Boy's Swimming

This has been one of Salesianum's strengths in their athletic program and should continue to be this year. As a team they broke state records for points in both of their championship wins in the past two years. They are now under the tutelage of Chip Hannig who comes to Salesianum's from Brandywine's successful swimming program.

Kyle Bull (Sr), Joe Mack (Sr), Carl Bakomenko (Jr), Mike McCreary (Jr), Dan Klee (Sr), Tyler Grenda (Jr), Chris Scholla (Sr), and Keith Petka (Jr) are the meat of this deep lineup.

Archmere graduated a trio of valuable point scorers in David Litchfield, the boy's swimmer of the year, Brad Tallamy, and Mark Lukach. To pull off another successful season, they will need big years from David Penneys and Tim Creazzo.

The McKean Highlanders run near the top of the swimming heap could be in jeopardy this year after falling another notch in last year's championships. Pete McVaugh (Sr) and Brent Deputy (So) figure to be the main duo for this team.

Mt. Pleasant will count on Michael McConnell for points for the Green Knights who finished fourth last year.

Individually, Mack and Grenda will start as favorites in the 100 breastroke; Bull, St. Mark's senior Dan Fallon, and Tower Hill's Mark Weldin return as 200 Freestyle favorites.

The 200 individual medley features freshman Scott Champane from Tatnall who finished 4th in the state last year as an eight grader. He will, once again, need to deal with Mount's McConnell, Salesianums Mack, and Middletown's Steve Earley.

The fastest 50 meters will be swam by Dan Klee, and Pete McVaugh. Glasgow's Rob Poore, Newark's Geoff Hunter and Caesar Rodney's Matt Bobel hope to provide those finalists from last year some more competition.

Sallies will also have the best returning diver in Sophomore Derek Schiller.

In the 100 Fly, look for McConnell, Bakomenko (the returning champion), Scholla, and another Sal, senior Ryan McAnelly.

It should be Klee, McCraery, Weldin, McVaugh, and Sussex Central's Matt Wilson in the 100 free.

In the 500 free, there is a tendency to use younger swimmers (the seniors must make them swim that grueling five-minute race). Bull, Creazzo, Penneys, Petka, Fallon (champion), and Concord's Jeff Ritterson are returning finalists.

The Dover Senators return sophomore Phillip Taylor in the 100 backstroke as champion who will need to fend off Champagne, McCreary, Earley, Scholla, and A.I. duPont's Brian Drysdale.

A team with some real promise this year is Caesar Rodney. They were rather young last year and still managed a 7th place overall finish. Matt Bobel, Ben Cassady (Sr), Matt DuShuttle (So), Andrew Valko (Sr) and William Noble (Jr) are returning for the Riders who were 11-3 in dual meets last year.

So picking the number one team is easy again this year. But the rest are a bit more challenging and will unfold based on how the younger swimmers have matured and filled in behind the more experienced swimmers on the other teams.

1- Salesianum
2- Newark
3- St. Marks
4- Caesar Rodney
5- McKean
6- Mt. Pleasant
7- Glasgow
8- Archmere
9- Middletown
10- A.I. duPont

Predicting the girl's team champion is a cake walk as well. The St. Mark's Spartans have won the last seven championships and 150 dual meets in a row. The 150 win streak is the second longest in the nation behind a team that is on a current streak themselves.

The Spartans will be missing one key member of the team from last year. Lisa Morelli is a senior this year, but she transferred to a school in California after her junior year leaving a bit of a hole on the Spartan relay teams.

But no real big deal because there are plenty more swimmers left. Sarah Stephens is now a senior who has been swimming at states since she was an eight grader. Erica Gentilucci (Jr), Katie McGillan (Sr), Erica Iffland (So), Mary Husty (So), Kelly Shinton (Jr), Kristin Gamgort (Jr) and Katie Kuczmarski (Jr) make up the bulk of the team strength.

The Newark Yellowjackets are the team name that comes up in conversation about who might actually provide a serious challenge for the Spartans. They have high hopes for some young incoming swimmers, but will rely heavily on state champion Cassie Connell (Jr), Kim Colbert (Jr), Leigh Bayer (Sr), and Stephanie Baird (Jr) to try and topple the Spartan swimming dynasty.

