Appoquinimink midfielder Matt Dina is the 2015 Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

The fall high school sports season saw individual records fall and teams make history. The season’s team champions included Smyrna (Division I football), Howard (Div. II football), Charter of Wilmington (Div. I boys cross country), Tatnall (Div. II boys and girls cross country), Padua (Div. I girls cross country), Cape Henlopen (field hockey), Delaware Military Academy (volleyball), Salesianum (Div. I boys soccer) and Indian River (Div. II boys soccer).

Scroll down to meet the players of the year in each sport.

All-State volleyball

Delaware Military’s Sydney Fulton goes off the court to keep a point alive.

Sydney Fulton originally didn’t have any interest in being a setter.

She was a middle hitter in middle school at St. Matthew, where she began playing volleyball. Then a coach suggested she try the position because of her great hands.

It was a natural fit.

“I just loved it,” said Fulton, the Delaware Military Academy junior who is this year’s state volleyball player of the year as selected by the Delaware Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association.

Her performance at setter helped the Seahawks go undefeated on the way to their first state title. Intrinsic talent aside, Fulton dedicates hours every week working to hone her skills and continue to learn the intricacies of the position.

“Setting is tedious because being just one inch off your set can mess your hitter up or put them under the net,” Fulton said.

Surrounded by talented hitters, including Cassie Kowalski and Victoria Taylor, who also earned first-team, All-State honors, Fulton’s job might have seemed easy this season. Even when putting aside the pressures Fulton and the Seahawks faced as the front-runners to win the state title, that oversimplifies what Fulton has meant to the Seahawks. CONTINUED

First-team, All-State volleyball capsules

All-State field hockey

Mount Pleasant’s Kate Walker puts a shot on goal in the first half of Middletown’s 4-2 win over Mount Pleasant on October.

In the history of Mount Pleasant High School’s field hockey program, names like Adrian Chambers, Rachel Oidtman and Heather Stevens stand out.

Now, senior midfielder Kate Walker can add her name to that list. Walker is the first Green Knight to be named player of the year by the Delaware Field Hockey Coaches Association.

“She’s accomplished more than them,” head coach Peter Meisel said. “The other girls are great, and they’ve contributed greatly to Mount Pleasant High School and we wouldn’t of had the success we had without them, but Kate’s done more.”

In addition to being named the best player in the state, Walker was named as a second-team All-American by Harrow Sports and the National Field Hockey Coaches’ Association (NFHCA).

“When I found out I was just ecstatic,” Walker said of her MVP award. “It’s a reflection of the team, and I feel that while one person gets nominated for this, I feel I couldn’t have done it without my team, my teammates, my coach and my parents. It’s been a long process, and it’s just fantastic to see our work pay off.”

This season, Walker tallied 31 goals and 12 assists, while helping lead Mount Pleasant to a 12-3 regular-season record and the second round of the state tournament, where the Green Knights lost to eventual state champion Cape Henlopen, 3-1. CONTINUED

First-team, All-State field hockey capsules

All-State boys soccer

Appoquinimink’s Matthew Dina (left) tries to send the ball upfield in front of Caravel’s Ben Schwartz in September.

Matt Dina was viewed as the top returning soccer player in the state this season after being a Top XI selection as a defender his junior year.

But Appoquinimink High needed him to be a better, more complete, player in 2015 because, as a senior, Dina would be shifted to the vital central midfield position.

There, he’d need to be both a creator and a finisher on the attack but also serve as the first line of defense. It’s a position requiring almost constant movement, earnest attention, unmatched skill, tireless work ethic and a commanding presence.

Dina had them all, said Appo coach Adam Bear, and is the recipient of the Delaware High School Soccer Coaches Association Ivan Vidanovic Player of the Year Award. The award memorializes Glasgow High’s 1997 state player of the year, who died in a traffic accident along with his father en route to a national awards ceremony.

“We had trouble scoring and [Dina] had some game winners for us and scored a lot of goals,” Bear said. “It’s just been an amazing progression for him. It was huge this year.

“In practice, when we were playing small-sided games, he’d score ridiculous goals, moves, beat people. He can do it.” CONTINUED

First-team, All-State boys soccer capsules

All-State boys cross country

Charter’s Kevin Murray won the boy’s Division I DIAA Cross Country State Championships at Killens Pond State Park in Felton.

Elevating his performance to levels that no Delaware boy ever reached before, Kevin Murray broke records on venerable courses in four consecutive meets, ran away with the conference, county and state championships, and vaulted himself into national prominence.

All of that earned the Wilmington Charter senior the Vic Zwolak Award as the state’s outstanding runner for 2015.

Delaware’s fastest underclassman last year in cross country and at 3,200 meters, where he is fourth in state history, Murray entered the fall with high expectations, all of which he exceeded.

“I came into cross country season thinking it was my last chance, that cross country was what I loved and I would take to the ends of the earth in the time I had left,” Murray said.

But by midseason, “the world wasn’t just Andy [Hally of Salesianum] and the guys in Delaware. There was a whole history stretching back in the books and runners stretching out to Oregon, and I thought I’d get a piece of it.” CONTINUED

First-team, All-State boys cross country capsules

All-State girls cross country

Padua’s Lydia Olivere wins the Division I DIAA Cross Country State Championships at Killens Pond State Park in Felton.

Adding tactical savvy to her polished stride, overcoming a midseason sinus infection that contributed to her first loss in Delaware, and earning national notice for victories at interstate invitationals, Lydia Olivere was named the state’s outstanding cross country runner, the first to earn the distinction in both her freshman and sophomore years.

The Padua star surmounted the pressure of heightened expectations after her undefeated freshman year, repeating her victories at the Joe O’Neill Invitational, the only race featuring every Delaware runner, and the Division I state meet.

In October, she beat the Pennsylvania state champion to win the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh and ran away with her section of the Manhattan Invitational, her time third fastest among the meet’s 1,300 runners.

Stakes for Olivere were higher this season. Last year, high school racing was a novelty. She was the lagniappe on a powerful team that was already the best in the state. State champion indoors and outdoors at 1600 meters, the nation’s tenth fastest freshman miler, she was one of many medalists in Padua’s year-long, three-season championship sweep. Then, five teammates graduated, thrusting leadership responsibility on her.

“Freshman year, you have no expectations for yourself,” Olivere said. “This year was more competitive because you’ve had a full year of experience. You know your racing strategy. You’ve become a smarter racer. I liked this year better. You have a basis from freshman year. You know times and places, and you set goals.” CONTINUED

First team, All-State girls cross country capsules

All-State football

(From left) Kyle Cathers, Will Knight and Colby Reeder

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Two years ago, on the first day Smyrna was allowed to hold full-contact football practices, coach Mike Judy noticed something special about Will Knight.

The Eagles’ defense couldn’t tackle the freshman running back consistently. A group of 17- and 18-year-olds couldn’t bring down the 14-year-old.

Knight moved right into the starting lineup, and the pace has accelerated ever since. This year, the sophomore rushed for 2,015 yards and 33 touchdowns. He caught 17 passes for 310 yards and four more scores. And he scored a staggering 51 two-point conversions as Smyrna won its first DIAA Division I football state championship.

So it was no surprise that Knight was a runaway choice as Delaware’s Offensive Player of the Year. The award is determined in voting by the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association board and the state’s high school football media. CONTINUED

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

What does it feel like to run full speed into a football that has just been kicked?

Colby Reeder knows the feeling. He felt it six times this season.

“It kind of feels like you’re getting shot,” he said. “Because that ball is flying at you at 60 mph. But it always feels better when the crowd is roaring and the adrenaline is pumping.”

The Salesianum senior rushed for 2,010 yards and 32 touchdowns, but that was only half of his contribution to a 10-2 team that reached the DIAA Division I championship game before falling to Smyrna in overtime.

Reeder also made 56 tackles and often changed opposing game plans from his safety spot. He was an easy choice as Delaware’s Defensive Player of the Year in voting by the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association board and the state’s high school football media. CONTINUED

LINEMAN OF THE THE YEAR

It isn’t a good idea to run straight at Salesianum defensive end Kyle Cathers.

It isn’t a good idea to run away from him, either.

Cathers’ ability to make plays both at the point of attack and in pursuit, plus his blocking and soft hands at tight end, made the 6-foot-5, 270-pound senior the choice as Delaware’s Lineman of the Year. The award is determined through voting by the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association board and the state’s high school football media.

Cathers finished the season with 62 tackles, eight sacks and four fumble recoveries. Many of those big plays came when opponents went at him, but just as many happened when they went to the other side. CONTINUED

First-team, All-State football capsules

Friends gather around Giovanna Neel at A.I.’s Signing Day on Wednesday afternoon.

Friends gather around A.I. duPont’s Taylor Edwards at A.I.’s Signing Day on Wednesday afternoon.

(From left) St. Mark’s soccer coach Daniel Swasey, Madison Burnham, Cullen Robinson and swimming coach Robert Maegerle.

