Sports

Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com Feb. 4, 2022 Page 47

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY (Left) Worcester Prep Coach Mike Kelley goes over a few things before the girls head back onto the court for the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game against Gunston in Berlin. (Right) Senior captain Lily Baeurle makes a layup. She scored 13 points in Worcester’s 37-32 win.

Boys settle down, start hitting shots and win, 60-32

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Feb. 4, 2022) It had been three weeks since the Worcester Prep boys’ basketball team’s last competition, when the Mallards stepped on the court on Wednesday to battle the Gunston School Herons. The last time the boys played a game was on Jan. 12. The school then had a week of semester exams, followed by a week off for winter break. School was closed because of snow on Monday, so the Mallards got in only one practice before their match with Gunston in Centreville.

Worcester held an 11-9 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

“We missed shots early – we missed our first four layups – but then we finally settled down and we started making our shots,” said Prep Coach Pat Moylan. “They were ready to play. We had good energy the whole game. Everyone got to play and everyone contributed.”

The Prep squad pulled ahead in the second quarter, and at halftime led 25-16. After three quarters, Worcester was on top, 44-20. The Mallards won, 60-32.

Junior Harrison Humes led Worcester with 17 points. Junior Jack Gardner scored 11 and junior captain Griffin Jones chipped in with 10 points.

“Defense was excellent. They created a lot of turnovers,” Moylan said. “We started converting the steals and making our shots in the second half.”

Worcester will host the Salisbury School Dragons today, Friday, at 6 p.m. The team’s five seniors will be recognized. The Mallards are looking forward to the rematch after their 6562 loss to Salisbury on Jan. 12.

Pat Moylan

The Berlin squad will have two games on the road next week before the playoffs begin the following week.

“We need to keep playing hard, play good defense and keep executing,” Moylan said. “We need to continue to make good shots and not rush and not panic. We need to convert fast-break opportunities. If we do all that I think we can beat anyone in the conference.”

Lady Mallards take down Herons

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Feb. 4, 2022) The Worcester Prep girls’ basketball team returned to the court on Wednesday after a long break, and came away with a 37-32 victory over the Gunston School Herons in Berlin.

The last time the girls played a game was on Jan. 12. The school then had a week of semester exams before it was closed last week for winter break. The Lady Mallards had one practice Tuesday before Wednesday’s match.

“It was a long break. This is really our second day back after almost three weeks off,” Prep Coach Mike Kelley said after the game. “We were expecting some rust but I told them our defense is going to be what carries us, and it did.

“The defense definitely kept us in the game. Our defense made it difficult for the other team and it slowed them down enough that they weren’t able to mount any type of comeback,” he continued. “We actually shot a little better than I thought we would, which was nice.”

Worcester led 6-4 at the end of the first quarter. At halftime, the Berlin squad was ahead, 15-11. After three quarters, the Prep team held a 24-17 advantage.

Senior captain Lily Baeurle led the team with 13 points. Senior captain Myranda Beebe chipped in with seven points, and senior captain Morgan White and senior Natalie Brushmiller scored five each.

“Our passing was pretty crisp,” Kelley said. “Our girls were protecting the ball fairly well and making good passes, which compared to the beginning of the season our passes were terrible, so I feel like we’re making much better decisions with the ball and that’s a very positive thing at this point running up to the playoffs.”

Worcester will host the Salisbury School Dragons today, Friday, at 4:30 p.m. in Berlin. The team’s seniors will be recognized that evening.

When the two teams met on Jan. 12 in Salisbury, Worcester came on strong in the second half to win, 45-27.

The Mallards will have three games on the road next week before the playoffs start the following week.

Decatur swim squads to compete in Bayside meet

Coach pleased with effort in final meet of regular season

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Feb. 4, 2022) The Stephen Decatur swim teams won a majority of the events during its meet against the Kent Island Buccaneers on Tuesday at the Pocomoke YMCA.

The Lady Seahawks came in first place in seven of the 11 races, and earned a 107-61 victory.

Decatur swimmers who won their events were: senior captain Sierra Wakefield (100yard butterfly, 1:07.06), junior captain Natalie Canham (200-yard freestyle, 2:15.02; 100-yard backstroke, 1:09.34), and sophomore Trista Harner (50-yard freestyle, 26.59 seconds; 100-yard freestyle, 58.54 seconds).

The 200-yard medley relay team of Canham, Harner, Wakefield and freshman Vienna Williams outswam their competition (2:05.40).

Junior Kayden Hamby joined Canham, Harner and Wakefield for the 400-yard freestyle relay race. The girls won in 4:03.88.

“We had eight best times today. We’ve had eight to 12 [best times] every meet, which is good. We’re making good progress,” said Decatur Coach Kristina Watts. “We’ve been trying to mix up the events they’ve been swimming in to get times for the different races for the [upcoming] championship meets. We’re trying to see who is best where. They’re handling the new events well. I’m happy overall. You can see who’s putting in the focus and effort.”

The Decatur boys’ team won eight events, but lost the overall meet, 6670.

