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Sports
Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com June 3, 2022 Page 60
Decatur tennis trio plays well during state tourney
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (June 3, 2022) The three Stephen Decatur tennis players who competed in the MPSSAA 2A state championship tournament, held Thursday and Saturday at Wilde Lake Tennis Center, were overall pleased with their performance on the big stage.
Senior Noah Fisher finished runner-up in the 2A state singles division.
“I played very strong in all my games. Even in the finals I thought I played well,” he said.
Fisher won his state quarterfinals match, 6-2, 6-0. He then outscored his semifinals opponent, 6-1, 6-0.
“I kept the ball in play and made them miss shots,” he said. “I felt good going into my matches. I never took them for granted. They were very good opponents.”
Fisher faced a tough opponent – Rohan Bhat of Poolesville – in the finals and lost, 6-1, 6-0.
“I thought I played my best tennis of the season. My opponent was just better than me that day,” Fisher said. “He was the best I’ve ever played. He was a great player.”
Fisher, two-time regional champion and the 2021 state singles titleholder, said it was just an accomplishment to make it to the finals two years in a row.
“This season was definitely one of my most successful [outscoring opponents 8-0 all spring]. I think my career was very successful and I really enjoyed it,” said Fisher, who will play tennis for Frostburg State University. “We made great strides. The season was tons of fun and we made tons of memories. I’m going to miss them when I’m gone.”
Sophomores Matt Beck and David Janney won their state quarterfinals, 6-1, 6-2. They lost in the semifinals, 6-1, 6-2.
“We went out strong and played really well in the first match,” Beck said. “We played against a good team in our second match and just didn’t play our best. Playing back-to-back matches was the most tennis we’ve played in a day, against good opponents.”
“You’re not going to play your best game every single match,” Janney added. “In the quarterfinals the first game was a little rough, but as we kept going we got into a groove. The more I kept hitting my shots the more confident I got, the same with Matt.
“We were just a little off in the second match. They played different than anyone else does, the way they moved around the court,” he added. “It was unexpected. We tried to change things up in the second set to adjust. It was definitely the best competition we’ve see all season.”
Beck thought the entire state experience was exciting.
“There were so many amazing tennis players in one tournament,” he said. “It was the first big tournament I’ve been at and it was cool to see all the talent. Hopefully next year we’ll do just as good or even better.”
“When we first won doubles at regionals we were so satisfied and anything from that point forward was just icing on top,” Janney said.
The duo, who have been playing doubles together for two seasons, are pleased with their performance and are looking forward to next year.
“Overall, the whole season was good for us. We showed what we can do,” Beck said. “Hopefully we’ll be back [to states] next year.”
“I’m excited for next year. We went this far as sophomores and if we work hard I feel pretty confident we can do just as good, or better, and have a chance to win states,” Janney said.
Coach Steve Berquist thought his players performed well at states.
“For sophomores to win their first round is unbelievable. Unfortunately they played the first seed in the semifinals, but they did great,” he said. “And Noah made a run for the finals where he faced the sixth-ranked kid in the state in all classifications. He was definitely the best tennis player I’ve seen. I was proud of Noah. He got to the state championship match his junior and senior year.
“He had a great run. He was a great captain and a great players,” Berquist continued. “I never saw him lose a match until states. He will be greatly missed.”
Both the Decatur boys’ and girls’ teams had successful seasons. The program captured its first regional championship title since 1994. According to coaches Jamie Greenwood and Berquist, it was the first time in the program’s history that Decatur players were represented in all five events – boys’ and girls’ singles, doubles and mixed doubles competitions.
The boys’ squad also won the Bayside Conference title, the first since 2009.
The boys finished with an overall record of 13-2. They went undefeated in conference play. The only two losses were to Worcester Preparatory School.
The team graduates four starters –
Fisher, co-captain Ben Johnson, Evan Ritz and Ethan Hansford.
“It’s the best season we’ve had since I’ve been coaching (25 years). We’ve never been Bayside and region champs in the same year,” Berquist said. “It was one of the most enjoyable seasons I’ve had. Winning is part of it, but it was mostly because of the kids and how great they were.”
Although the team will graduate four, Berquist said he has a solid group to build with for next season.
The girls’ squad went 10-2 in conference play, 10-5 overall.
“We did really well. We grew tremendously as a team from start to finish,” Greenwood said. “There were some girls who really blossomed as tennis players and really just learned. They were like sponges. They worked to get better every day.”