Wednesday was the first day of the regular period for high school football and soccer players to sign letters of intent to play collegiately. If you know of a Delaware athlete who will be signing, please send athlete information and signing photos to sports@delawareonline.com

Chichi Amachi, William Penn, football, Delaware

Justin Bajek, St. Elizabeth, soccer, Maryland

Nic Boc, Delaware Military Academy, football, King’s College

Molly Bobjak, Padua, field hockey, Kutztown

Sullivan Boulden, Archmere, soccer, William & Mary

Sarah Brush, Padua, soccer, Catholic

Madison Burnham, St. Mark’s, soccer, Elizabethtown

Frank Burton, William Penn, football, Ball State

Jeff Campbell, Smyrna, football, Delaware State

Caroline Cashion, Dover, soccer, Holy Cross

Kyle Cathers, Salesianum, football, Coastal Carolina

Jake Coale, Newark, soccer, West Virginia

Taylor Edwards, A.I. du Pont, football, Massachusetts

Sophia Elliott, Padua, crew, Delaware

Kelsy Fitzgerald, Appoquinimink, soccer, Shippensburg

Katie Ford, Dover, soccer, Wesley

Julia Lee, A.I. du Pont, field hockey, Neumann

Maia Lee, Padua, field hockey, Newberry

Elijah Lewis, William Penn, football, New Hampshire

Abigail McGowan, Padua, field hockey, Washington College

Faruk Mohammed, Caravel, soccer, Delaware

Giovanna Neel, A.I. du Pont, girls lacrosse, Utica

Titus Nelson, William Penn, football, Lackawanna

Sam Peters, Wilmington Charter, soccer, Holy Cross

Colby Reeder, Salesianum, football, Delaware

​Cullen Robinson, St. Mark’s, swimming, Delaware

Kaitlyn Siberski, Wilmington Charter, soccer, North Georgia

Erica Sieben, Appoquinimink, soccer, Longwood

Jordan Sobolesky, Padua, track and field, Ellizabethtown

James Stock, Dover, soccer, Spalding

Michael Williams, Cape Henlopen, football, Delaware State

Stefon Woodruff, St. Georges, football, Delaware

Friends gather around A.I. duPont’s Taylor Edwards at A.I.’s Signing Day on Wednesday afternoon.

Taylor Edwards remembers everything.

He was the holder on an A.I. du Pont field-goal attempt in the Tigers’ season opener, late in the second quarter against Sussex Tech on Sept. 11. The snap went awry, and he rolled out to try to find a receiver.

“As soon as I got hit, I felt the pop,” Edwards said. “It didn’t exactly hurt. I just knew something was wrong. I just laid there, got a little teary-eyed right there.”

The anterior cruciate ligament in Edwards’ left knee was torn. His final season of high school football would finish with two catches for 25 yards, and three assisted tackles.

But Edwards was all smiles on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound Wilmington resident signed to attend the University of Massachusetts on a football scholarship in front of friends and family in the A.I. du Pont High library.

“It actually boiled down to this morning,” Edwards said. “I had the Wake Forest paper in my hand, the UMass paper in my other hand, and I was just sitting there thinking. Right now, I feel I can make the best impact at UMass.”

It was a testament to Edwards’ resiliency – and advancements in medical science.

“If it was 1991, absolutely, I think that probably would have been the last time he played football,” A.I. coach Zeb Blum said. “But we’ve come such a long way with technology and the surgeries and the doctors that we have.”

Wednesday marked the first day of the period high school football and soccer players can make their college destinations official by signing a National Letter of Intent. Jubilant signing ceremonies took place across Delaware and the nation, and no athlete was happier than Edwards.

Dr. Raymond Wolfe performed the surgery on Edwards’ knee on Oct. 11 at Saint Francis Hospital. Edwards even remembers the time – 11:37 a.m.

He has been rehabbing at ATI Physical Therapy and working out at Stay Real 302, and estimates his recovery at 70 percent. He expects to be 100 percent by the end of March, in plenty of time to enroll at UMass in mid-June.

The Minutemen envision him as a multi-purpose tight end. He also visited and considered Wake Forest, Connecticut, Old Dominion and Delaware, but the consistent pursuit by UMass – even immediately after he was injured – made the difference.

“I think one of the big keys with him signing with UMass is they were there the next day. They stuck,” Blum said. “They had no waver in their commitment to be with Taylor, and I think that made a big deal with him.”

Edwards was one of several Delaware high school football players who signed with Division I programs on Wednesday.

Salesianum running back-defensive back Colby Reeder, the state’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Gatorade and Maxwell Football Club Delaware Player of the Year, made First State football fans happy by signing with Delaware.

Sallies defensive end Kyle Cathers loved his visit to Coastal Carolina, and the Chanticleers loved Cathers. So the 6-foot-5, 270-pound senior was happy to make his decision official.

“They loved him the first time they saw him,” Sals coach Bill DiNardo said of Coastal Carolina. “My goodness, they saw a highlight film of him, and they offered the next day. He’s going to do really well.”

The Sals also sent Zach Jarome to Holy Cross, where the 6-2, 200-pounder projects as a safety or outside linebacker in the Crusaders’ 4-2-5 defense.

“Holy Cross is really excited for him, and he’s excited to go there,” DiNardo said. “I think it’s a great fit.”

William Penn also had four players sign to play at the next level – receiver Chichi Amachi (Delaware), defensive end-tight end Frank Burton (Ball State), defensive tackle Elijah Lewis (New Hampshire) and running back Titus Nelson (Lackawanna).

The 6-2, 250-pound Burton had plenty of options, as he also considered Cornell, Monmouth, Delaware, Delaware State and Colgate. But he committed last summer after a visit to Ball State, a Mid-American Conference school in Muncie, Ind.

“It was a perfect fit for me, seeing the campus and meeting the students,” Burton said. “… I visited there in June, and I just fell in love with it from Day One.”

Lewis (6-1, 270) also considered Villanova, Monmouth and DSU before signing with New Hampshire, which competes against Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association.

“I think he’s going to do great things,” William Penn coach Marvin Dooley said of Lewis. “I think he is the guy that everybody overlooked.”

Nelson (6-1, 250) has the frame for big-time football, and Lackawanna – a two-year school in Scranton, Pa. – has a track record of sending players to higher levels. The school had 15 players sign on Wednesday, including two with Oklahoma, two with West Virginia and one with Penn State.

“It’s a good fit for him,” Dooley said of Nelson. “The small classes will be good for him. Titus has a great upside.”

Woodbridge graduate Dajon Emory is one of the Lackawanna players moving on. The 6-3, 255-pound defensive lineman signed with Arkansas State, where he will be a junior next season.

Michael Williams (6-3, 225), a fullback-defensive end from Cape Henlopen, signed with Delaware State. Cornerback Ruben Saunders (6-1, 185), a Hodgson graduate who spent two seasons at Dean College, signed with North Carolina Central. St. Georges defensive lineman Stefon Woodruff joined Amachi and Reeder in signing with Delaware.

Others making their college destinations official included Appoquinimink’s Erica Sieben (Longwood soccer) and Kelsy Fitzgerald (Shippensburg soccer), Dover’s James Stock (Spalding soccer), Archmere’s Sullivan Boulden (William and Mary soccer), Newark’s Jake Coale (West Virginia soccer), Caravel’s Faruk Mohammed (Delaware soccer), Delaware Military Academy’s Nick Boc (King’s College football), Charter of Wilmington’s Kaitlyn Siberski (North Georgia soccer) and Sam Peters (Holy Cross soccer) and St. Mark’s Madison Burnham (Elizabethtown soccer) and Cullen Robinson (Delaware swimming).

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Daija Lampkin of Middletown won the 55-, 200- and 400-meter dashes at the DIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships last Saturday.

Middletown’s Daija Lampkin was the star of the girls sprints at the DIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, sweeping the 55-, 200- and 400-meter dashes at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Md.

Afterward, the junior revealed the secret to her dominance.

“I put in so much work,” Lampkin said. “I’ll do double practices and stay up all night to finish my homework, because I know I can be better and I have the potential. I just put in the work so I could come to this day and enjoy it.”

First, Lampkin blazed the 55 in 7.04 seconds to miss the state record set by Christiana’s Danielle Bailey in 2001 by just .03 of a second. Then she ran the anchor leg on the Cavaliers’ 4×200 relay, which posted the fastest time but was disqualified due to an exchange zone violation.

“My team was upset, but I’m still proud of them,” she said.

Then Lampkin cleared a mental hurdle and smashed her best time in the 400 with a 56.42, missing the state record set by Delcastle’s Tamara Stoner in 1990 by .23 of a second.

“I had a breakdown before the 400, but that turned out to be my best race today,” Lampkin said. “I didn’t want to run it, but I just went out and ran it my hardest and I [set a personal record] by a whole second.”

Then it was time to fly in the 200, as Lampkin rolled home in 25.22.

“I love the 200,” she said. “So far, that’s my best race. I love the feeling, because the way you run around the curves, it just feels like you’re flying.”

Lampkin has established herself as one of the nation’s top high school sprinters throughout the indoor season. She swept the 55 (7.03) and 200 (24.20) at the prestigious Ocean Breeze Invitational in Staten Island, N.Y., on Jan. 30, and is expected to be among the contenders at the New Balance Nationals Indoor, to be held March 11-13 at The Armory in New York City.

Sernyak to Villanova

Hayden Sernyak, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior from Salesianum, has committed to play football at Villanova as a walk-on. Sallies coach Bill DiNardo said Sernyak, who projects as a tight end, could have a bright future.

“I think he’s at the tip of the iceberg right now,” DiNardo said. “He’s a big kid, and the growth he has shown in the past year has been unbelievable. If he keeps working, I think he’s someone who can contribute at the college level.”

Alexis Bedford of Newark, shown here at last year’s DIAA Swimming and Diving Championships, set a meet record in 1-meter diving at the Blue Hen Conference meet last Saturday.

Rounding it up

— Newark junior Alexis Bedford of Newark won the girls 1-meter diving title at Saturday’s Blue Hen Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, setting a meet record with 212.55 points. Glasgow sophomore Tyheir Williams won the boys diving with 176.65 points.

— Easton (Md.) ended the Cape Henlopen girls swimming team’s winning streak at 51 dual meets with a 56-38 victory last Thursday. The Vikings’ last loss had been Jan. 24, 2012, against Stephen Decatur (Md.). Cape maintains a 45-meet in-state winning streak, dating back to a Dec. 15, 2011, loss to Sussex Tech. The Vikings are gearing up for the DIAA Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 27. Cape finished a program-best fifth in the team standings last season.

— Logan Handy is lighting up the scoreboard for the Laurel girls basketball team, averaging 33.6 points per game. The freshman scored 41 of the Bulldogs’ 43 points last Thursday, but Marquette signee Altia Anderson answered with 32 in the Blue Raiders’ 69-43 victory. Laurel was 6-7 going into Tuesday night’s home game against Delmar.

