Sports

Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com Jan. 28, 2022 Page 44

PHOTOS COURTESY BRENDA HOMMEL (Left) Stephen Decatur senior Owen Mielnik became the Bayside champion in the pole vault event during last Wednesday’s indoor track conference meet at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill. (Center) The 3,200-meter relay team of sophomore Macy Woroniecki, freshman Clarice Piela and juniors Breanne Ferguson and Carolina Novelli placed third, and Ethan Justice, right, came in second in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter events and fourth in the 3,200-meter run.

Mielnik Bayside Conf. pole vault champion

Decatur senior confident he can earn spot at state meet and be successful

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Jan. 28, 2022) Stephen Decatur senior Owen Mielnik became the Bayside champion in the pole vault event during last Wednesday’s indoor track conference championship meet at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill.

“Owen is jumping very smart this year, coming in at a height that he is confident he will make. He continues to train in Philadelphia, which is helping him to improve in technique and strength,” Decatur Coach Brenda Hommel said. “I expect him to make it to the state meet, but he will face some competition there and will need to perform at his season best in order to medal, which I expect he will.”

Mielnik, who placed third in the pole vault at the 3A state championship outdoor track meet in June and is also a regional champion in the event, continues to dominate in the Bayside Conference indoors this winter.

The rest of the field’s competitors – who Mielnik said he has been working with and coaching during meets – best vaults ranged from 7 feet to 9 feet 6 inches. Since Mielnik is so advanced in the event, he didn’t take his first vault until 12 feet, which he cleared on the first attempt, earning him the conference title. He then soared over the bar at 12 feet 6 inches. At 13 feet, he was high enough to get over the bar, but just lightly tapped it with his arm and it fell over on all three attempts. “I know my mistake. My standards were too far forward, so every time I soared over the 13 feet bar my elbows clipped it on the way down. It bummed me out [not to accomplish 13 feet] but I should have move it back an inch or two,” Mielnik said, who added that he’s consistently made 13 feet this season. “You’re constantly moving your standards – up, down, front, back … [The pole vault area] was on a basketball court so it was tricky to line up everything.”

Mielnik said he plans to go to a bigger pole and is confident he can make it to the state meet this year for indoor track. He will continue to train twice a week at the Philadelphia Jump Club and is shooting for 14 feet, 14 feet 6 inches at the championship meet.

The Decatur boys’ team came in fifth place overall and the girls’ squad finished in seventh during the 12school conference championship.

“I wish we could have performed better as teams at Baysides, but given that we were missing nearly half of our team from the beginning of the year due to either injuries or covid it was expected,” Hommel said. “The snow and cold weather has also made it difficult to practice, since our track has been covered in ice and snow on several days. I was, however, impressed with the improvement that some of our athletes showed.”

Kent Island won the boys’ competition, scoring 82 points. James M. Bennett was runner-up (73) followed by Easton (58.5), Parkside (56) and Decatur (55.5).

Decatur athletes who scored points for placing eighth or better were: Mielnik (pole vault, first, 12 feet 6 inches), seniors Tristan Dutton (1,600-meter run, fourth, 4:55.49; 3,200-meter run, fifth, 11:31.87) and Gavin McCabe (800-meter run, sixth, 2:20.49), junior Xavier Arnold (shot put, fifth, 33 feet 3 inches), sophomore Ethan Justice (800-meter run, second, 2:10.93; 1,600-meter run, second, 4:49.92; 3,200-meter run, fourth, 11:08.73) and freshman Brandon Fitzgerald (high jump, sixth (tie), 5 feet).

Senior Jay McCarter, juniors Riley Calloway and Conner Herr and freshman Ethan Cowder placed sixth in the 800-meter relay race (1:46.44).

The 1,600-meter relay team of Calloway, Dutton, Fitzgerald and Cowder took sixth (4:10.65).

