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MORNING STAR
Lady Jay swimmers defeat Kent County and Lake Forest
BETWEEN THE LINES By Gene Bleile, Seaford Sports
By Gene Bleile In a tune up meet for the upcoming tough teams of Lake Forest and Dover, the Seaford High swim team defeated Kent County High School last week, 11356. “This was a good meet for our girls to relax and swim some events they do not regularly swim,” head coach Alison Venables said after the meet. The girls are showing improvement each meet with new times and personal best records being broken almost weekly. Paige Crouse and Kelly Kimpton set new personal records in the 500 free style. Individual swimmers, Lindsay James, Johanna Peuscher and Alison Schwinn are showing great improvement in the 50 yard free style. “I was happy with the win, but we really have to buckle down, especially in the relay events to do well at the conference championships,” Venables said. Meet results (all first place finishers): 200 free- Olivia Bradham, 2:19.11; 200 IM-Paige Venables, 2:38.50; 50 freeLindsay James, 29.44; 100 free- Olivia Bradham, 1:03.09; 200 free relay- Paige Venables, Jeanmarie Ferber, Christina Bradham, Courtney Swain, 1:57.22; 100 back-Christina Bradham, 1:13.09; 100 breast-Paige Venables, 1:18.10; 400 free relay- Jamie Swain, Paige Venables, Jeanmarie Ferber, Olivia Bradham, 5:00.09 Last Thursday, the Jays knocked off Lake Forest in an away meet 99-67. The girls were swimming despite being emotionally drained, due to the recent death of a classmate, but they held their own to pick up an important conference win. “It was a great effort on Seaford’s part, I was so proud to see them swim with such poise, after such a tragedy,” Head
✳ FEBRUARY 1 - 7, 2007
A season to remember: final thoughts
Lindsay James swims the breast stroke as her leg of the 200 IM relay. The relay team of Courtney Swain, Paige Venables, Lindsay James and Jamie Swain placed first against Lake Forest. Seaford won the meet 99-67. Photo by Gene Bleile
Coach Alison Venables said. “Most of them have taken a couple of days off from practice, but I am confident they will bounce back into top form quickly.” Out of 11 total events, Seaford took home eight first place finishes for their effort. “It was good to have a chance to swim in a meter pool before the conference meet on Feb. 10. We will have another opportunity when we swim Milford at Lake on Feb. 6,” Venables concluded. Meet results (all first place finishers): 200 medley relay: Courtney Swain, Paige Venables, Lindsay James, Jamie Swain, 2:25.42; 200 free- Olivia Bradham, 2:34.28; 50 free- Jamie Swain, 31:23; 100 fly- Lindsay James, 1:24.32; 100 free- Jeanmarie Ferber, 1:13.64; 200 free relay- Paige Venables, Lindsay James, Taylor Swain, Olivia Bradham, 2:20.78; 100 breast- Paige Venables, 1:24.69; 400 free relay- Jamie Swain, Jeanmarie Ferber, Courtney Swain, Olivia Bradham, 4:57.92 The Lady Jays’ record is now 6-4
After I attended the 1981 Blue Jay football championship reunion, where I talked to numerous players, who were also my former elementary students and their coaches, who were also fellow teachers of mine through my years at the Seaford School District, I was reminded of an intangible feeling that every coach would love to experience. That feeling is not the jubilation of being called number one or having your picture in the paper, or holding a trophy over your head after the championship game, but one of complete satisfaction on a job well done. The feeling of inner peace, knowing at that moment in your life, you gave your players 110 percent and they gave you back 120 percent. Knowing for that fleeting moment in time you and your team were the best! When I talked to former Blue Jay coach, Bob Dowd, for my column (Diamond State Conference Football) a few months ago, I heard that feeling in his voice, when he spoke about his undefeated championship team of 1955. On the night of Dec. 23, 2006, I heard that same feeling from Ron Dickerson and a collective feeling of “family” from his players. That group of players had become a family in 1981. It didn’t matter if they were black or white, senior or junior, starter or part time player; they were ma-
ture for their age and didn’t argue on the field or at practice. They “hung around together” and treated each other as equals. That feeling of family was evident that night even after 25 years. Fullback Frank Dowd, son of Coach Bob Dowd returned from Texas, fullback Mike McGee came from Florida and quarterback John Shirreffs came from Georgia to be there. They were among the players that traveled the farthest to be with their family. It was more than a season to remember, it was a family night to remember. Blue Jay Notebook: Quarterback John Shirreffs was the junior signal caller for the 1981 Blue Jays and helped defeat William Penn in the State Division I finals 20-13. His senior year, after his family moved to New Castle, he lead Archmere to the Division II State Championship defeating Seaford and his old teammates. At the football banquet in 1981, Seaford Superintendent Fred Sales gave Coach Ron Dickerson a bottle of champagne, with the idea of having a reunion in 25 years and a toast to the team. Twentyfive years later, the bottle could not be found. Sports email bag: reb60315@yahoo.com or The Star, P.O. Box 1000, Seaford, De. 19973 attn: Gene Bleile
Seaford wrestlers lose on the road to Cape, 46-18 By Gene Bleile Last Friday night the Seaford High Blue Jay wrestlers lost an away match to the Cape Henlopen Vikings, 46-18. The match started at the 152 weight class and Seaford was down early, when Trevor Polk, Yvens St. Phard (160 weight class) and Corey Hearn (171 weight class) lost tough matches by decision to their opponents. Mike Wright (189 weight class) picked up a quick six points when Cape forfeited the match, but Josh Smith (215 weight class) was pinned and the Vikings then went on a run of two Seaford forfeits (heavy weight and 103 weight class) to take a commanding lead. Kirk Neal, wrestling up in the 112 weight class from his normal 103 slot, lost a tough battle on points 5-4, before Seaford’s first bright spot of the night, when Aaron Saunders pinned his man in the 119 weight class. Jordan German (125), C.R. Wilkins (130) and Brian Wright (135) all lost by decision in their weight classes and Spencer Coulbourn was pinned in the 140 weight class, before the last match of the evening went to Seaford. Jon Geniesse, wrestling in the 145 weight class, pinned his man in 1:28 in the first period. It was a frustrating night for the Jays, who were hoping for another conference win. “We lost a few that I thought we were going to win,” head coach Dave Rogers said after the match. “We lost six matches by four points each, but we need to elevate our intensity to the next level at all weight classes to be successful.” Seaford bounced back with a 38-34 win over Polytech on Monday, Jan. 29. C.R. Wilkins (130), Jon Geniesse (145), Trevor Polk (152), Mike Wright (171), and Josh Smith (285) had pins for the Blue Jays.
Woodbridge Little League to hold signups at Greenwood Fire Hall Woodbridge Little League will hold signups for the 2007 season at the Greenwood Fire Hall on the following dates: Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6-8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 17, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. The cost is $40 for one child, $55 for two children, and $70 for three or more. Call Daisy Veith at 423-2557 with any questions.
Shown (l to r) are: Frank Dowd, fullback, John Shirreffs, quarterback, Mike McGee, fullback, Ron Dickerson, head coach of the 1981 Blue Jay football team.
New local non-profit Youth Sports League is being developed in the Seaford area. The league is looking for property which can be used from July 2007 through December 2007 for football games and practices, along with cheerleading. Anyone who is interested in contributing to the enrichment of youth between the ages of 6-15 years old, please contact: Jermaine Robinson (president) 1-443-864-2776 or Ruby Mann (vice president) 302-258-7196.