— Some of Delaware’s top senior athletes continue to make their college destinations official. Among those signing in the past week were Dover’s Caroline Cashion (Holy Cross soccer) and Katie Ford (Wesley soccer); Padua’s Molly Bobjak (Kutztown field hockey), Sarah Brush (Catholic soccer), Sophia Elliott (Delaware crew), Maia Lee (Newberry field hockey), Abigail McGowan (Washington College field hockey) and Jordan Sobolesky (Elizabethtown track); and A.I. du Pont’s Giovanna Neel (Utica lacrosse) and Julia Lee (Neumann field hockey). Also, former St. Elizabeth goalkeeper Justin Bajek, who plays for the Philadelphia Union Academy team, signed with Maryland.

— The Junior Tennithon, which raises funds for the Delaware Tennis Foundation, will hold its 20th annual event from 6:30 p.m. to midnight March 5 at DuPont Country Club. For information on participating, donating, volunteering or sponsoring the event, go to www.detennisfoundation.org.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Smyrna’s Cole Sebastianelli (top) controls Caesar Rodney’s Robert Stevenson in a Jan. 27 match at Smyrna. The Eagles won 47-17.

Smyrna will be going for its fourth straight title, wrestling in its home gym and returning much of a team that defeated Polytech 34-22 in the Division I final last year.

But the Eagles will definitely be on guard Tuesday during the DIAA Dual Meet Wrestling Championships. Smyrna has been ranked No. 1 all season, but it hasn’t been easy.

Cape Henlopen had the Eagles down 26-20 last Friday before Smyrna’s Anthony Wuest and Hunter Moyer scored pins in the final two matches for a 32-26 victory. The Eagles also scraped past Polytech 31-24, and either the Panthers or Vikings could be Smyrna’s semifinal opponent.

“They certainly recognized when they wrestled us that it’s in reach for them to beat us,” Eagles coach Kurt Howell said of Cape and Polytech. “Hopefully, we can rise to the occasion.”

The action begins at 3:30 p.m. at Smyrna High, with five of the six Division I teams coming from the Henlopen North. Sixth-seeded Charter of Wilmington (8-2), which won the Blue Hen Flight A title for the first time in school history, will meet third-seeded Caesar Rodney (8-3) in the first round. The other D-I opener will be No. 5 Polytech (8-4) against No. 4 Cape Henlopen (9-3).

Smyrna will meet the lowest-seeded first-round winner in the semifinals at 5:30, with No. 2 seed Sussex Central (11-1) taking on the highest remaining seed in the other semi. The D-I championship match will begin at 7:30.

“I’ve tried to preach to my kids that we’re not the returning champs. It’s a new team, a new year,” Howell said. “Everybody else has a different team and it’s a different year for them, too. Every match, you’ve got to bring your best.”

The Eagles have had a few bumps in the road this season, but Howell believes that will add to the intensity and increase the crowd. Opposing teams and fans may sense this could be the year to take down Smyrna.

“It would not be as exciting if one team had separated itself from every other team,” Howell said. “That’s not the way it is this year. We’ve won all the matches in-state this year, so it certainly looks like we’re the team to beat. But at the same time, every other team recognizes how vulnerable we are.”

In Division II, top-seeded Milford (8-2) appears to be a solid favorite to win its third straight team championship. The Buccaneers’ only losses have come to Smyrna (32-30) and Cape (44-30).

The Division II first round also starts at 3:30, with third-seeded Sanford (4-4) against No. 6 Hodgson (10-3) and fourth-seeded Delaware Military Academy (7-2) against No. 5 Caravel (9-2).

Milford will take on the lowest-seeded first-round winner, and No. 2 St. Georges (8-3) will meet the highest-seeded first-round winner in the semifinals. Then the semifinal winners will tangle for the title.

In both divisions, the first round will start at 220 pounds, the semifinals will begin at 285 pounds and the finals will start at 106.

Tickets ($8) are good for all three rounds, but anyone who leaves will need a new ticket to re-enter. Tickets are available online at www.diaa.ticketleap.com, and will also be available at the door.

Cape swimmers sweep

Cape Henlopen swept the boys and girls team titles at the Henlopen Conference Swimming Championships on Saturday at Lake Forest.

The Vikings scored 281 points to edge Sussex Tech (264) in the boys race. The Cape girls racked up 303 points to easily outdistance Sussex Tech (228).

Cape’s Jack Weeks lowered the meet record to 58.26 seconds in the boys 100 butterfly. He also won the 100 backstroke and was part of two winning relays.

The Vikings’ girls 200 freestyle relay team of Sarah Hyde, Amelia Nigh-Johnson, Sarah Rambo and Molly Weeks set a meet record of 1:55.29.

Sussex Tech’s Hannah Venables (girls) and Indian River’s Mason Sanders (boys) were named the meet’s outstanding swimmers. Both won two individual events.

Appoquinimink midfielder Matt Dina is the 2015 Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

Rounding it up

— Appoquinimink’s Matt Dina has been named the Gatorade Delaware Boys Soccer Player of the Year. The senior midfielder had nine goals and three assists as the Jaguars went 15-2 and reached the DIAA Division I semifinals. He also was named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

— Wilmington Friends freshman Connor Nisbet has been recognized as the top-ranked under-14 boys tennis player in the USTA Middle States region for 2015. Nisbet also finished fourth in the DIAA Division II boys cross country meet last fall.

— Appoquinimink boys basketball junior Myles Cale reached 1,000 career points in the Jaguars’ loss at Middletown on Feb. 6.

— St. Elizabeth is seeking a head coach in field hockey and an assistant coach in track and field. Send resumes and letters of interest to St. Elizabeth High School, or submit via email to jcorradin@sehs.org.

— St. Elizabeth senior Elisa Hackendorn has committed to play volleyball at Wesley College.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Cape Henlopen’s Molly Weeks pushes off to start the 50-yard freestyle final at the DIAA Girls Swimming and Diving Championships. Cape finished fourth as a team, with points from only four swimmers.

It has been more than just a drought for the Caravel boys basketball team.

The Buccaneers have been walking through the desert for the last six years.

But Caravel will finally get a drink of that postseason water at 7 p.m. Wednesday when the 21st-seeded Bucs travel to 12th-seeded Appoquinimink for a first-round game in the DIAA Boys Basketball Tournament.

Caravel won its only boys basketball state championship in 2008, edging Newark 53-50 in the title game. The Buccaneers reached the playoffs again the following year, then almost disappeared.

Over the next six seasons, Caravel went a combined 18-99. Mark Tobin took over as coach last season, when the Bucs were 3-17.

“They were so used to losing, they accepted it,” Tobin said Monday. “We really had to start changing their attitude. If you put the work in, the results will come. We were in almost every game last year, but we were losing. We just didn’t have the overall talent and knowledge of the game to win.”

But Caravel started a summer league team and offseason workouts, two things all of the top programs have in common. The improvement was immediate, as the Bucs are 12-8 this season.

“We had a nice transfer come in, and the kids bought into our new approach to the program,” Tobin said. “Some kids that didn’t play basketball before came out because they saw some good, positive energy was involved.”

The key has been O’koye Parker, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who has gone from playing junior varsity at Howard last season to averaging 22 points per game at Caravel.

“He was a great surprise,” Tobin said. “He came in and led the team in scoring, a big emotional leader for us.”

The Bucs also got a boost from Mandela Montgomery, a star running back-defensive back who added some muscle.

“He’s like 5-8, and he plays down in the post,” Tobin said. “He averaged close to six rebounds a game. … He’s our heart and soul. He really helps our attitude and intensity.”

Senior guard Colton Esper has been with the team for four years. Tobin said senior forward Kyle Maher has “a ton of heart,” and sophomore guard Billy McKenzie has provided outside shooting after transferring from Fairwinds Baptist. Brothers Brandon and Matt Sengphachanh – two of the state’s top soccer players – have also added depth as the Bucs play at least nine players most nights.

“That’s what our team is built off of, different sports,” Tobin said. “A few soccer players, two football players. O’koye Parker is our main basketball player, but our team is built with athletes. The good part is, they mesh really well together.”

Andrew Brooks of Sanford defeated Dovers Nicholas Lee 4-0 in the 138 pound class at the DIAA Individual Wrestling Championships held at Cape Henlopen High School near Lewes on Feb. 27.

Wrestling recap

Saturday’s 14 weight-class titles at the DIAA Individual Wrestling Championships were split among nine schools, led by Smyrna with three. Cape Henlopen, Caesar Rodney and Sussex Central each won two, as Henlopen Conference schools took 10 titles overall.

CR boosted its all-time total to 95 individual champions, the most by any school. St. Mark’s, which didn’t add any titles this season, is next with 91. Then comes William Penn (70), Sussex Central/Georgetown (47), Smyrna (46) and Salesianum (39).

Sanford sophomore Andrew Brooks reached 100 career wins when he kicked off the finals with a 4-0 decision over Dover’s Nick Lee at 138 pounds. Brooks is just the second Warriors wrestler to win a state title, joining Brendan Lamey, who won at 145 last year but finished third at 152 on Saturday.

Fabulous foursome

Cape Henlopen finished fourth in the DIAA Girls Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday – with just four girls doing all of the Vikings’ scoring.

The quartet of Sarah Rambo, Sarah Hyde, Amelia Nigh-Johnson and Molly Weeks won the 200 freestyle relay and finished second in the 200 medley relay.

Individually, Hyde finished second in the 100 breaststroke and sixth in the 50 freestyle. Weeks took fourth in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 butterfly. Rambo earned fifth in the 100 freestyle and eighth in the 100 backstroke, and Nigh-Johnson finished 10th in both the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

The best news: All four are juniors. They will be back next year.

Rounding it up

— There will be two neutral-site games in the opening rounds of the DIAA basketball tournament. No. 15 seed Padua (9-11) will meet No. 18 Conrad (14-6) in a girls game at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brandywine. No. 17 Woodbridge (16-4) and No. 16 St. Andrew’s (10-10) will tangle in a boys opener at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Polytech.

