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Sports
Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com Dec. 2, 2022 Page 54
WORCESTER PREP WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW Wor. Prep girls’ basketball squad young and hungry
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Dec. 2, 2022) Worcester Prep Coach Mike Kelley describes the girls on his basketball team this season as young and hungry. “We only have one returning varsity player from last year [and] half the team is freshmen,” he said. “We have some talented freshmen. They just have to learn the Mike Kelley varsity level. “Being so young, we’ll have a lot to prove,” he continued. “We’ll take our lumps early and we just have to strive to be better.”
Of the 15 players on his roster, seven are freshmen. The team is also made up of three sophomores, two juniors and three seniors.
The only returning player from last year – when the team went 13-5, losing in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference semifinals, 27-26, to Saints Peter and Paul – is senior Anne Carter.
Kelley will count on Carter for leadership this season.
“She has a great attitude and heart. She’s a great athlete and can run forever,” Kelley said of Carter.
This is Carter’s third season on the varsity team, fourth year overall playing for Worcester.
“I feel like just with my experience and everything I’ve learned from the older girls that I played with the past three years I’ll be able to help out,” she said. “We have a really young team and I feel like I’ll be able to help them just transition from middle school basketball into high school, so they can integrate into our team … even though we’re a younger team, there’s still a lot of experience.”
As the only returning player, Carter is confident she can help lead the group as a captain.
“I’m just looking forward to a good season, and I think it will be fun,” Carter said. “Our biggest goals is to win the conference, win the tournament, but also I think that everyone just wants to become a better basketball player and just improve their own skill sets while also helping their teammates get better too.
“So far, I feel like everyone’s put-
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY “We only have one returning varsity player from last year [and] half the team is freshmen,” Worcester Prep Coach Mike Kelley said. “We have some talented freshmen. They just have to learn the varsity level … Being so young, we’ll have a lot to prove. We’ll take our lumps early and we just have to strive to be better.”
ting in a lot of effort,” she continued. “Definitely everyone is here to put in the work and get better and push each other. We’ve only been practicing [a few] weeks but I feel like there’s definitely been a lot of growth already. I’m excited for what’s to come and see what we can do.”
Kelley said the group is fast and athletic and despite being young, a number of the girls have basketball experience. Several girls were on the JV squad last year and some freshmen play in leagues outside of school.
Despite nearly an all-new varsity team, Kelley said the girls are picking up what he’s teaching quickly.
The ultimate goal is winning the conference championship. But to get there, the girls must continue to improve daily.
“I don’t believe in setting lower goals because what happens if you reach them?” Kelley said. “Every day we’re working to get to that championship game.
Kelley said he is looking forward to his second year as head coach of the team; he was assistant coach the three seasons prior.
The Lady Mallards will host Greenwood Mennonite School on Monday and Chincoteague on Wednesday. Both games are slated to start at 4:30 p.m.
Wor. Prep boys’ basketball team has height this yr.
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Dec. 2, 2022) The Worcester Prep boys’ basketball team will use height to its advantage this season.
There are 13 players on Moylan’s roster, six of whom were on last year’s team that finished with an 8-7 record. The Mallards season came to an end with a 65-58 lost to Delmarva Christian in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference semifinals.
The squad is made up of six seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen. See MALLARDS Page 55
DECEMBER 2, 2022 Decatur football team falls in 2A state semifinals
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Dec. 2, 2022) The Stephen Decatur football team battled with the Milford Mill Millers in the 2A state semifinals last Friday in Baltimore, but came up a bit short of advancing to the championship game. “We beat the topranked defense in the quarterfinals and then faced the number one team in the state in the semifiJake Coleman nals,” said Decatur Coach Jake Coleman after the 40-33 loss. “We take the lead with four minutes left and … [then] we were 48 seconds from going to the championship. It’s tough when you lose like that.”
Decatur scored first, but Milford tied it up, 7-7, in the first quarter. The visiting Seahawks led 14-13 at halftime.