The team didn’t have any seniors this year.
“They’ll all be back and I’m excited about that,” Greenwood said. “This year was such a success. We only lost a few matches, and a lot of them were close. It’s much more valuable to be in close matches to grow toward next year. I think we’ve got a good shot to compete for the Bayside title next year.”
PHOTO COURTESY STEVE BERQUIST Stephen Decatur senior Noah Fisher, center, competed in the singles division of the MPSSAA 2A state championship tournament, held Thursday and Saturday at Wilde Lake Tennis Center, and sophomores Matt Beck, right, and David Janney battled in doubles competition.
Decatur pole vaulter takes second place at state meet
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (June 3, 2022) Stephen Decatur pole vaulter Owen Mielnik capped off his senior year and high school career with a second-place finished in the MPSSAA 3A state championship meet, last Saturday at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover.
Mielnik pole vaulted 13 feet 6 inches to take the number two spot.
Although he didn’t reach the height he was shooting for, Mielnik was still pleased with a second-place finish in the state.
“I didn’t jump my best; I was hoping to get 14 feet or higher,” he said. “I wish I could have done better. I See MIELNIK Page 61
PHOTOS COURTESY OWEN MIELNIK Stephen Decatur pole vaulter Owen Mielnik capped off his senior year and high school career with a second-place finished in the MPSSAA 3A state championship meet, last Saturday at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover. He was joined by, from left, his cousins, Brody, Danielle, Braden and Brent, and grandparents, Andrea and Pete.
Mielnik successful this year with Bayside, regional titles
Continued from Page 60 wanted to PR one more time, but I’m happy with second.”
“I was happy with Owen’s performance. Although he did not PR, he was able to clear an impressive 13’6” and earn a second-place medal,” said Decatur Coach Brenda Hommel. “I was also happy to see that the state record of 15”3’ held by Brad Holloway in 2011 from Stephen Decatur still stands.”
This was Mielnik’s third time competing in a state meet for pole vaulting. He placed third last spring for outdoor track and this past winter he also came in third place for indoor track.
Mielnik is also a Bayside Conference and regional champion in the event. During the MPSSAA 3A South Regional championship, held May 18 and 20 at Chesapeake High School, Mielnik vaulted 14 feet – a new personal record.
Mielnik, who plans to learn to fly planes at Ocean Aviation in Berlin after high school graduation, said he improved in the pole vault event over his career.
“My freshman and sophomore year I could only jump 9 [feet] 6 [inches], so I’ve definitely come a long way,” he said.
Mielnik was the only representative from the Decatur outdoor track and field program at states.
Hommel said overall, she was pleased with the performance of the athletes on the boys’ and girls’ squads this season, which she added “was definitely one of growth.”
“We are only graduating one senior girl, Miah Schwind, and four senior boys, Owen Mielnik, Zimere Handy, Jay McCarter and Gavin McCabe,” she said. “With such a young team it was a challenge to be competitive against more seasoned athletes. Our focus this year was to inspire a love of the sport among our athletes and to lay a foundation from which to improve.
“We had a large number of firstyear track athletes show up for the cross country interest meeting, which demonstrates that they are committed to doing the work to get better,” she continued. “Many of our strongest runners are the ones who train to run all three seasons, so hopefully this is a good sign for next year. I have also generated some interest in several freshmen football players to join outdoor track next spring, which will hopefully bring more speed to the team.”
Hommel enjoyed working with the athletes this spring.
“This has been one of the nicest groups of athletes that we have ever coached and we look forward to having them back on the track next year,” she said. “Our team next year will be a bit more seasoned although we will still have a majority of underclassmen. As other teams graduate their seniors this year and next year we will likely become a more competitive team.”
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By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (June 3, 2022) The Stephen Decatur softball team had a successful season, finishing in the top four in the MPSSAA 3A state tournament.
“We made the final four and that’s a huge accomplishment,” said Decatur Coach Scott Kurtz.
Decatur traveled to Glen Burnie to battle the Chopticon Braves in the 3A state semifinals last Wednesday.
“They were a very good team. Their whole lineup’s loaded. Every girl swung hard and hit the ball hard. Everything was a laser,” Kurtz said after his team’s 14-0 loss. “We could hit their pitcher, but every hit we had went to a player. We were making contact, we just couldn’t put it together.”
Freshman Ava Snelsire had Decatur’s only base hit.
Senior Skylar Griffin started on the mound. She pitched 3.1 innings and gave up five runs, five hits and walked one.