— Caravel/Hodgson defeated Monsignor Bonner (Pa.) 10-5 to win the Commonwealth Division of the Delaware Scholastic Hockey Association on Friday. Sebastian Thomas had six goals and an assist, and Nicholas Demarco and Michael Anderson each had a goal and three assists for Caravel/Hodgson.

— The McKean boys basketball team made a big jump this season, improving from 3-17 last year to 10-8. It was the Highlanders’ first winning season since they went 20-4 and reached the state quarterfinals in 2007-08.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Sanford’s Kyle Evans, shown against Mount Pleasant in the DIAA semifinals, will be one of 60 top senior basketball players participating in the annual Blue-Gold All-Star boys and girls games on Saturday at the Bob Carpenter Center.

The final scores of the DIAA girls and boys basketball championship games were 39-34 and 39-32 last weekend at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Expect more points than that by halftime of both of Saturday’s Blue-Gold All-Star basketball games, as the state’s top seniors come together for one more taste of high school ball.

The emphasis is on offense and showcasing of skills, so it’s not unusual for the teams to crack 100 points. The top seniors from Northern Delaware will comprise the Blue teams, with the top seniors from Southern Delaware playing for the Gold.

The girls game will start at 1:30, followed by a celebrity game featuring the high-flying Streetball All-Stars at 3. The boys game will complete the day’s events at 4.

The girls will have a 3-point shooting contest at halftime of their game, and the rims will be rattled by a slam dunk contest at halftime of the boys game. Tickets ($10 for adults, $8 for students) will be available. Proceeds will benefit Best Buddies Delaware, which creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment for people with intellectual disabilities.

The Blue girls roster will include Alyssa Irons and Kailyn Kampert of state champion Ursuline, Chrishyanah Alston and Taylor Samuels of Sanford, Wynter McLaughlin and Holly Panchak of Concord, Caroline Grasso of Charter of Wilmington, Sarah Kautz of Conrad, Ciana Kinlaw of Christiana, Megan Mallon of Padua, Nydera Matthews of Delcastle, Bridget McLaughlin of DMA, Michaella Moore of Tatnall, Karissa Phelps of William Penn and Kaitlynn Wolff of St. Mark’s.

The Gold girls roster will include Altia Anderson of Woodbridge, Jonae Boone and Kala Fluitt of Milford, Shirle’ Brown of Appoquinimink, Cherise Castillo of Polytech, Daia Daniels of Lake Forest, Tatyana Jenkins, Emily Truitt and Lamesha Walker of Sussex Central, Ashunte Manigo of Smyrna, Quiara Mayes of Hodgson, Ashlee McCoy of Delmarva Christian, Kyra Moore of Dover, Jordan Moseley of Caesar Rodney and Kourtnie Orth of St. Thomas More.

The Blue boys roster will include Paul Brown of St. Georges, Raheim Burnett and Rob Myrick of Mount Pleasant, Mikey Dixon, Kyle Evans and Jacob Walsh of state champion Sanford, Desmond Gould and Muhannad Hussein of Delcastle, Preston Hickman of D.A.P.S.S., Jamal Hunt of Hodgson, Markee Johnson and Danny Walsh of William Penn, Jamai Rice of St. Mark’s, Noah Rivera of Concord and Kawon Spencer-Taylor of Dickinson.

The Gold boys roster will include TaiRon Abbott of Sussex Central, Kris Alexander of Appoquinimink, Jordan Allen, Michael Douglas and Terrence Woodlin of Dover, Dom Griffith of Lake Forest, Wontrell Hammond of Caesar Rodney, Shyheim Holden of Laurel, Devin Kravitz and Henry Nesmith of Milford, Drew Mulcahy and Demetrius Price of Cape Henlopen, Charlie Taylor and Ja’vier Worthy of Smyrna and Justin Thompson of Middletown.

Laurel names Ennis as new football coach

Indoor track nationals

Daija Lampkin of Middletown completed her stellar winter season by finishing ninth in the girls 60-meter dash (7.49) and 12th in the 200 (24.30) over the weekend at the New Balance Indoor Nationals at The Armory in New York City.

Salesianum finished 11th in the boys 4×1-mile relay, with John Walker, Colin Parker, George Steinoff and Andrew Hally coming home in 17:55.97. Micaiah Dendy of St. Georges took 18th in the girls triple jump (37-10½), and Newark’s Rachel Beston was 23rd in the girls 2-mile run (10:52.83).

Several Delawareans also competed in the Emerging Elite division, highlighted by Kevin Murray of Charter of Wilmington finishing fifth in the boys 2-mile run (9:18.41).

Myrissa McFolling-Young of Smyrna took seventh in the girls shot put (40-6), and Moses Carter of Smyrna finished 10th in the boys triple jump (44-4¼). Glasgow’s boys 4×200-meter relay team of Martise Younger, Simeon Dailey, Darius Blalock and Jasaan Cunningham finished 10th in 1:31.94.

Keelin Hays of Tatnall finished 20th in the girls 2-mile run (10:59.83), and also took third in the girls freshman mile (5:05.82). Zandrew Bowe of Caravel finished 13th in boys freshman 400 (53.02), and Brendan Balthis of Tatnall took 17th in the boys freshman mile (4:38.68).

Rounding it up

– Jordan Allen of Dover (boys) and Altia Anderson of Woodbridge (girls) have been named the Gatorade Delaware Basketball Players of the Year.

– Padua’s four-time defending state champion soccer team is ranked 16th nationally in the USA Today/National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll. The Pandas face a couple of tough challenges in their opening weekend, taking on Landstown (Va.) at 7 p.m. Friday and Ocean Lakes (Va.) at noon Saturday in the Virginia Beach Showcase.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Appoquinimink won the DIAA Baseball Tournament last June at Frawley Stadium, and the Jaguars will start the 2016 season ranked No. 1 by The News Journal.

BASEBALL

1. Appoquinimink

2. Caravel

3. St. Mark’s

4. Smyrna

5. St. Georges

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel

2. Polytech

3. Caesar Rodney

4. Appoquinimink

5. Delaware Military Academy

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum

2. Cape Henlopen

3. Caesar Rodney

4. Archmere

5. Appoquinimink

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen

2. Polytech

3. Tower Hill

4. Caravel

5. St. Mark’s

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua

2. Charter of Wilmington

3. Caesar Rodney

4. Sussex Tech

5. Concord

DIVISION II

1. Indian River

2. Caravel

3. Archmere

4. Wilmington Friends

5. Lake Forest

GOLF

1. Salesianum

2. Tower Hill

3. Charter of Wilmington

4. Caesar Rodney

5. Archmere

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney

2. Tower Hill

3. Tatnall

4. Wilmington Friends

5. St. Andrew’s

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill

2. Caesar Rodney

3. Archmere

4. Charter of Wilmington

5. St. Andrew’s

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Rudy Simonetti, an assistant coach at Passaic Valley Regional High in Little Falls, N.J., has been hired as the new head football coach at Dover High.

As an outsider with no head coaching experience, Rudy Simonetti initially faced long odds in his bid to become Dover High School’s new football coach.

But the 32-year-old assistant coach from Passaic Valley Regional High in Little Falls, New Jersey, was approved by the Capital School Board last week. He plans to meet the Senators’ players on Wednesday and conduct interviews to assemble a coaching staff on Thursday.

“I’ve waited nine years for this. This is going to be my 10th year of coaching,” Simonetti said Monday. “When I was in college, I knew I wanted to help kids become good citizens, reach their highest potential and really make a positive impact in their lives.”

Simonetti replaces Dante Jones, whose contract was not renewed after coaching Dover to a 16-16 record over the last three years. Dover went 9-3 and lost to Salesianum in overtime in the DIAA Division I semifinals in Jones’ first season, but struggled to a combined 7-13 mark the last two years.

Simonetti has already seen the Senators on film. Now, he’s ready to see them in person.

“I saw a lot of athletic ability, a lot of potential with this team,” the new coach said. “As soon as I get down there, we’re going to get to work.”

Simonetti comes from a deep football background. His cousin has been a longtime high school coach in North Jersey, and his father is a veteran rec league coach. He played and coached under current Passaic Valley coach Chet Parlavecchio, a former Penn State and NFL linebacker, who went on to serve as an assistant coach with the Tennessee Titans.

Dover principal Dr. Courtney Voshell said Simonetti stood out during the interview process.

“The one thing that meant the world to me was when I have a veteran coach on my panel who has won many awards, and after Rudy left the room, this coach said, ‘I want to play football for that guy,’” Voshell said. “That was pretty convincing.

“Nobody knew Rudy at all,” Voshell added. “He was an applicant who came in and showed he was a coach, 100 percent a coach. He came in with a high level of motivation.”

Simonetti, who is certified to teach special education, is currently teaching at Little Falls Middle School and hopes to land a teaching job at Dover. He said he has no favored style or system for the Senators.

“I’m going to be very multiple, flexible,” Simonetti said. “We’re going to fit our offensive and defensive schemes to fit the players. We won’t fit our players to a certain scheme. The minute you do that, you won’t be very successful.”

Bring on spring

The first three weeks of March have been much warmer and drier than the same period the last two years, allowing all of Delaware’s spring sports teams to hold their preseason practices in better conditions.

So everyone will be ready to hit the ground running when the season officially starts Tuesday, but it will be a slow start. With most schools enjoying spring break next week, many teams will only play one or two games over the next two weeks, or not start at all until the first full week of April.

The only matchup of two top-five teams this week will take place Tuesday, in Division II girls soccer. Two-time defending state champ Caravel, which is ranked second in the preseason, will open its season at No. 3 Archmere at 3:45 p.m.

There are a couple of interesting scheduling notes. The top-ranked Salesianum lacrosse team has only three in-state opponents (St. Mark’s, Cape Henlopen and Caesar Rodney) among its 14 games. And the second-ranked Caravel baseball team will play 12 of its first 13 games at home, before hitting the road for all of its last five games.