At the end of the third quarter, Decatur held a 23-19 advantage.
The fifth-seeded Berlin squad started off the fourth quarter with a safety by senior A’zavion Manuel to pull ahead, 25-19.
The Millers then scored to take a 32-25 lead. With less than four minutes on the clock, Decatur went up, 33-32.
Milford got a touchdown with less than a minute on the clock and held on for the victory.
Junior quarterback Brycen Coleman was 26-for-53 passing for 320 yards. He threw two touchdowns.
Coleman carried the ball 16 times, racking up 77 yards. He also had a two-point conversion.
Senior Luke Mergott rushed three times for four yards and two touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 70 yards and one touchdown.
Junior Gavin Solito caught 10 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown.
Senior Logan Bradshaw caught four passes for 70 yards.
Junior Brogan Eastlack was 2-for2 on extra points. He also kicked a 31yard field goal.
Sophomore Amarian Manuel led the Decatur defense with 13 tackles (five solo, eight assisted).
Mergott had five tackles (two solo, three assisted) as did Solito (one solo, four assisted).
Sophomore Ethan Bradshaw made six tackles (three solo, three assisted).
“I couldn’t be prouder of the kids. They showed so much grit and mental toughness and kept on playing,” Coleman said. “When you lose one like that it takes a little time to get perspective of all you have accomplished. Hopefully, the underclassSee TEAM Page 56
LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY “We have good size. Some kids grew a ton from last year to this year,” said Prep Coach Pat Moylan. “We have five kids that are 6’4’’ and bigger, which is something we’ve never had before … “We’re also shooting 1,000 times better in practice than any years I’ve been here.”
Mallards shooting well in practice
Continued from Page 54
The team will be led by senior captains Griffin Jones and Harrison Humes, who Moylan said “have stepped up since the first day of practice,” as well as senior Jack Gardner.
“The athleticism of my big three, they’re scorers, they’re tough and they’re ready to play well,” Moylan said. “We’ve got great seniors who can play with anybody in our league, especially Griffin, Jack and Harrison. Other than those three, not a lot of the rest have a lot of playing experience … They are hell-bent on making this a successful season. They want to win a basketball championship.”
Jones, who received All-ESIAC honors last season, will again be the team’s point guard.
“Being on the team for four years I know the offense. Even with the new guys, I feel like I can lead them in a way that will help us as a team, help our chemistry,” the four-year player said. “Every year we’ve kind of run the same man-zone offense and I think I’ve adapted to it. A lot of the guys that have been here two or three years are starting to adapt to it. I feel like this is the year we can bring that all together.”
The biggest surprises returning from last year are senior JR Hamer and junior Baylor Hoen, Moylan said. Senior Daniel Thompson is a nice addition to the team, Moylan added. “We have a lot of fouls to play with if needed. We told the kids to play as hard as they can and if they foul, so be it,” Moylan said. “We’re also shooting 1,000 times better in practice than any years I’ve been here. [In the past] we get great shots, we just don’t make them. We have kids that can shoot the basketball this year.”
Running the same system, Moylan said the players are getting better at understanding spacing, the difference between good and bad shots, handling the ball, timing, and having more confidence.
“Their goal is to win a championship. That’s what they want to do. It will come down to how they perform,” Moylan said. “They need to have confidence, stay focused, not play too fast, be patient and work the ball, and stay in their own game and not get rattled.
To be successful, Jones said coming together as a team will be key.
“Our team is really young this year. We have six, seven upperclassmen that are really kind of the main players, but a lot of the young guys, I’ve seen a lot of improvement so far. [The underclassmen] just listening to us older, more experienced players, just learning from us, learning from each other, I think that aspect of teamwork is really what we need to kind of get us going,” Jones said. “A lot of guys are stepping up, especially from last year. I feel we will really work together as a team well this year.”