“The 1,600-meter boys’ [individual] race was a thriller to watch. Tristan Dutton went out hard early on testing his speed and endurance against phenom Timmy Synowiec from Bennett. Even though he gassed himself out and was not able to keep up the pace, it was a learning experience for him as a runner to run the pace you have trained for,” Hommel said. “Ethan Justice ended up turning it on late in the race and finished in second with an impressive PR time of 4:49.92. Ethan also ran well in the 800m run, placing second. He will be one to watch in the future as he still has two years of high school competition left and is training hard and running smart.”

Parkside won the girls’ competition, scoring 109 points. Kent Island was second (101), followed by North Caroline (64.5), Bennett (60), Easton (51), Cambridge (38) and Decatur (24).

Decatur athletes who scored points for placing eighth or better were: junior Carolina Novelli (3,200meter run, fourth, 14:14.90), sophomores Tiara McDonald (300-meter dash, sixth, 47.53 seconds) and Macy Woroniecki (3,200-meter run, fifth, 14:23.47) and freshman Clarice Piela

Brenda Hommel

JANUARY 28, 2022 Decatur wrestling team still on top of Bayside Conf.

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Jan. 28, 2022) The Stephen Decatur wrestling team remains undefeated in the Bayside Conference after its 51-9 victory over the Parkside Rams on Wednesday in Berlin. “It’s fun to have a match in the Bayside that’s got a little fire to it. We kind of miss that lately,” said Decatur Coach Todd Martinek. “Parkside brought some fire Todd Martinek tonight. They brought a lot of energy to the gym, which is good.”

Both teams were undefeated in the conference going into the meet. Decatur won 11 of the 14 matches.

“I don’t like losing two matches in the last two seconds. It just comes from experience and those two kids that did that lack experience,” Martinek said. “That’s a good lesson to learn now. It didn’t hurt us in the dual meet. It’s a good learning experience. It’s better to come away with a win, but sometimes you lose something like that it almost means more than winning that match.”

Decatur kicked off the meet with pins by seniors Emanuel Valenzuela (195 pounds), Henry Brous (220) and Michael Rayne (285) to take an 18-0 lead.

Parkside then forfeited the 106pound match.

Decatur freshman Aaron August earned a 14-3 major decision at 113 pounds, then freshman Liam Hugues won his 120-pound match, 6-2, to increase the Seahawks’ advantage to 31-0.

Parkside scored a 13-6 decision at 126 pounds, before Decatur senior Cody Drummond shut out his 132pound opponent, 8-0, (major decision).

Decatur junior Timothy Lyons edged out his 138-pound opponent, 3-1, in the finals seconds of the match, then sophomore Gavin Solito won his 145-pound match, 4-2.

Junior Evan Haworth’s 152-pound match got a bit heated. He led 2-0 at the end of the first period, then 4-0 after two. He built a 9-1 lead before pinning his opponent with 57 seconds remaining in the match.

“I was really proud of Evan Haworth, kind of keeping his composure and coming back and sticking that kid,” Martinek said.

Parkside earned a 5-4 decision at 160 pound, then Decatur senior captain Noah Reho scored a 12-4 major decision at 170 pounds.

Parkside won the final match of the night – 182 pounds – 4-3.

“I think we’re doing great. I think practices have been good, we’re stay-

Ocean City Today PAGE 45 Coach Hommel impressed with improvements

Continued from Page 44 (3,200-meter run, sixth, 15:04.49).

Novelli, Piela, Woroniecki and junior Breanne Ferguson finished in third place in the 3,200-meter relay race (12:26.86).

Novelli, Ferguson, McDonald and sophomore Abigail Melito took sixth in the 1,600-meter relay race (5:09.30).

“Our girls’ 3,200-meter team performed well in the absence of Amber Marshall, one of our fastest distance girls,” Hommel said. “Clarice Piela stepped up and ran an impressive 800 split for herself and also had a PR in the 3,200m run. Carolina Novelli and Macy Woroniecki also ran well in the 3,200.”

(Top) Stephen Decatur senior Henry Brous pinned his 220-pound opponent with 1:30 left in the second period of his match, during Wednesday’s competition against Parkside in Berlin. (Left) Freshman Liam Hugues won his 120-pound match, 6-2. (Below) Junior Timothy Lyons edged out his 138-pound opponent, 3-1, in the finals seconds of the match.