Rounding it up

Caravel is out to defend its DIAA Division II girls soccer title.

— Host Cape Henlopen, Smyrna, Appoquinimink and Sanford have been announced as the Delaware teams invited to participate in the third annual Slam Dunk to the Beach boys basketball showcase, to be held Dec. 27-29. Three-day tournament passes are on sale for a reduced price of $45 at www.slamdunktothebeach/tickets/ through May 1.

— A.I. du Pont is seeking a head coach for field hockey. Send resumes to athletic director Mark Alley at mark.alley@redclay.k12.de.us by noon April 8.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Dominic Durante (7) of fifth-ranked St. Georges slides safely into third as William Penn’s Matthew North is late with the tag last Thursday.

BASEBALL

1. Appoquinimink (2-0) 1

2. Caravel (1-0) 2

3. St. Mark’s (1-0) 3

4. Smyrna (2-0) 4

5. St. Georges (1-0) 5

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel (0-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 3

3. Lake Forest (2-0) NR

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4

5. Delaware Military Academy (0-0) 5

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum (0-1) 1

2. Cape Henlopen (1-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 3

4. Archmere (1-0) 4

5. Appoquinimink (1-0) 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen (2-0) 1

2. Polytech (1-0) 2

3. Tower Hill (0-0) 3

4. Caravel (2-0) 4

5. Archmere (1-0) NR

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua (2-0) 1

2. Charter of Wilmington (0-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 3

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4 NR

5. Concord (0-0) 5

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (1-0) 1

2. Archmere (1-0) 3

3. Caravel (0-1) 2

4. Wilmington Friends (1-0) 4

5. Lake Forest (1-0) 5

GOLF

1. Salesianum (0-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (0-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 3

4. Caesar Rodney (3-0) 4

5. Caravel (2-0) NR

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (0-0) 2

3. Tatnall (0-0) 3

4. Wilmington Friends (1-0) 4

5. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) NR

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill (0-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 2

3. Archmere (0-0) 3

4. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 4

5. St. Andrew’s (0-1) 5

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

St. Mark’s Brian Gilardi fields a ground ball during the Spartans’ March 23 win over Hodgson. No. 3-ranked St. Mark’s has three games scheduled during the school’s spring break this week.

You’re going to be practicing anyway. Why not play a few games?

Most Delaware school students are enjoying spring break this week, but there is no break for the athletes on many of the state’s top high school sports teams. The spring season only began last week, so this is no time to shut it down.

In fact, some coaches take advantage of the week off from school to schedule faraway opponents they may not normally play. Many of Delaware’s ranked teams will be in action this week in several sports, especially baseball.

No one will be busier than No. 1 Appoquinimink, which has three games scheduled. The Jaguars (2-0) will travel to No. 4 Smyrna at noon Tuesday, followed by a neutral-site game against Salesianum at 4 p.m. Thursday at Wilmington University’s Wilson Field. Then Cape Henlopen travels to Appo at noon Saturday for a rematch of last year’s DIAA state championship game, which the Jaguars won 10-2.

The second-ranked Caravel baseball team has a pair of home games against Pennsylvania opponents — Strath Haven at 7 p.m. Friday, then Roman Catholic at 7 Saturday.

No. 3 St. Mark’s also has a three-game week — at Caesar Rodney at 1 p.m. Wednesday, home against St. Elizabeth at 4 p.m. Thursday and home against Indian River at 1 p.m. Saturday.

No. 5 St. Georges will take on Salesianum on the road at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

In softball, No. 1 Caravel will open its season Saturday by hosting four games, two involving the Buccaneers. Caravel will take on Delmar at 10 a.m. and Immaculate Conception (N.J.) at 11:45. Then Sussex Tech will use Caravel’s diamond for its own doubleheader — against Arthur L. Johnson (N.J.) at 2 p.m. and William Penn Charter (Pa.) at 4.

Athlete of the Week: Shannon Lord

Second-ranked Caesar Rodney will be challenged in two home games. The Riders play host to St. Mark’s at 1 p.m. Wednesday, then take on Concord — which finished 15-4 last season — at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The top-ranked Salesianum lacrosse team opened the season with a 16-9 loss to the powerful Culver (Ind.) Academies last Wednesday in Baltimore, and the Sals will continue to put more miles on the bus than anyone.

This week, Sallies will meet Canisius of Buffalo, N.Y., at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. Then the Sals will play at Nansemond Suffolk Academy in Suffolk, Va., at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Salesianum will wrap up the trip against Wando (S.C.) at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C., on Friday.

Second-ranked Cape Henlopen will also travel out of state in boys lacrosse for a game at Bel Air (Md.) at 6:45 p.m. Thursday. Then the Vikings will be challenged at home by No. 4 Archmere at 4 p.m. Saturday.

No. 3 Caesar Rodney will hit the road twice — at Worcester Prep (Md.) at 4 p.m. Wednesday and at Wilmington Friends at noon Saturday.

In girls lacrosse, seven-time defending state champion Cape Henlopen will play host to Queen Anne’s County (Md.) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

No. 3 Tower Hill faces a tough season opener at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Charter of Wilmington, which was knocked out of the playoffs by the Hillers last season.

Archmere edged then-No. 5 St. Mark’s 5-4 last week to move into the rankings. But the Auks face a tough game at Wilmington Friends — which reached the state quarterfinals last season – at 4 p.m. Thursday.

In girls soccer, Division I top-ranked Padua (2-0) will play at Division II No. 4 Friends at 4 p.m. Tuesday, then travel to Cape Henlopen for a 6 p.m. Friday game.

Delaware high school sports rankings

Spartans look strong

Last Thursday was a huge day for Lake Forest’s spring sports programs.

The Spartans’ softball team trailed 2-0 going into the sixth inning at second-ranked Polytech, then erupted for 12 runs to swamp the defending state champs 12-2.

Brooke Glanden sparked the rally with an RBI triple, and Kayla Thompson (3-for-4, three RBIs) smacked a two-run double for Lake Forest, which vaulted into this week’s rankings at No. 3.

Lake Forest’s boys lacrosse team also scored an impressive victory, knocking off Milford 11-8.

The Spartans finished 8-6 last season, while the Buccaneers went 15-3 and dominated Lake Forest 17-4 and 16-4 in two meetings. But this time, the Spartans built a 5-2 halftime lead and held on behind five goals from Austin Aguilar, three from Dawaunta Parker and two from Ben Moore.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Charter of Wilmington’s Michelle Shulkov (1) works around Tower Hill’s Jade Olurin during the Force’s 10-9 win on March 29. Charter moved into this week’s girls lacrosse rankings at No. 3.

BASEBALL

1. Caravel (2-0) Prev. 2

2. St. Mark’s (4-0) 3

3. Salesianum (3-0) NR

4. Smyrna (3-0) 4

5. Appoquinimink (2-2) 1

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel (2-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (4-0) 2

3. Lake Forest (3-0) 3

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4

5. Delaware Military Academy (0-0) 5

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum (3-1) 1

2. Archmere (2-0) 4

3. Cape Henlopen (1-2) 2

4. Wilmington Friends (2-0) NR

5. Appoquinimink (1-0) 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen (3-0) 1

2. Polytech (1-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (3-0) NR

4. Caravel (2-0) 4

5. Archmere (2-0) 5

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua (4-0) 1

2. Charter of Wilmington (0-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 3

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4

5. Concord (0-0) 5

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (1-0) 1

2. Archmere (1-0) 2

3. Caravel (0-1) 3

4. Wilmington Friends (1-1) 4

5. Lake Forest (1-0) 5

GOLF

1. Salesianum (0-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (2-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 3

4. Caesar Rodney (3-0) 4

5. Caravel (2-0) 5

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (2-0) 2

3. Tatnall (1-1) 3

4. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 4

5. St. Andrew’s (2-1) NR

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill (2-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (2-0) 2

3. Archmere (0-0) 3

4. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 4

5. St. Andrew’s (1-1) 5

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Padua’s Ashlee Brentlinger (right) works past Caesar Rodney’s Cowan Cummings (left) in the second half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Padua’s Emilia Ryjewski puts a shot on goal in the second half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Caesar Rodney keeper Marianna Nuzzo (left) and defender Julia Lyncha (right) chase down the ball after a Padua cross deflected off Lyncha toward the goal for an own-goal in the second half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Padua’s Megan Mallon (right) puts a shot on goal in the second half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Padua’s Ashlee Brentlinger is brought down from behind by Caesar Rodney’s Caitlin Harris in the second half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Padua’s Lindsay Machamer (left) and Caesar Rodney’s Jameah Nixon chase down the ball in the first half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Padua’s Ashlee Brentlinger (right) works the ball past Caesar Rodney’s Cowan Cummings (left) in the first half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

Padua’s Ashlee Brentlinger (right) dives past Caesar Rodney’s Jessie Prillaman (left) for a header in the first half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

HOCKESSIN – Padua Academy dominated possession for large stretches of time but could not solve Caesar Rodney’s compact defense in an early season showdown between two Division I powers Tuesday afternoon at the Hockessin Soccer Complex.

The top-ranked Pandas changed their angle of attack for the second half and also became more physical, and as a result, they found the back of the net twice to earn a 2-0 home victory over the Riders in girls soccer action.

“We were struggling in front of the net, and we had plenty of opportunities. It was just that one chance. At halftime, we talked about how it required one chance to break them,” Padua’s Emilia Ryjewski said. “It was brilliant ball played in by Ashlee [Bertlinger], and I found myself on the end of it. I knew I had to finish.”

Before the go-ahead goal, the Pandas had 11 shots on goal and several others were just off target, but most of those came from long range as third-ranked Caesar Rodney’s defense was difficult to infiltrate, requiring Padua to move the point of attack to the flanks.

Padua’s Lindsay Machamer (No. 17) celebrates with teammate Emilia Ryjewski (No. 4) after Ryjewski’s goal in the second half of Padua’s 2-0 win over Caesar Rodney at the Hockessin Soccer Club on Tuesday afternoon.