The Mallards will then host Greenwood Mennonite School on Monday and Chincoteage on Wednesday in Berlin. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Pat Moylan
PHOTOS COURTESY BAYSIDE SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY (Left) Stephen Decatur senior A’zavion Manuel (5) and junior Gavin Solito (3) work to take down a Milford player during the 2A state semifinals last Friday in Baltimore. “I couldn’t be prouder of the kids. They showed so much grit and mental toughness and kept on playing,” said Decatur Coach Jake Coleman after the 40-33 loss.
Team played best football at end of season
Continued from Page 55 men will take the loss as motivation going forward because they see how close we were.”
This was only Decatur’s third appearance in the state semifinals in program history. It was the team’s first time since 2004, when the Seahawks lost 56-19 to Hereford. In 1988, Decatur was edged out, 7-6, by Brunswick in the state semifinals.
Decatur finished the season with a 10-3 record.
“We were playing our best football at the end of the season,” Coleman said. “They were focused every day. We grew from one game to the next and that says a lot about the kids. This group was special. They raised the bar going forward.”
The team will graduate several seniors who were big contributors. Some of them have been on the team since Coleman joined the program four seasons ago.
“It’s my fourth year at Stephen Decatur, third as head coach. Some of the guys I had all four years, so it’s something special,” he said. “I’m so proud of the seniors. I want to thank them for believing in us, believing in themselves and each other.”
Despite graduating some key players, Coleman is optimistic for next season.
“This team is blessed to be a young team,” he said, as several playmakers and stat leaders will be returning, including his son, Brycen.
In addition, Coleman said he appreciates the support from the community this season.
“It was a memorable year and a great time to be a Seahawk,” he said.
SURF REPORT Thicker full wetsuits, boots, gloves key for winter surfing
By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer (Dec. 2, 2022) Greetings ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. We’re seemingly into a time of transition lately, as in fall to winter, although moving forward there can be elements of both. In mainly referring to air temperatures and winds that can occasionally get to more winter like, the fall season can become “extended” with warmer air.
Fortunately, water temperatures are more consistent and don’t change as quickly and radically.
The weather guys, or more formally meteorologists, will say that winter “time” is more like the months of December, January and February.
Astronomically speaking, winter will be roughly Dec. 21 to March 21.
In order to stay in the water through December and beyond, more wetsuit gear will most likely be needed.
We’re talking thicker full wetsuits, boots, gloves, and most advisedly a wetsuit cap or hood.
I recall a December where the air stayed warm enough that gloves weren’t needed.
I can also recall a November where it snowed twice before Thanksgiving and to where December featured extremely low air temperatures.
As far as wave conditions go, that is a totally variable subject, element, condition, factor or whatever you’d like to call it.
The fall season always seems to be best for a variety of reasons, but that idea, that notion can vary as well.
Basically speaking, good wave conditions can occur at most anytime of the year, but it’s easy to get into a mode where that surfer becomes quite picky as to when to go out into the water.
On the other side of the coin, this transitional time of the year is golden to a large degree.
Drawbacks are colder and shorter days, dropping water temperatures, and drained outside showers.
On the plus side, traffic is light, parking is abundant, sunny days and cool crisp air become almost a rule instead of an exception.
There are probably some toll booths that will have light duty if not charges at all. No restrictions occur at this time of the year.
So, as we can see, the attitudes can go either way.
Some will go year-round, others prefer to eliminate the coldest winter months. Some will simply restrict most of the year only to consider the warmest summer months.
The only way to gauge or measure it is by one’s own feelings.
It probably comes down to a question of enthusiasm and how often one gets to the beach.
To live here or at least close by, or maybe up in the cities, many variables can and will happen.
So there you have it. Transition and winter surfing will definitely require wetsuit gear.
Pros or cons, drawbacks verses benefits, the scenario will need some adjustment.
Hopefully, we’ll come to a period of good surf and that wetsuit gear will be available and abundant.
Wintertime is certainly a time of the year when the beaches are wide open. — Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City.
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