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Sports
Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com Jan. 6, 2023 Page 47
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY Decatur wrestlers battled North Caroline on the mat in Berlin on Wednesday. The Seahawks won, 58-11. (Left) Junior Kole Kohut scored a 10-2 major decision at 190 pounds over Caden Lopez. (Right) Junior Reid Caimi took down his 132-pound opponent Shelton Nichols in 4:33.
Decatur wrestling squad tops North Caroline, 58-11
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Jan. 6, 2023) The Stephen Decatur wrestling team hosted the North Caroline Bulldogs on Wednesday in Berlin, and the Seahawks won the meet, 58-11.
Decatur Coach Josh August was pleased with the Seahawks’ performance. “We wrestled well. We went out there and wrestled through every position,” he said. “Wrestling tough, that’s what we’re trying to do. North Caroline has been a good team for a long time, so I knew they were going to come out and wrestle hard. We wanted to match that and just score points and get pins.”
Freshman Elijah Collick started things off for Decatur with a 17-1 technical-fall victory with 56 seconds left in the second period of the 106pound weight class match.
North Caroline forfeited the 120pound match, then sophomore Aaron August pinned his 126-pound opponent in 1:09.
Senior captain Logan Intrieri boosted Decatur’s lead to 35-0 with a pin in 2:46 in his 138-pound match.
North Caroline earned a decision at 144 pounds, then Decatur senior Ethan Haworth outscored his 150pound opponent, 7-2.
Junior captain Gavin Solito got a pin in 3:03 at 157 pounds, then junior Parker Intrieri took down his 165pound opponent in 41 seconds.
Sophomore Nate McDaniel earned a 15-1 major decision at 175 pounds to improve Decatur’s advantage to 54-3.
Decatur forfeited the 215-pound match, then North Caroline logged a decision at 285 pounds.
North Caroline was deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“[We did well with] physicality [and] really working on the things we’ve been practicing,” August said. “We say, ‘perfect practice makes perfect.’ When you work hard and you go out there good things happen. You get some positions that you might not have gotten otherwise, so they wrestled tough. There wasn’t really easy matches tonight.”
August also said he is proud of his team.
After wrestlers battled a flu bug going around from Thanksgiving through the Christmas break, he said, “there are guys that have stepped up and filled spots that they might not have thought they were wrestling, guys that bumped up in weight and guys that made a weight they might not have wanted to.”
Decatur will compete in the Iron Horse Duals Wrestling Tournament today and Saturday, at C. Milton Wright High School in Bel Air, Maryland.
There are 16 teams participating divided into two pools.
Each team will have seven matches in their respective pools. The first-place teams in each bracket with then go head-to-head, as will the second, third, fourth, and so on.
To be successful, August said the Seahawks need to “make weight, stay healthy, keep our nutrition good [and] whatever team it is, we’ve just got to go out there and wrestle.”
“Whether it’s a team that might have some forfeits or it’s the number one team in the state, you got to go out there and wrestle the same matches every time, same mentality,” he added.
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY Decatur senior captain Logan Intrieri matches up with North Caroline’s Fard Muhammad for the 138-pound match. He earned a pin in 2:46.
Decatur girls’ basketball earns 71-37 win over Wi-Hi
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Jan. 6, 2023) After an extremely competitive Governor’s Challenge tournament last week in Salisbury, the Stephen Decatur girls’ basketball team bounced back with a 71-37 victory over the Wicomico Lady Indians on Monday in Berlin. “The Governor’s Challenge was very difficult for us as a team. We had a difficult time creating offense and both teams were very skilled and the scoreboard reflected that … Baltimore Poly is a good team, but we didn’t put our best foot forward … Sanford was a tough game; overwhelming. We haven’t faced that level of competition,” said Decatur Coach Scott Kurtz. “Moving forward, we had to be honest with our players about what we need for them to do/change for us to succeed and meet our goals … We spent some time repairing … [and] Monday against Wi-Hi we took the first step toward improving as a team.”
The Lady Seahawks came out strong and built a 22-5 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Wicomico outscored Decatur 18-17 in the second quarter and at halftime, the home team held a 39-23 advantage.
The Seahawks turned it on again in the third quarter, putting 22 points on the board, while limiting the Indians to seven. After three quarters, the Berlin squad was on top, 61-30.
“We played three really strong quarters defensively, but the lapses in the second quarter showed us where we need to improve,” Kurtz said. “Early in the game we used our fullcourt press to create havoc and get steals, which converted to transition points. We were dealing with a few minor injuries and had to rely on a lot of players, but our reserves came in and helped us on both ends of the floor.”
Sophomore Sam Boger chipped in with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
“It’s a pretty big game for us anytime
Scott Kurtz we play Wi-Hi. Seventyone to 37 is a good win,” Kurtz said. “We have some tough competition coming our way. We’ve got to keep embracing challenges and see what we can do. We’ve got to keep getting better.”
Decatur will host the Crisfield Crabbers today, Friday, at 5 p.m. in Berlin. The Mardela Warriors will come to Berlin on Tuesday for a 4:30 p.m. match against the Seahawks.
SURF REPORT Dalkiewicz: Time to pull out more serious wetsuit gear
By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer (Jan. 6, 2023) We seemed to have turned a corner in our winter surfing campaign.
A few bouts with air dipping into the teens and water temperatures dropping into the mid-40s explain a very telling tale. The good news is that those not so dedicated will take a break and pass until things warm up a bit, making one’s favorite break a bit less crowded.
The bad news is that it’s really time to pull out the more serious wetsuit gear.