After a cross, the ball found the foot of Ryjewski, and she took a shot, which deflected off a Rider player into the net to give the Pandas a 1-0 lead in 52nd minute. Just 23 minutes later, another cross found her feet, and after her initial shot was stopped, Ryjewski blasted the rebound into the net to make it 2-0.

Another reason why Padua’s ability to finish improved in the second half was that the players had more intensity than in the first half.

“I think in the first half, we came out a little soft. In the second, we realized that we needed to hit them first,” Ryjewski said. “So, we went out, we remained physical, and I think that helped us and carried us forward.”

While Caesar Rodney’s defense was consistently under attack, the back line held strong against the unrelenting pressure by staying in formation, forcing the Pandas (5-0) to take most of their shots from the outside.

“Our back four tries to play connected. They move as a unit, and they try to put pressure on the ball, and the other three try to squeeze the space,” Rider head coach Darrell Gravatt said. “We try to stay out of our box as much as possible. They had a lot of shots, but a lot of them were longer shots. Our keeper is pretty good with those.”

Marianna Nuzzo had 14 saves for Caesar Rodney (2-1) while Abigail Boudart stopped four shots for Padua.

Padua 2, Caesar Rodney 0

Caesar Rodney 0 0 – 0

Padua 0 2 – 2

First half – no scoring

Second half – Ryjewski (Scully), P, 52:00; Ryjewski (Mallon), P, 75:00.

Shots – CR 4, P 16.

Corner kicks – CR 0, P 4.

Saves – CR 14 (Nuzzo), P 4 (Boudart).

Lake Forest Kerrigan Simpson fires a pitch against Red Lion Christian on Friday. The Spartans moved up to No. 2 in the state with a 7-5 victory.

BASEBALL

1. Salesianum (4-0) 3

2. St. Mark’s (6-0) 2

3. Caravel (3-1) 1

4. Smyrna (5-0) 4

5. Appoquinimink (4-2) 5

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel (2-1) 1

2. Lake Forest (5-0) 3

3. Caesar Rodney (5-1) 2

4. Appoquinimink (3-0) 4

5. Delaware Military Academy (1-0) 5

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum (5-1) 1

2. Archmere (3-1) 2

3. Cape Henlopen (3-2) 3

4. Wilmington Friends (2-1) 4

5. Appoquinimink (3-0) 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen (5-0) 1

2. Polytech (4-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (4-0) 3

4. Ursuline (4-0) NR

5. Caravel (3-1) 4

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua (6-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (3-1) 3

3. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 2

4. Appoquinimink (3-0) 4

5. Middletown (3-0) NR

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (3-0) 1

2. Archmere (1-0-1) 2

3. Caravel (1-1) 3

4. Delaware Military Academy (3-0-1) NR

5. Lake Forest (3-0) 5

GOLF

1. Salesianum (0-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (3-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (5-0) 4

4. Caravel (5-0) 5

5. Appoquinimink (3-0) NR

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney (6-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (3-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (3-0) 4

4. St. Andrew’s (3-2) 5

5. Tatnall (2-2) 3

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill (3-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (5-0) 2

3. Archmere (1-0) 3

4. St. Andrew’s (2-2) 5

5. Wilmington Friends (2-2) NR

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Marcy Aitken looks to her son Mark as she’s applauded at a ceremony honoring Aitken for her contributions to Archmere on Thursday evening.

Archmere has built one of the most competitive girls athletic programs among Delaware high schools. The Auks have racked up 11 state championships over the years, and are currently ranked No. 2 in the state in Division II soccer and No. 3 in tennis.

All of that had to start somewhere, and it started with Marcy Aitken. She was hired to coach basketball, cheerleading and softball in 1975-76, the first year Archmere accepted girls.

Aitken went on to coach for eight years and teach at Archmere for 37 years, retiring in 2012. Her contributions to the school and trailblazing role in girls athletics were formally recognized last Thursday, as the Auks named one of their athletic facilities the Marcy Aitken Gymnasium.

“I just thought, ‘This is natural,’” Aitken said. “We’re going to change from a boys school to a boys and girls school. It was just very natural. It all fell into place.”

Aitken helped it fall into place, but not without some hesitation. She had an athletic background after playing basketball at Immaculata University, but when she was recommended to start Archmere’s girls sports program she was a mother to eight kids. Her youngest, Margaret, was about to enter first grade.

“The principal turned to my husband, Joe, and said, ‘Can she do this?’” Aitken said. “And Joe said, ‘Yes, she can.’ When we got out in the hallway, I said to Joe, ‘I’m going to do this for three years.’ I was at Archmere for 37 years. That’s how much I love the school.”

Only 50 girls enrolled during the first year, and 45 of them were freshmen and sophomores. Now, 55 percent of Archmere’s student body is female. But then, Aitken was coaching many girls who had never played any sport before.

“The majority of the girls were not real athletic,” she said. “We didn’t win many games, but they didn’t really care. They played their hearts out.”

MaryAnn O’Brien Slowik was among the first class of Archmere girls, enrolling in December of her freshman year. She played volleyball, basketball and softball for three years.

“It was before Title IX, so we had to fight for everything,” O’Brien Slowik said. “We had to wear the same uniforms for all three seasons. Even as a senior, I don’t remember us getting new uniforms yet.”

Athlete of the Week: Jamie Trabaudo

But she developed a special bond with Aitken.

“She was more than a coach,” O’Brien Slowik said. “She was a mentor, she was a mom. She was a tough coach, but fair. She was funny, and she was a great friend. She has been a friend for the last 40 years. Whenever I see her, it’s just like we’re back on the basketball court or the softball field.”

Aitken eventually stopped coaching and became Archmere’s alcohol and drug counselor. She was at Archmere during Margaret’s entire time at the school, juggling her work duties while raising her children and spending time with Joe, an engineer for Hercules.

“I have two kids, and honestly I do not know how they did it,” Margaret Aitken said. “I can barely keep track of two, much less eight, and then working full time and starting a girls program. It’s pretty incredible. We’re very proud.”

Now, Marcy is amazed by Archmere’s girls athletic teams. The Auks compete in 11 sports, and 1,838 girls graduated during her tenure at the school.

“The girls sports there today are wonderful,” she said. “Whether it was because we laid the groundwork, I don’t know. They eventually became athletes in their own right.

“I just think I’m lucky to be a part of all of that. If we were part of that and laid the foundation, then we’re blessed.”

Delaware high school sports rankings

Rounding it up

— Dover quarterback Triston Harris has decided to continue his football career at Towson.

— Three more Salesianum football players have decided to play at the next level. WR-DB Griffin Salvo will compete at Ursinus, kicker Pearce Bartlett is headed for Catholic University and WR Jeremy Ryan plans to walk on at Delaware.

— A.I. du Pont senior Elizabeth Shields reached 200 career goals in a 15-8 girls lacrosse victory over Hodgson last Tuesday. Shields found the net eight times in the win.

— Four-time defending state champion Padua is 15th nationally in the latest USA Today/NSCAA Super 25 girls soccer rankings. The Pandas (6-0), ranked first in Division I in Delaware, will meet No. 4 Appoquinimink at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Independence School.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Padua’s Mackenzie Scully (No. 22) runs ahead of Appoquinimink’s Alison Candy (No. 25) in the second half of Padua’s 4-0 win over Appoquinimink at Appoquinimink High School on Wednesday afternoon.

Padua’s Julia Detwiler (right) runs past Appoquinimink’s Ashley Hickman (left) in the second half of Padua’s 4-0 win over Appoquinimink at Appoquinimink High School on Wednesday afternoon.

Padua’s Kristen Brady (No. 5) passes the ball ahead of Appoquinimink’s Alison Candy (No. 25) in the second half of Padua’s 4-0 win over Appoquinimink at Appoquinimink High School on Wednesday afternoon.

Padua’s Mackenzie Scully (No. 22) runs down the sideline with Appoquinimink’s Rachel Cressler (No. 12) in the second half of Padua’s 4-0 win over Appoquinimink at Appoquinimink High School on Wednesday afternoon.

MIDDLETOWN – April 11, 2013, was a long time ago. Three years and two days passed until Wednesday, to be exact.

But the seniors on Padua’s top-ranked soccer team still remember. Because they lost to Appoquinimink on that date. And when you only lose twice in four seasons, you remember.

The four-time defending state champion Pandas made sure it wouldn’t happen again, getting two quick goals in the first eight minutes and cruising past Appo 4-0 on Wednesday.

“Scoring early is pretty huge for you,” Padua coach Joe Brown said. “We got the early goals, and it takes a little bit of pressure off. We always deal with teams that are pretty tight in the back, and if we break them down early we can breathe a little easier.”

Appoquinimink’s Ashley Hickman (left) collides with Padua’s Ashlee Brentlnger (right) in the second half of Padua’s 4-0 win over Appoquinimink at Appoquinimink High School on Wednesday afternoon.

Junior Emilia Ryjewski got the Pandas (7-0) on the board in the third minute, scoring from close range after her teammates worked the ball in deep.

“We had a great buildup,” Ryjewski said. “It started out wide at the flank, we worked our way in and then back out wide.

“[Mackenzie Scully] had a great cross. It went through a few players, kind of bounced around in the box, and it just came off my foot and I saw it go in the back of the net.”

Scully, a senior, was the beneficiary of Ryjewski’s cross in the eighth minute, heading it in for a 2-0 lead.

“She put a great ball in, just had a little bend, and I just got on the end of it,” Scully said. “It’s nice scoring any way, but when you score on a header it’s way better. It takes more effort, I feel like. It doesn’t happen a lot, so when you do it it’s an awesome feeling.”

Padua’s Megan Mallon puts a shot on goal in the second half of Padua’s 4-0 win over Appoquinimink at Appoquinimink High School on Wednesday afternoon.

