:54. Matt closed out his Triple Crown weekend with a second-place finish in the Father’s Day 5K in Rehoboth Beach, running 16:30, which was second to Dylan Smiley’s quick time of 15:01.
Perry Shoemaker
Perry, 53, is from Vienna, Va., and was the overall champion June 15 at the sixth annual SoDel Cares 5K. Her time of 18:33 is a pending age-group state record. Her daughter Amelia, 16, was fourth overall and second female finisher in 20:12. “I didn’t start competitive running until I was 40,” Perry said. “I played all the sports, so I was always athletic.” The previous 5K record in the 50-54 age group was 18:34, set by Abby Dean in 2022. Perry ran the Eugene Marathon in Oregon in 2:43:33, qualifying for the Olympic Trials in 2020. She also won the Washington Army 10-Miler in 58:16. Perry graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and was a preschool teacher at Holy Comforter Episcopal School. At the recent 2023 USATF Masters 12K championships, Perry broke a 30-year age-group record, running 44:39 to break the existing record by 17 seconds.
Lex Wescott
Lex will be Cape’s lone representative on the field at the 68th annual DFRC Blue-Gold All-Star Football game Friday, June 21, at the University of Delaware. Fellow Viking Brenn Scott will also be there, but an injury will keep him on the sidelines. Lex played both sides of the ball well during his senior season. He helped lead Cape to its first state finals appearance since 1984. This is what Cape coach Mike Frederick had to say about Lex back in December following Cape’s upset win over Sussex Central in the state semifinals. “Lex is tough and loves to compete. I’m glad the state is getting to see what a healthy Lex can do. He is a big presence at safety in run support and has terrific ball skills. He has big play-making ability and tends to step up in big moments.” Lex also played baseball, earning first-team all-state honors as a third baseman for the 16-3 Vikings.