Freshman Madison McGinnis threw 3.1 innings. She gave up nine runs, eight hits, walked five and struck out two. Sophomore Leah Simpson finished the game. She struck out one in .1 of an inning. “When I knew it looked like we wouldn’t be able to come back, I said to the girls, ‘we made it to the final four, you’ve got to be proud of that,’” he said. “‘Learn from the loss, and let it fire you up and fuel you. Remember the success you had and don’t let this diminish that.’”
The team was congratulated by Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall, who also attended the game, and their bus received a police escort in their final trek back to the Berlin school.
“It was a cool finish to a long day,” Kurtz said.
Decatur finished the season with a 20-3 record.
The Lady Seahawks were back-toback Bayside Conference champions (Decatur last won the conference championship in 2019. There was no season in 2020 because of covid. In 2021 the season was condensed and there was no conference championship game played.)
The team also won the program’s first regional title since 1991.
“We ended the season with a balanced team … and everyone was motivated,” Kurtz said. “The last three weeks we turned a corner and the girls started playing for each other. Teamwork was better and the more they played the more fun they had. You could see the tenacity and the desire to win. You could see the joy in the team and each others’ success. We came together when it mattered most.”
The team will graduate three players, all of whom with play at the collegiate level – Griffin (University of New Haven), Chloe Candeloro, (McDaniel) and Alexa Eisemann (West Liberty University).
“It was a fantastic senior group. It will be tough to replace the three seniors and there will be a void there that needs to be filled, but we have girls who are hungry to play,” Kurtz said. “We had a lot of talent this year and it was hard to play everyone. But if they put in the work now, they will get better and reap the rewards.”
Kurtz said he will meet with the players returning to discuss their performance this season and their goals and expectations for the future, academically and athletically.
“We started three freshmen, two sophomores a junior and three seniors,” he said. “We’ll be a relatively young team, but we’re bringing back a lot of talent. There’s also some girls coming up (from eighth grade) who play a lot of softball. I think we’ll have a nice team again and it’s exciting.”
Scott Kurtz
Inaugural Blues for DU tourney this weekend
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (June 3, 2022) Bahia Marina Tournament will present the inaugural Blues for DU event this weekend.
The 22nd Street bayside marina has launched the bluefish tournament to benefit Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit organization 501(c) dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people.
Bahia had hosted the Mako Mania shark fishing tournament for 24 years the first weekend of June, but no mako harvesting is allowed along the East Coast for the next two years.
Recently, the ICAAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) an inter-governmental fishery organization responsible for the conservation of tunas and tunalike species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas, announced that a two-year retention ban is being implemented starting in 2022 on North Atlantic shortfin mako shark which the group called “overfished.”
So instead of Mako Mania, tournament co-director Earl Conley said Bahia Marina decided to partner with Ducks Unlimited and offer a bluefish event to benefit the organization.
The final day to enter the tournament and its added entry-level calcuttas was Thursday. Teams can still join the tournament, but will not be eligible to participate in the calcuttas.
The cost is $200 per team for up to four anglers. Additional anglers may be added for $50 each, up to six anglers maximum per boat. No additional fee for junior anglers (under 16 years old).
Trophies and prize money will be awarded for the top three heaviest bluefish. The top junior angler will also receive prizes.
Teams can fish two of three tournament days Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday. Weigh-ins will take place from 3:30-7:30 p.m. each day at Bahia Marina. The weigh-ins are open to the public and Conley encourages everyone to come out and see bluefish brought to the scale.
The awards banquet will take place after the scales close on Sunday.
For more information about the tournament, visit https://bahiamarina.com/tournament/blues-fordu.cfm or call 410-289-7438.
To learn more about Ducks Unlimited, go to https://www.ducks.org.
Worcester Prep lax player scores 115 career goals
(June 3, 2022) Worcester Preparatory School senior Myranda Beebe scored her 100th career lacrosse goal on April 25.
She tallied 115 goals over three seasons (2019, 2021 and 2022). Activities were canceled in 2020 because of covid.
Since her freshman season, Beebe has been a major contributor on offense for the Worcester Prep lacrosse team. Her freshman year she scored 28 goals.
Beebe returned to the field strong her junior year scoring 44 goals. During her senior year she netted 43 goals. Beebe has been a standout student-athlete at Worcester Prep. Her hard work and dedication have paid off as she will head to Franklin and Marshall University next fall to be part of its women’s nationally-ranked lacrosse program.
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