The Pandas made it 3-0 on an own goal in the 27th minute, as a hard shot from Padua’s Gabrielle Villermaux deflected off a Jaguars defender and into the net. The final goal came eight minutes into the second half, on a blast from Molly Drach.

“I’m really happy,” Ryjewski said. “We came out in the first half knowing that we had a target on our backs, and we came out with aggression and just played our game.”

Fourth-ranked Appoquinimink (4-1), which expects to challenge Charter of Wilmington and Middletown for the Blue Hen Flight A title, put together some highlights. Goalkeeper Kiyanna Gill earned eight saves, even banging into the far post to make a stop in the 20th minute.

The Jaguars also made several forays into their offensive end, finishing with 10 shots and four corner kicks. Appo’s best scoring opportunity came in the 62nd minute, when a shot by Caelan Brooks deflected off the near post.

“Appoquinimink is a nice team,” Brown said. “They did a nice job. They stayed compact on us. We kept possession of the ball, but they were doing the right things and setting themselves up to counter.”

Senior Abigail Boudart made four saves for Padua, which has compiled a 56-2-3 record over the last four seasons. The other loss came to Charter in 2014, and the Pandas will surely remember that when they meet the third-ranked Force on April 22 at the Wilmington University Sports Complex.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Caesar Rodney’s (from left) Aleya Cummings, Kimberly Glasser and Victoria Sebastian celebrate the Riders’ go-ahead goal in the second half of their 2-1 win at Caesar Rodney High School Friday. Cummings netted both goals for Caesar Rodney.

CAMDEN – The Caesar Rodney girls soccer team was running out of patience.

The Riders were missing chance after chance, and the irritation reached its peak when Charter of Wilmington scored the first goal on Friday night at Rider Stadium.

Then senior forward Aleya Cummings channeled all of that frustration into her thunderous left foot, unleashing two goals from sharp angles as Caesar Rodney rallied for a 2-1 victory in a meeting of two of Division I’s top teams.

Caesar Rodney’s Jessie Prillaman (9), Aleya Cummings (center) and Megan Powers (13) move for a corner kick against Charter in the second half of the Riders’ 2-1 win at Caesar Rodney High School Friday. Cummings provided both goals for the Riders.

The second-ranked Riders (5-1) hit the far post on a breakaway in the eighth minute. Then Force goalkeeper Jenna Lussier barely saved a 25-yard shot off a set piece in the 12th minute. Then CR skittered a shot just wide of the near post in the 16th minute.

Third-ranked Charter (2-1) wasn’t able to mount much of a counterattack until Sam Peters lined up a 25-yard free kick in the 27th minute. She tucked it inside the far post for a 1-0 lead, but the Force knew there was more to do.

“That goal helped us a little bit, gave us a little bit of pep in our step,” Charter coach Jon Gillespie said. “But it was early, and it was a long game.”

News Journal Athlete of the Week

The Riders gained a little pep in their step, too. Another chance went just wide in the 28th minute, but Cummings’ blast on a pass from Jameah Nixon was on target just a minute later.

“We had a lot of chances that we missed before then,” Cummings said. “I knew I had to finish it. They were winning, so we had to at least even it up.

“We were definitely outplaying them, so it was frustrating. They scored before us, even though we were outplaying them. After that goal, our energy picked up.”

It was knotted at halftime, when CR coach Darrell Gravatt didn’t make many changes.

“It was strange,” Gravatt said. “We had a lot of chances in the first half, and it was frustrating to end up at the half 1-1. I felt like we played really well.

“We just kept trying to do the same thing in the second half. We felt like we were going to break through.”

The tipping point came in the 54th minute, when Cummings wound up again from 20 yards out and found the net for a 2-1 lead.

“I knew that I couldn’t dribble through them, because they’re a really good defense,” Cummings said. “I just figured I should try to curve it around the goalie, but she’s really good, too.”

Mike Schmidt to speak at first Delaware Sports Awards

The senior didn’t have a lot of time or space, but she didn’t need much of either.

“She’s got a great shot,” Gravatt said. “She’s very, very dangerous. All three of our forwards are, but this was definitely Aleya’s night. When she gets half a turn, she can score.”

Charter earned a good chance to tie in the final minute. But CR managed to block Peters’ 30-yard drive well before it could get to goalkeeper Marianna Nuzzo.

“We had to hold them off,” Gravatt said. “They’re formidable.”

Gillespie was happy with his team’s final push. He just wanted to see more of it.

“The last 10 minutes of the game, the desperation of being down 2-1 and trying to get the tying goal was there,” the Charter coach said. “You could definitely see it, and that’s why we had the opportunities that we did. We talked to them about doing that for a whole game, not just a small period of time.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Caesar Rodney’s Lynsy Gruwell (left) celebrates with Aleya Cummings after the first of Cummings’ two goals on Friday night. No. 2 CR edged No. 3 Charter of Wilmington 2-1 in a Division I matchup.

BASEBALL

1. Salesianum (5-0) 1

2. St. Mark’s (8-1) 2

3. Appoquinimink (6-2) 5

4. Cape Henlopen (5-1) NR

5. Smyrna (5-1) 4

SOFTBALL

1. Caravel (6-1) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (6-1) 3

3. Conrad (7-0) NR

4. Sussex Tech (5-1) NR

5. Appoquinimink (5-1) 4

BOYS LACROSSE

1. Salesianum (6-1) 1

2. Archmere (6-1) 2

3. Cape Henlopen (5-2) 3

4. Tower Hill (4-2) NR

5. Appoquinimink (4-0) 5

GIRLS LACROSSE

1. Cape Henlopen (7-1) 1

2. Polytech (6-0) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (6-0) 3

4. Ursuline (4-1) 4

5. Caravel (5-1) 5

GIRLS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Padua (8-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (5-1) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (2-1) 3

4. Appoquinimink (4-1) 4

5. Middletown (5-0) 5

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (5-0) 1

2. Archmere (3-0-1) 2

3. Caravel (4-1) 3

4. Delaware Military Academy (4-1-1) 4

5. Lake Forest (5-0) 5

GOLF

1. Salesianum (2-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (5-0) 2

3. Caesar Rodney (7-0) 3

4. Caravel (6-1) 4

5. Appoquinimink (5-0) 5

BOYS TENNIS

1. Caesar Rodney (8-0) 1

2. Tower Hill (4-1) 2

3. Charter of Wilmington (6-0) 3

4. St. Andrew’s (4-2) 4

5. Tatnall (3-3) 5

GIRLS TENNIS

1. Tower Hill (5-0) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (8-0) 2

3. Archmere (4-0) 3

4. St. Andrew’s (4-2) 4

5. Wilmington Friends (4-2) 5

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

(From left) Michael Clavier of Caesar Rodney, Alexander Spahr of Charter of Wilmington, Nathaniel Vincent of Delmar, Sara Davis of Woodbridge, Kalen Wilson of Smyrna and Shane Cawman of Delaware Military Academy each received $8,000 college scholarships from the Delaware Wrestling Alliance.

The Delaware Wrestling Alliance had some exciting news to share at its 52nd annual awards banquet last Friday night.

Legendary wrestler and coach Dan Gable presented the Dan Gable America Needs Wrestling Award to the DWA at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament last month at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The award was displayed for all of Delaware’s high school wrestlers to examine at the banquet, and Mike Moyer, executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, was on hand to salute the organization’s achievements.

“This is just a special group,” Moyer said. “They’ve been at it for over 20 years, they’ve given over $800,000 in scholarship dollars. We’re going to work with them next year at the Beast of the East tournament, trying to help them realize even more revenue so they can give more.”

Those scholarships are always the highlight of the banquet, as DWA executive director Donna Silvestri Fecondo details the lengthy list of academic, community service and wrestling accomplishments of each recipient. DWA awarded six $8,000 scholarships this year, bringing its 23-year total to $826,000.

All-State Girls Track: Lampkin strides into spotlight

Michael Clavier of Caesar Rodney received the Howard L. Duncan Scholarship. Shane Cawman of Delaware Military Academy took home the Louis J. Sneed Scholarship, and Alexander Spahr of Charter of Wilmington earned the John J. Meys Scholarship.

Nathaniel Vincent of Delmar received the Alfred “Buddy” Hurlock Scholarship, which honors the late News Journal high school sports reporter, and Kalen Wilson of Smyrna won the Zane Robinson Memorial Scholarship.

And a manager earned a scholarship for the first time, as Sara Davis of Woodbridge was presented with a DWA Special Recognition Award and scholarship for her contributions as a volunteer in Delaware and nationwide.

Reese Rigby was named Division I head coach of the year after leading Charter of Wilmington to its first Blue Hen Conference title. Don Parsley of Milford was named Division II head coach of the year after guiding the Buccaneers to the DIAA Division II dual meet championship in his return to coaching.

Charter’s Zach Plerhoples was honored as Division I assistant coach of the year, and Milford’s Luke Pierson was recognized as Division II assistant coach of the year. Charter also earned the Team Academic Award, and Christiana took home the William H. Laurelli Team Sportsmanship Award.

Mike Hartnett was named the Matthew J. Holloway official of the year, and A.I. du Pont won the DWA Service Award.

DWA also presented awards to the All-State first-, second- and third-team wrestlers. The group also recognized 318 wrestlers and managers as Academic All-State selections for participating in wrestling while maintaining at least a 3.25 grade-point average.

All-State Boys Track: Sals’ Hally finds his passion

Sign ’em up

The final National Letter of Intent signing period of the school year began last week, and numerous Delaware high school senior athletes made their college destinations official.

Appoquinimink had 15 seniors take the next step, led by Shirle’ Brown, who signed to play women’s basketball at Delaware State. Other Jaguars going to the next level include John Dunbar (Widener lacrosse), Nick Ferrara (Elizabethtown lacrosse), Matt Dina (Wesley soccer), Kelsy Fitzgerald (Shippensburg soccer), Andrew Longhurst (University of Maine at Farmington soccer), Kace Peters (Gwynedd Mercy soccer), Stephane Ratsimbazafy (Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy in London), Austin Russo (Virginia Wesleyan soccer), Erica Sieben (Longwood soccer), Matt Lloyd (East Stroudsburg track and field), Jon Ramos (Salisbury track and field), Kevin Banning (Goldey-Beacom baseball), Chandler Fitzgerald (Delaware State baseball) and Mikayle Holloway (Cabrini baseball).