Last year's Blue Hen Conference champions from Brandywine will be right back in the hunt this year. They went undefeated in regular season but finished a disappointing sixth at states. A more mature force returns to try to climb futher up the ladder; Lori Zaspel (Sr),Kathryn Tamblyn (Sr), Laura Mattey (Sr), Scandia DiSaverio (So), Sabrina Kinard (So), Stephanie Olson (Jr), and Noreen Favorite (Jr) will be head coach Sandy Wood's key returning swimmers.

Caesar Rodney had two exciting freshman swimmers last year with Kristina MacLeish and Erin Courtney. They helped the Riders to a third place finish backing up their 12-2 regular season mark.

St. Andrews swam to a second place finish based on the strengths of their relay teams last year. Individually, they didn't score as well, but Lindsay Payne, Jennifer Walcott, Lindsey Noe, Emily Zazulia, and Cleo Pahlmeyer are back for the Saint's relays.

The question this year is who will be the incoming freshman sensation. Last year, Mt. Pleasant's Kaitlyn Brady stole the show with two state records in the 50 and 100 free. Connell was the one the year before when she set records in the 100 and 200 (she still holds the 200 mark).

William Penn has a small team but they have the swimmer of the year, Erin Mulshenock (Sr), back with a scholarship to Penn State secured. She will rejoin Adrienne Williams (Jr) for the Colonials who finished seventh overall riding their backs.

Individual event returning champions are Connell in the 200 free, Mulshenock in the 200 IM and 100 back, Brady in the 50 and 100 free, Gamgort in diving, MacCleish in the 500 free, and Shinton in the 100 breast.

So the preseason top ten will look like this:

1- St. Marks
2- Newark
3- Brandywine
4- Caesar Rodney
5- Mt. Pleasant
6- St.Andrews
7- Ursuline
8- William Penn
9- McKean
10- Concord

Twenty-four teams make the state boy's basketball tournament. It's way too watered down but come late February gyms fill with hundreds and even thousands of fans.

The A.I. duPont Tigers won their first ever championship last year in front of all those fans. They will be without Corey Ponzo, and Jamil Moore, their high scorers from a year ago. Returning will be Kwana Chase, who could make a run at player of the year this year.

William Penn has been to the finals for the past three years, and they might have a good shot at it again this year. With Devin Smith (sr), Jamaar Manlove (Sr, no relation) and Felix Wilkins (Sr) returning, there is enough championship experience returning to make the Colonials one of the preseason favorites.
The Hodgson Vo-Tech Silver Eagles are excited to have Art Bowers (So), Torean Temple (So), Malcom Tiller (So), and Ladaye Johnson (Jr) returning for Lou Bender's young team. They could very well be the class of Flight B this year with Howard graduating Carlos Hawkins and Jareem Dowling. The Wildcats will rely on 5'10 Corey McNeil and 6'3 Ronald Johnson for offense this year.

Newark only lost three seniors from last year's team.Terry Alls and Curtis Bass are expected to be keys for the Yellowjackets this year who were knocked out by the St. Elizabeth Vikings in the second round.

The Vikings were whacked by graduation, but the football team came in young this year also and they are playing for a state championship this year. Jeff Nagle, Joe Hussey, Mike Tobiason (all with older sisters who had success on the girl's team in year's past) suit up with 6'5" Ryan Dougherty, 6'5" Shane Sowden, and 6'4" Joe Scholz.

Sussex Tech only lost four seniors from a year ago, but one of them was Brian Polk, player of the year. Polk is redshirting with Temple and word is that he has a bright future for the Owls in the upcoming years. But that doesn't help the Ravens for one second. They will call on 6'6" Darko Jankovic, Senior L.J. Walston, and senior Tynell Tingle to get them past the quarterfinals this year.

Sanford was crushed by the losses of Josh Hill and Tony Washam. Those two all-state players carried the Warriors to the semifinal round and they will be hard pressed to return there this year. However, 6'6" Will Sheridan and junior guard Earl Miller give fans something to root for.