LISA CAPITELLI/ OCEAN CITY TODAY

ing healthy … overall I think it’s a good win, it’s an edgy win,” Martinek said. “The team was really rooting for each other. I like to see that. They were in each other’s matches, in each other’s corners. That kind of means more sometimes than a lot of things, because that energy pays off in the [practice] room and it pays off in big dual meets that are tight.”

Decatur will host the Easton Warriors today, Friday, at 3 p.m. On Monday, the Queen Anne’s Lions will come to Berlin for a 5 p.m. competition on Decatur’s Senior Night.

“If we just keep doing what we’re doing we’ll be fine,” Martinek said.

Stephen Decatur senior Cody Drummond shut out his 132-pound opponent, 8-0, (major decision). Decatur won, 51-9, overall over the Parkside Rams on Wednesday.

LISA CAPITELLI/ OCEAN CITY TODAY

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Jan. 28, 2022) The Stephen Decatur girls’ swim team won Tuesday’s meet over the Indian River Indians, 109-57, at the Pocomoke YMCA.

The Lady Seahawks came in first place in nine of the 11 races.

“Some girls swam different events today and I was very happy with their results. We may have even found some new best events for a few girls,” said Decatur Coach Kristina Watts. “We have some work to do on keeping a positive mindset, but I am happy with the progress we are making in the season.”

Decatur swimmers who placed first in their individual events were: senior captain Sierra Wakefield (200 IM, 2:32.38), junior captain Natalie Canham (50-yard freestyle, 27.71 seconds; 100-yard butterfly, 1:07.18), junior Kayden Hamby (100-yard freestyle, 1:01.80), sophomore Trista Harner (200-yard freestyle, 2:12.43; 100-yard backstroke, 1:10.27) and freshman Vienna Williams (100-yard breaststroke, 1:22.64).

The 200-yard medley relay team of Canham, Harner, Wakefield and Williams came in first place (2:07.26). The girls were also victorious in the 200-yard freestyle relay race (1:51.71).

The Decatur boys’ team lost, 47109. The Berlin squad won three events.

Junior captain Gavin Stearn took first in the 200 IM (2:07.90) and the 100-yard freestyle (51.15 seconds).

Stearn, senior Luke Bahlman, sophomore Mason Castanares and freshman Bryce Gill earned a victory in the 200-yard medley relay race (1:57.12).

“We only had five boys today and they had like 15 or 16. I hope to get everyone back soon,” said Decatur Coach Steve Deakyne. “We had some good swims. It was a good effort. We just need to keep moving forward.”

The next swim meet is Tuesday at 3 p.m against the Kent Island Buccaneers at the Pocomoke YMCA.

Seahawks settle in and execute game plan

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Jan. 28, 2022) The Stephen Decatur boys’ basketball team’s big second quarter helped propel the Seahawks past the Washington Jaguars last Friday in Berlin.

“We were getting a feel for the game in the first quarter. Then, we settled in and executed our game plan,” Decatur Coach BJ Johnson said after the 77-45 victory. “They played good defense and rebounded the ball, which is something we’ve been focusing on. I thought we did a good job.”

Decatur led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter. The Seahawks outscored the visiting Jaguars, 26-9, in the second quarter to go into the halftime break ahead, 40-19.

After three quarters, Decatur held a 59-37 advantage. The Berlin squad added 18 points in the fourth, while Washington scored eight.

Junior Luke Mergott led Decatur with 18 points. He also had five rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Brycen Coleman chipped in with 15 points, nine rebounds and two steals.

Freshman Trybe Wise contributed with 13 points and had eight rebounds and two assists. Senior Justin Fisher had 13 points, five rebounds and four steals.

“We’re really starting to jell [and] come together. They’re starting to learn each other and play really well,” Johnson said.

Decatur will take a trip up the road to Pocomoke to play the Warriors today, Friday, at 4:30 p.m.

When the two teams met on Dec. 16 in Berlin, Decatur won, 75-57.

“We need to continue to play good defense, continue to take care of the basketball and rebound – limit them to one shot,” Johnson said. “If we do those things then we’ll be successful.”