Now maybe this isn’t so bad if this heavier wetsuit gear fits well and especially if the surfer has a particular consistency to their go-outs.
It’s kind of like any other activity. The more it’s done the more conditioned the practitioner should be and, at least in theory, the more used to being in a more “foreign” environment, as in the water, the individual will become.
Also in the mix, the shear betterment of one’s surfing would hopefully come along.
Now we can’t forget the vagaries of the ocean.
Generally, the winter time will produce more swell with typically heavier weather. Thus, there is more possibility for ridable surf.
Other needed ingredients will hopefully be available such as favorable bottom contours and favorable winds.
As we know, the “playing” field for surfing in the ocean isn’t always available and as was said, isn’t always what we’d like it to be.
Seemingly, the vigil has to almost be constant. Plus, things can change rather quickly.
That nicely angled swell with light offshore winds that was seen in the See OPTIONS Page 49
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY Decatur sophomore Allison Swift takes the ball to the basket. She contributed 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in the 71-37 victory over Wicomico in Berlin.
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY Senior captain Mayah Garner was Decatur’s top producer on Monday with 29 points. She also had 14 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
(Jan. 6, 2023) Worcester County Recreation and Parks will offer a variety of activities this winter.
The Active Start Youth Sport Development Programs are for children of all skill levels.
These sport-specific programs prepare children for organized sports in a fun, non-threatening environment by teaching the fundamentals of play, while encouraging an appreciation for being physically fit and healthy.
Active Start Bowling will take place at Eastern Shore Lanes in Pocomoke City on Thursdays, Jan. 12 to Feb. 16, from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
The program is open to grades fourth to eighth. Participants will receive two games of bowling, shoe rental, and pizza, drink, and ice cream each day.
Active Start Track will take place at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill on Thursdays, Jan. 12 to March 2, from 3:30-5 p.m.
The program is open to grades third through eighth. Students will learn to sprint, hurdle, long jump, and more through drills and games.
Active Start Volleyball will take place at Pocomoke Middle School on Fridays, Jan. 13 to Feb. 24, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
The program, which is open to grades fourth through eighth, will help elevate each child’s volleyball skills to the next level and inspire a love for the game.
Active Start Volleyball is sponsored by the Worcester County Recreation Boosters and available at the discounted price of $10 per child.
Transportation for all active start programs will be available from the school to the designated facility.
The price per child is $35, and $30 for each additional child for either bowling or track. Financial aid is available to those who show a demonstrated need. Proof of eligibility is required.
To register online for any youth programs and view a full calendar of events, visit www.playmarylandscoast.org.
Worcester County Recreation Parks is also offering co-ed and women’s volleyball leagues at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill this January.
This league will be made up of teams with two women playing at all times.
Women’s volleyball will take place Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. beginning Jan. 10. The registration deadline is Jan. 5. The coaches meeting will take place Jan. 5 at the WCRC at 6:30 p.m.
All women 14 years and older are welcome in this competitive volleyball league.
The team cost per league is $220. Form teams and register online at www.playmarylandscoast.org.
For more information, contact Gebhardt.
Registration is open for Worcester County Recreation & Parks’ youth sports leagues at the Worcester County Recreation Center, providing participants with plenty of opportunities to get active and have fun this winter season.
The Youth Basketball League will take place on Saturday mornings, Jan. 7 to March 11.
The program schedule is as follows: grades 6-8 from 9-10 a.m., grades 4-5 from 10:15-11:15 a.m., and grades 1-3 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The registration deadline is Jan. 6. An additional $5 will be applied to those who register after the deadline.
For more info, contact Small.
The Indoor Archery Tag League will meet on Thursdays, Jan. 5 to Feb. 23, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
This program combines archery and laser tag.
Participants will learn to shoot the specialized bow and arrows, and there will be a variety of tactical game play in a league format.
There is no registration deadline. For more info, contact Hunter Nelson at 410-632-2144 x2506 or hnelson@marylandscoast.org.
The cost for each program is $35 per player ($30 for each additional child). Financial aid is available for those who have demonstrated need. Proof of eligibility is required.
Learn more about other youth programs and winter happenings at www.playmarylandscoast.org.
PHOTO COURTESY JACK BARNES
TOP ANGLERS SURF REPORT Options: adapt to cold ocean or take break until warmer
Continued from Page 48 early morning could change to onshore or side-shore winds by late morning totally, disrupting the classic conditions that existed just a short time ago.
“You should have been here an hour ago” is a phrase that is sometimes used.
This phrase was actually the title to a book by Phil Edwards who was a highly regarded surfer back in the day and who is hopefully still at it.
Winter surfing is what it is and there’s no getting around it.
The options are to either quit for a few months or adapt to the conditions.
Traveling to warmer spots, for any length of time, is an option, but in lieu of that one becomes forced to plug in.
Some seem to be able to use lighter gear and wait for a sunny, warmer day where at least the air temperatures will be easier to deal with.
For example, the recent Christmas weekend featured air temperatures that didn’t get above freezing with wind chill factors bringing the “feel like” temperatures down into the single digits.
By the New Year’s weekend, air temperatures rose into the high 50s. Quite a difference by any standards!
The water doesn’t change as rapidly as the air and has recently dipped into the mid-40s, as was mentioned, which is a bit premature for the time of year.
At any rate, it’s rather obvious that we have to change sort of like the ocean changes. It tends to create new and different experiences for those with the gumption.
A grand new year to all and hopefully 2023 will be your best year yet. Keep an eye on the ocean and keep surfing! — Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City.
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