Glasgow's Aaron and Alvin Walker will team with senior Shane Mundy to form a formidable trio of Dragons seeking to knock William Penn out of the Flight A number one seat. All three are serious three-point threats who combined for 11 in an 82-80 loss against Howard in two overtimes in the second round last year. Curtis Thomas (6'4") and Steve Bowman (6'4") provide some height for G-High.

The Concord Raiders could provide some challenge for Hodgson in Flight B. They return Junior Andre Saunders, Seniors Vincent Hyland, Lanarr Bell, and Jeremy Robinson and 6'5" sophomore Ronnell Page.

Delmar was the #23 seed last year and could be right about in the same spot this year. But there are a few talented athletes on this team who also play football for a championship final team; Dustin Johnson, Ian and Sean Hudson, and Chris Zidanic. The Wildcats will lack height.

Caesar Rodney was the 14th seed and was knocked out of the first round by the 19th seeded Spartans of St. Marks. The Riders return a solid core of seniors to make a run at a championship this year; Lance Johnson, Allen Weatherspoon, Lucas Mayfield, Justin Strickland, Steve Franklin and Cliff Wallace.

Cape Henlopen graduated nine seniors in June from a team that lost to Friends in a heart breaker in the second round. This is going to be a tough year for the Vikings.

The Golden Knights of Sussex Central appear to be a nice choice for a top team from the South with returning high scorers in James Cannon, and Orlando Farrow.

With some of those notes in mind, here is a stab at a preseason top ten:

1- William Penn
2- Glasgow
3- Caesar Rodney
4- Hodgson
5- A.I. duPont
6- St. Elizabeth
7- Sussex Central
8- Concord
9- Sussex Tech
10- Lake Forest

Twenty-four girl's team also make a trip to the state tournament. The St. Marks Spartans were the team that ended the tournament without a loss and finished their championship season with a 25-1 record.

The Spartans are returning a solid group of players led by the player of the year Michelle Albanese. She is joined by Tracee Mosch, Christine Armstrong, Lindsay Hegeman, Kelly Papili, and Lindsay Bey.

But the Caravel Academy Buccaneers return everyone from last year's semifinal round squad. They are led by Delaware bound Tiara Malcom and high scoring threat Davineia Payne. They are joined by Jessica Bogia, Bonnie Mills, Jodi Otteni, juniors Andrea Donovan and Courtnee Dickson along with sophomore Lindsay Niggebrugge. There had been rumors that head coach Joe Pennell was going to leave after last season, but he returns, and possibly to win a state championship.

Mt. Pleasant has one of the best players in the state in Bianka Brunson. She is a 6'1" guard who can be amazing to watch. Now a senior, hopefully for head coach Jim Simmon's sake, she can take her Green Knights to greater heights. Junior Megan Morley will provide Brunson some support now that she is healthy again.

The Glasgow Dragons were the team that knocked Caravel out in the semis a year ago. They lost their stars LaShanda Simpson and Jaleah Brown to graduation but sophomores Markeda Hollingsworth and Lindsey Dyal proved to be ready to step into those leadership roles very early in their careers. Kristin Hines is also a sophomore that will be a big factor for the Dragons, but their main difficulty overall as a team will be their lack of senior stability.

A.I. duPont lost their head coach Donna Davis and Tracey Howell. Their hopes rest with Maine bound Monica Peterson and jnior LaTonya Shazier.

Padua looks to have successfully rebuilt themselves after following their 1999 championship season to play with only one senior. Returning to make a run at St. Marks are seniors Erin Mills, Laura Taylor, Stephanie Lex and Ashleigh Brown and juniors Kirsten Patton, Katy Vogels, and Emily Reardon. Mills is one of the top guards in the state.

Ursuline only lost two seniors from last year's team and will still be rather young this year. But Alexis Henderson makes this team tough all by herself. Add the tenacity of senior Sarah Boltz, and a talented freshman who made an impact as an eighth grader in Kate Mills, and the Catholic Conference looks like a tough one.

Gone from William Penn are Michelle Whalen and Melissa Zebley, but returning is 6'1" Chanel Brown. We will hear alot about this sophomore is the weeks to come.