Six Middletown football players will continue to compete in college: Isiah Mitchell (Stony Brook), Markel Weldon (Wesley), Ty Henry (Delaware Valley), Alex Finch and Khari Griffin (Morehouse) and Frankie Datillo (Saint Vincent).

Delaware Military Academy announced seven commitments: Alena Foley (Southern Arkansas cross country and track), Kylie Jones (Georgian Court cross country and track), Justin Carroll (Frostburg State lacrosse), Emma Thomas (Drexel swimming), Cassie Kowalski (Washington College volleyball), Brady Mattson (Penn State Behrend swimming) and Trevor Hill (King’s College football).

Tatnall’s Michael Flanagan is headed to Appalachian State to run cross country and track, and Ursuline’s Erin Turulski will swim at Delaware.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

St. Andrew’s head coach Bob Colburn talks starting pitcher Colin Cool before the start of a game at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown on Thursday afternoon.

St. Andrew’s head coach Bob Colburn talks starting pitcher Colin Cool before the start of a game at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown on Thursday afternoon.

St. Andrew’s head coach Bob Colburn talks starting pitcher Colin Cool before the start of a game at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown on Thursday afternoon.

St. Andrew’s head coach Bob Colburn talks with his players before the start of a game at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown on Thursday afternoon.

Bob Colburn’s name adorns the scoreboard at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown on Thursday afternoon.

St. Andrew’s head coach Bob Colburn talks with his players before the start of a game at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown on Thursday afternoon.

St. Andrew’s head coach Bob Colburn watches as starting pitcher Colin Cool warms up before the start of a game at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown on Thursday afternoon.

MIDDLETOWN – On the picturesque campus of St. Andrew’s School, with its stately stone and brick structures and tall trees, Bob Colburn has come to be just as familiar, immovable and admired.

He arrived as a science teacher and baseball coach during the 1960-61 school year, fresh out of graduate school at the University of Delaware. He retired as a teacher 11 years ago but has continued as baseball coach.

At age 78, Colburn remains as spry and energetic as ever. In a game Thursday at the aptly named Colburn Field, he pumped his fist and shouted “Attaboy!” the moment pitcher Colin Cool struck out a batter, was first to leap off the bench and celebrate catcher John MacArthur throwing out a runner trying to steal second base and barked at opposing coaches when Red Lion stole a base with a late eight-run lead.

The two broken ribs Colburn suffered two weeks ago when struck by a batting-practice line drive didn’t deter him.

But Colburn has decided that, after 55 seasons — he missed one while on sabbatical — this will be his last as St. Andrew’s head baseball coach.

“The time has come,” Colburn said.

Why now? Colburn and wife Dottie have three adult children and four grandchildren, including two living temporarily in Paris, France. They want to be more available for grandparent duties.

Colburn also feels St. Andrew’s, which is a boarding school, needs a coach who is at the school full-time. Not only did he teach there through the 2004-05 school year, he also lived in a house on campus until then. Last year, for instance, Colburn, who now lives in New Castle, felt he couldn’t be as supportive and available to a player whose mother was battling cancer.

“I just couldn’t help him enough,” he said. “I really feel like the head coach should be in the building, down here, living on campus. When new students, prospective students, come in, they should be able to go to the person who’s in charge of the program.”

In the future, they will, as Colburn is expected to be succeeded by assistant coach Mike Mastrocola, who teaches math at the school. But Colburn will still help out as an assistant coach.

Just as importantly, he’ll stay involved in the many aspects of high school baseball that have long been the most significant aspect of his coaching tenure in Delaware.

When Colburn became coach at St. Andrew’s in 1961, there was no state tournament, All-State team, Blue-Gold all-star game, Carpenter Cup tri-state all-star tournament, Delaware Baseball Hall of Fame, Delaware Baseball Coaches Association or Delaware representation on all-district teams.

Charter grad Baker a big hit for Hens as a freshman

All exist now largely through his influence. Colburn also operates the Delaware Baseball Coaches Association website, which is a wellspring of information.

The National High School Baseball Coaches Association recognized his impact when it inducted Colburn into its Hall of Fame in 2008. Of course, Colburn was also among the founders of that organization.

Colburn was in the inaugural induction class — and the only high school coach — when the Delaware Baseball Hall of Fame was initiated in 1994. He’ll be enshrined in the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame on May 24.

“Bob has been the go-to guy in Delaware baseball for a long time if you have a question or need to get something done,” said former William Penn coach Mel Gardner, who became Delaware’s second NHSBCA Hall-of-Famer in 2004. “He has been involved in everything and is always willing to help.”

‘Truly a marvel’

Watching Colburn coach his team Thursday, St. Andrew’s headmaster Tad Roach remarked, “His energy is inexhaustible. His generosity is unparalleled.”

Roach would know. He was hired as a teacher and soccer coach at St. Andrew’s in 1979, when Colburn was athletic director.

“He has never grown old because he’s lived with young kids who make him work and make him energetic and make him love what he does,” Roach said of Colburn. “So he’s been a delight for generations of St. Andrew’s kids. He’s truly a marvel.”

It’s clear that Colburn still enjoys a strong rapport with those students, who are more than 60 years his junior.

Senior center-fielder Donovan Simpson, a team captain, smiles the moment he hears Colburn’s name.

“It’s been great playing for him,” said Donovan, who’ll attend Columbia University this fall. “He’s a character. He’s been a mentor for me and I’ve been steadily improving since I got here, and he’s been there watching me do it and helping me do it.”

Simpson said that players laugh at Colburn’s jokes, even though they’re outdated. He has a knack for getting through in a calm, even-mannered way. Having joined Colburn for various Carpenter Cup and statewide baseball activities, he has seen, first-hand, the respect Colburn has earned.

“He has a lot of pull and knows what he’s talking about,” Simpson said.

And so it has been through 5½ decades.

“I think he has tremendous respect for the game and himself and he translates that to the kids,” said Fred Townsend, who played baseball for Colburn, graduating from St. Andrew’s in 1981, and now delights in seeing son Rick do the same.

“They need to treat the game the right way and kids respond to that. He’s a very caring guy but he’s also no-nonsense. Baseball provides so many different learning opportunities and he doesn’t miss many of them.”

Different times

High school baseball and the situation at St. Andrew’s, which has roughly 300 students, about half of them boys, in grades 9-12, has certainly changed during Colburn’s tenure. Until the 2000s, St. Andrew’s had no trouble fielding varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams and playing competitive baseball.

Other sports, such as lacrosse, and interests have surpassed baseball for teen boys. St. Andrew’s has a only varsity baseball team now and, often, it includes boys who didn’t play competitive baseball until high school, which was unheard of 20 years ago. Serious baseball players, however, who may want to play year-round, aren’t likely to attend St. Andrew’s because of its requirement to play other sports.

St. Andrew’s usually could not compete in the state tournament because its school year ended too early and players went home. But the Saints did go three times —in 1993, 2002 and 2003 — and Colburn was voted state coach of the year four times from 1981-2002 (the award debuted in 1978, along with the state coaches association). His teams have won 436 games — second only to Brandywine’s Larry Wheeler among Delaware baseball coaches — and eight Independent Conference titles.

He’s kept Midway Little League running for 50 years

“Some kids are playing year round now … which I really think is too much. Others aren’t playing enough or at all,” Colburn said of today’s odd baseball paradox. “Last year, we had five [student] applicants, but because they couldn’t play baseball outside school in the fall, they went elsewhere.

“It is weird. We used to get 42 kids out for baseball and we’d have three levels. Now we have 16 for one level. Last year we had kids at seven positions who were new to those positions and most of them were new to baseball. When Bill Brakeley came in here in 1983, we felt he wasn’t ready for varsity baseball. He ended being an All-State player [as a pitcher in 1984, 1985 and 1986, the last two as a first-team selection].’’

Brakeley then starred at the University of Delaware, was a fourth-round draft choice by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1989 and pitched in three minor-league seasons. Now 48, Brakeley values Colburn for having been a constant presence and “conduit of support” for him and his family after he suffered a heart attack in 2009 and when St. Andrew’s classmate and teammate Rob Jordan died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“He’s like no other coach I’ve ever had from the personal side,” Brakeley said.

Colburn graduated from Haverford College, where he played baseball, in 1959 and was teaching chemistry at the University of Delaware while studying for his master’s degree in the 1959-60 school year when he learned of an opening to teach science at St. Andrew’s. Turned out they needed a baseball coach, too. He had chances to leave, including for schools near his hometown of Wellesley, Massachusetts.

“I had everything I wanted,” he said. “I was coaching baseball and football. I was teaching chemistry and physics. So why leave? Then I became athletic director. It’s been a good run. I’ve enjoyed it. I enjoy the kids. St. Andrew’s has treated me well.”

Colburn has returned the favor.

“His legacy,” Roach said, “has been that he’s connected St. Andrew’s so beautifully to the state of Delaware and he’s made such incredible contributions to athletics, especially on baseball, throughout the state.

“I think he loves his players and connects with them both as students and athletes and then has this amazing capacity to teach them lessons that go on into their adult life.’’

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @kevintresolini.

Delaware Sports Hall of Fame induction

May 24. 5:30 p.m. social; 6:45 p.m. dinner. Chase Center on the Riverfront. Tickets: $65. Email sueholloway@comcast.net or call 302-992-0550. 2016 inductees: Sid Cassidy; Dick Cephas; Bob Colburn; Rich Gannon; Nancy Keiper; Laron Profit; Mark Romanczuk; Jeff Taylor; Jana Withrow; and Wendy Zuharko.