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Sports
Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com July 8, 2022 Page 69
SPORTS AWARDS
A number of Worcester Preparatory School student-athletes received awards for excellence in their sports during the recent spring season. Pictured, in front, from left are Emma Zajdel, Reagan Sterrs, Lebby Becker, Natasha Richter, Morgan Schoch, Sumira Sehgal, Caitlyn Hoen, Caitlin Williams and Claire Windrow; and in back, Bennett Tinkler, James Haley, Brice Richins, Anderssen Taylor, Dylan McGovern, Jack Gardner, Griffin Jones, Harrison Humes, Riley Schoch, Graham McCabe, Ian Lewis, Aleksey Klimins, Jason Todorov and Dylan Simons.
Ocean City Tuna Tournament this weekend
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (July 8, 2022) The fish are biting just in time for the 35th annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament, which kicks off today and runs through Sunday.
“The season as a whole has been off and on. Fish are being caught in one canyon one day and in a different one another day,” said Ocean City Fishing Center Assistant Dockmaster Hunter Dortenzo.”Last week everyone in our fleet was catching six-plus yellowfin. The past few days they’ve been catching some bigeye tuna, which is an awesome sign.”
On July 5, Roshambo Sportfishing landed several yellowfin tuna and a 145-pound bigeye. The day prior, Covered Up Sport Fishing boated a 209-pound bigeye and six yellowfin tuna.
Also this week, anglers aboard Big Stick reeled in four yellowfin and a 216-pound bigeye.
Final registration for the tournament was yesterday, Thursday. Altogether, there were 17 added entry-level calcuttas for the 2022 competition. The cost to enter them ranged from $200 to $5,000.
Teams could sign up for one or all of the added entry-level categories, which, if they place on the top of the leader board, could substantially increase the amount of prize money they receive.
For 2022, tournament fishing is permitted Friday through Sunday. Anglers will fish two of the three days. Boats can leave either the Ocean City or Indian River inlets.
“The weather is looking pretty good. All days are fishable, at the very least,” Dortenzo said on Wednesday.
Catches will be weighed at the Ocean City Fishing Center from 4-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and until 7 p.m. Sunday.
There is no cost to watch the weigh-ins, which are open to the public. There will be giveaways during the weigh-ins and children are invited to sit up close to the scale to get a good view.
There will also be vendors set up near the weigh-in station, including a table featuring a variety of tournament apparel and merchandise. Spectators can also view the weigh-ins from Micky Fins bar and restaurant, which is located next to the scale.
“It’s going to be a party at the scale and we’re looking forward to it,” Dortenzo said.
The weigh-ins will also be streamed live on the tournament website for those who can’t make it to the fishing center.
Prize money will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-heaviest single tuna and the largest total catch weight (stringer).
Each boat may weigh up to five fish per day to compete for a two-day total pound catch.
There is a 30-pound minimum weight requirement for all eligible tournament tuna (yellowfin, bluefin, bigeye and long fin).
Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in the Park Place Jewelers Ladies Division.
A $1,500 award will be presented to the female angler who catches the largest tuna. Prizes of $1,000 and $500 will be distributed to second and third place, respectively.
The Yeti Cooler Junior Angler division is for youth 16 and younger. The winner will receive $1,000. Cash prizes of $500 and $250 will be presented to junior anglers who land the second- and third-heaviest fish.
There will also be prize money of $2,500, $1,000 and $500 for the first-, second- and third-largest dolphin. The minimum weight for dolphin is 20 pounds.
There is also a wahoo calcutta. Minimum weight is 20 pounds.
The last two years no qualifying wahoo were brought the scale so prize money of about $21,000 has been rolled over to this year’s tournament, Dortenzo said.
“We’re all excited and looking forward to the tournament,” Dortenzo said.
For the first time since its inception 34 years ago, the Ocean City Tuna Tournament broke the milliondollar payout mark in 2021. Organizers are hoping to surpass that total this year.
A total of 106 boats registered for the 2021 tournament. The overall payout was $1,019,690.
For more information about the Tuna Tournament, call 410-213-1121 or visit www.octunatournament.com.
Dalkiewicz gives kudos to hosts for surf talk
By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer (July 8, 2022) I enjoy a television sports talk show called “Pardon the Interruption” or PTI. It comes on most weekday evenings on the Eastern Sports Network or ESPN and has been going on for the last 20 years or so.
It’s basically two guys talking sports in quite the lively and spirited manner.
The principals are Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, two longtime friends who both used to be sports writers for the Washington Post.
I would often read both of their columns. Their wit and enthusiasm would be nearly infectious, always informative and well researched. They bring these same attributes to “Pardon the Interruption.”