Indian River returns Brittany Croll (Jr) and 5'10" junior Natalie Parsons. They were the #8 seed last year with just one senior.

Sussex Central and Sussex Tech will, no doubt, fill some seats when they play each other this year. The Golden Knights are paced by senior Kaneisha Trott, their high scoring six-footer and the Ravens will be playing with at least seven seniors including Martha Arthur and Tyshia Coursey.

The Concord Raiders will rely on the talents of senior Colleen Sherk who helped the Raider volleyball team win the Flight B volleyball title this Fall. Senior Sakeena Wilkins and junior Lisa DiCristofaro help form a nice core of players to keep an eye on.

Toni Jones and Lindsey Williams step into the spotlight vacated due to the graduation of Julie Parseghian, now at Goldey-Beacom, and Jessica Witherspoon. Junior Beth Hitchens will rejoin Jones and Williams on the Viking court.

Erica Woods are Quanni Jenkins return as captains for Caesar Rodney. The Riders will carry as many as eight seniors on their 2001 squad.

So keeping some of those breif notes in mind, here is our preseason top ten.

1- Caravel
2- St. Marks
3- Padua
4- Ursuline
5- Mt. Pleasant
6- Glasgow
7- A.I. duPont
8- Caesar Rodney
9- Sussex Central
10- Indian River

There is one particularly interesting story in wrestling. William Penn lost one of its state champions to their main rival St. Marks. Joe Ferrara joins the Spartans for his junior year after winning the individual state championship at 135 pounds and helping to lead the Colonials to a Dual Meet State Championship in Division I.

The Spartans figure to be back on top of the pile this year with an awesome class of lower weight wrestlers. Returning key members are Bobby Shaw (103), Patrick Atkinson (119), Andrew Donofrio (140), A.J. Cessario (135), Tyler Bastianelli (145) and Ferrara.

William Penn will return state champion James Fromal, but they lost, not only Ferrara, but Ray Calloway and Greg Quailes to graduation. Never count out a Colonial team though. Jack Holloway will have this team prepared for every match. Ken Krygier (103), and Harry Kettner (125) will be key components for the D1 champs. 

The match to look out for will be the Colonials hosting the Spartans with Ferrara in his new lineup.

This could be Caesar Rodney's best shot at a D1 title since the dual meet state championship was created in 1993. Back are state champion Chris Parker (103), Mike Scaffedi (130), Dwayne Graham (140) Zack Kopp (152), Brian Rigby (160), Brian Palmer (171), and Tony Harris (189).

The Riders won't be able to look past the Sussex Central Golden Knights. They will return plenty of talent themselves.  James Leyh (125), Corey and Casey Strohmeyer, former state champ Teddy Thompson (145), Raheim Brunskill (152) Jake Booth (189) and Jack Roach (Hvy).

The Newark Yellowjackets might give William Penn their best match in the Blue Hen Conference. They are returning a well balanced lineup that include 189 lb. state champion Bram Walker. Also returning are Brad Needham, James Vitek, Chris and Jeff Hudson, and John Brayman.

The Hodgson Vo-Tech Silver Eagles shouldn't have much trouble winning their fifth consecutive D2 dual meet title. Their finals opponent from last year, Milford, moved up to D1 and Seaford will take their place. But it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Returning for Jerry Lamey's Eagles are state champions Mike Welch (130) and Jordan Sianni (112). Key players for a team that might not be quite as tough as last year will be Brian Welch (103), Tyler Smith (140), Mark Boulden (135) Ed Barksdale (152) and Larry and Joe Cylc (215 & Hvy). 

Other individually tough wrestlers include (but are not limited to) Jeff Rhoades, Friends (119), Jason Scott, Brandywine (135), Adam Ralph, Laurel (171), Mike Biddle, Smyrna (119),Dan Ikeda, Salesianum (135), Tom Lawhorn, Delcastle (145), Luis Maleno, Howard (160), Corey Campbell, Howard (145), Chris DeNigris, Dover (Hvy).

So here is our preseason top ten list.

1- St. Marks
2- Caesar Rodney
3- Hodgson
4- William Penn
5- Sussex Central
6- Newark
7- Howard
8- A.I. duPont
9- Brandywine
10- Friends