A few years ago I had heard that the show had received a number one rating of all the shows that appears on ESPN.
That’s quite a lofty accolade especially considering all the programs that appear on the 24-7 ESPN networks. The show will generally open with Wilbon telling Kornheiser that today is such and such, as in; “Today is national watch a baseball game day,” or, “Today is love your dog day.”
As you can probably guess much banter and humor goes on between these two which only adds to the entertainment value.
Being informed and entertained at the same time seems to be a good combination. Both are also very opinionated, which once again adds to the quality combination.
Last week one of the shows started with Wilbon stating, “Today is national surfing day.” He went on asking, “Tony, have you ever surfed?”
Kornheiser replied, “No because I don’t like the water, am afraid of sharks, and I don’t like to take my shirt off.”
Kornheiser grew up on the Southern Shore of Long Island, New York, where by his own admission, “everybody surfed.”
But, surfing was obviously not his cup of tea.
PTI will cover most any sporting activity though it’s mostly major sports which are most mentioned.
The topics are timely are up-tothe-minute but I was quite surprised to hear surfing even vaguely mentioned.
Surfing is obviously more of a fringe sport/activity and can only be done where breaking waves occur. Surprisingly, though, waves can break not only in oceans but on other bodies of water such as the Great Lakes, standing waves in rivers or even tidal bores on bodies of water with extreme tide changes.
It’s interesting to think that surfing could become more popular in our general lives.
It’s part of the Olympics now and be headline news in places such as Hawaii and Australia. But, it seems as though it will always be more specialized and off the beaten path, more part of the road less traveled.
Still, it was quite interesting to hear surfing even lightly mentioned, even humorously mentioned on a major sport show that will concentrate more on major sports in general.
Kudos to PTI, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon. — Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City.
Tenth annual Ocean Games set for July 16
(July 8, 2022) Swim Ocean City is hosting its 10th annual Ocean Games open water swim on Saturday, July 16, to raise funds for research and increase awareness of brain injuries and promote the positive effects that sports have on the brain and body.
Ocean Games is one of the few ocean-based marathon swimming events offered on the entire East Coast.
It attracts participants of all ages and levels, from first-time open water swimmers to experienced marathoners.
The Ocean Games features a WOWSA-sanctioned series of 3- and 9-mile open water swims along the Atlantic coastline. The swim also offers a two- or three-person team 9mile relay.
The 9-mile swim starts at 10 a.m. Depending on the direction of the current, the race will either start or finish at Caroline Street and 146th Street.
The 3-mile swim starts at noon. Depending on the direction of the current, the race will begin at 94th Street and end at 146th Street or start at 46th Street and end at Caroline Street.
“Each year, the swim event has unique challenges for the participants and its organizers. There is a saying, ‘the only thing predictable about open water swimming is its unpredictability,’” said Corey Davis, Ocean Games Race director. “The currents, tides and weather make for challenging moments for the swimmer, but you have different challenges from the planning end.”
Every 9-mile swimmer must have an individual safety kayak to aid with nutrition, water, and assistance.
After experiencing a traumatic brain injury in 2007, Davis worked with the team at Johns Hopkins’ Brain and Stroke Rehabilitation Program to return to his previously active lifestyle.
To give back to the program that helped him so much, Davis founded the Ocean Games as a way to raise funds for the Brain and Stroke Rehabilitation Program and local charities.
Since its debut in 2013, the Ocean Games has raised over $120,000 for the Johns Hopkins Program and local charities. Ocean Games is widely supported through grants and many local Ocean City businesses.
Ocean Games offers something for everyone, open to novices and seasoned athletes alike, allowing for the perfect open water swim experience in a safe and structured environment. For more information, visit www.oceangamesus.org.
Flounder tournament, auction set for Aug. 6
(July 8, 2022) Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce will host its 15th annual Flounder Tournament and Auction on Saturday, Aug. 6.
The Ocean Pines Association and Gateway Subaru are the corporate event sponsors this year.
Last year, despite the rain, over 280 anglers registered, with the winning flatty and its angler taking home over $5,000.
Participants must be registered by Friday, Aug. 5 at noon.
Weigh-in and auction will take place at the Ocean Pines Marina and Yacht Club. Lines in at 7 a.m., out by 3 p.m. Fish must be weighed by 4 p.m. Sponsorships are still available.
All information and registration can be found at https://business.oceanpineschamber.org/events/details/15th-annualflounder-tournament-14722.
For more information, call the Ocean Pines Chamber at 410-6415306 or email info@oceanpineschamber.org.
The Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce is a 501 (c) (6) nonprofit corporation comprised of area businesses organized to advance the general welfare and prosperity of the area so that its citizens and all areas of its business community shall prosper.
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