“The boys came up a little short, but they swam well. We had a few best times, so that was good. It was close the whole way,” said Decatur Coach Steve Deakyne. “We won more events, but there were a couple events they

outscored us by quite a bit. If we had a few more boys we could have won the meet.” Winning their events were: sophomores Mason Castanares (200-yard freestyle, 2:16.85) and Daniel Karchewski (100-yard butterfly, 55.94 seconds; 100-yard backstroke, 1:02), and junior captain Gavin Stearn (200 IM, 2:20.34; 100-yard breaststroke, 1:05.13). Castanares, Karchewski, Stearn and freshman Bryce Gill took first in the 200-yard medley relay race (1:53.97). They also won the 200-yard freestyle relay race (1:43.59). Castanares, Gill, sophomore Chase Kristina Watts Ponton and senior captain Alec McCabe scored a victory in the 400-yard freestyle relay race (4:46.16). “Everyone did well. They’re working hard to get ready for Baysides on Saturday,” Deakyne said. Decatur will compete in the Bayside Conference championship meet on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. at the Steve Deakyne Dorchester YMCA. Both Decatur coaches said Easton is favored in the boys’ and girls’ competitions. Watts said Easton is the strongest team Decatur has seen this season. The goal for the girls’ squad is to place in the top three at Baysides. “So many places score, so it can go a lot of ways,” Watts said. “We have a lot of depth. We can fill the lineup, so it will be a good, close meet. We’ll be up there in the running.” The top 16 finishers in each race will score points for their respective teams. “We’ve been working on turns. We’re strong in the laps, but in turns teams are catching us and making races closer than the should be,” Watts said. “We need to keep positive, motivational thoughts and focus on themselves and not their competitors.” Deakyne said he is looking forward to the competition. Since Decatur has a small team this year it will be difficult to win Baysides, so the focus for the boys is to do their best individually. “They’ll be up against the best competition in the conference. We’re hoping for a few best times. When you go up against good competition you swim faster,” he said. By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Feb. 4, 2022) The Stephen Decatur boys’ indoor track team came in third place and the girls’ squad finished in fifth during the last meet of the regular season, held Jan. 26 at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill.

“I was happy with the effort given by both teams,” said Decatur Coach Brenda Hommel. “It was great to see the boys come in third place… The girls’ team was still down a few runners, but worked together to fill the relays and pull out a fifth-place score overall.”

Kent Island won the boys’ competition, scoring 85 points. Easton was second with 73 points, followed by Decatur with 52.

Decatur athletes who scored points for the team for placing eighth or better were: seniors Owen Mielnik (pole vault, first, 13 feet 6 inches) and Tristan Dutton (800-meter run, second, 2:13.89; 1,600-meter run, second, 4:57.15), junior Xavier Arnold (shot put, fourth, 33 feet 10 inches) and sophomore Ethan Justice (800meter run, first, 2:11.37; 1,600-meter run, fourth, 5:06.07).

“I was especially happy to see Owen Mielnik clear 13’ 6” in pole vault, which he will need to clear in order to perform well in the regional meet,” Hommel said. “Our boys shot putter, Xavier Arnold, is making great strides for the season coming in fourth at the meet. Tristan Dutton and Ethan Justice continue to perform well in the 800m and 1,600m runs. They will have some strong competition at the regional meet and are working hard to prepare to run personal records in these events.”

Juniors Riley Calloway and Conner Herr, senior Jay McCarter and freshman Brandon Fitzgerald placed sixth in the 800-meter relay race (1:49.20).

Junior Shiloh Carmack, senior Gavin Weeks and freshmen Brian

Herbert and Brandon Karvoski took seventh in the 3,200-meter relay race (11:05.40). Fitzgerald, Herr, Calloway and Dutton finished eighth in the 1,600meter relay race (4:19.18). Parkside won the girls’ competition, tallying 114 points. Kent Island was runner-up with 93 points, followed by James M. Bennett (62), Easton (58) and Decatur (46). Decatur Lady Seahawks who earned points for finishing eighth or better were: senior Rachel Peretz (shot put, fourth, 24 feet 7 inches), junior Carolina Novelli (3,200-meter run, fourth, 14:17.53), sophomores Brenda Hommel Tiara McDonald (300-meter dash, third, 46.39 seconds; 500-meter run, third, 1:29.87) and Macy Woroniecki (3,200-meter run, third, 14:07.24; 800-meter run, seventh, 2:59.59) and freshmen Amber Marshall (1,600-meter run, sixth, 6:53.74) and Clarice Piela (1,600-meter run, eighth, 7:10.74). Novelli, Marshall, Woroniecki and junior Breanne Ferguson placed third in the 3,200-meter relay race (11:57.74). McDonald, Novelli, Ferguson and sophomore Kyleigh Powell finished fifth in the 1,600-meter relay race (5:09.38). Peretz, Powell, Ferguson and senior Mia Schwind came in eighth in the 800-meter relay race (2:12.64). “The 4 by 800 relay continues to run well as our strongest relay team, placing third in the meet. The distance runners on the girls’ team in particular are continuing to work hard to improve their times,” Hommel said. “Macy Woroniecki achieved personal record times in the 800m and the 3,200m runs. She was able to break 3 minutes in the 800m and continues to work to break 14 minutes in the 3,200m. I look forward to taking them to the regional meet where they will hopefully be further inspired by the competition they will face at the meet.” The 3A East Regional meet will be held at the Baltimore Armory on Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m. The 3A state meet take place at the same location on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Lady Seahawks go on 18-0 run in second half, earn big 58-42 victory over QA Lions

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Feb. 4, 2022) Both the Stephen Decatur and Queen Anne’s girls’ basketball teams were undefeated going into Tuesday’s game in Centreville. The Decatur Lady Seahawks left still with an unblemished record.

“It was a huge win,” Decatur Coach Scott Kurtz said after the 58-42 victory. “We were the only two unbeaten teams left. They were undefeated and rolling through the North [Bayside Conference], so this was a chance to see who is the best in the Bayside.”

Kurtz said the game plan was to limit Queen Anne’s top player, center, senior Kendall Moxey, as an option for her team. Junior captain Mayah Garner was assigned to guard her, but then she got into foul trouble, so senior captain Nadia Bullock took over.

“We knew about her game and what she’s capable of,” Kurtz said. “No team in the North could stop her.”

The first quarter was a back-andforth battle, but Decatur came out ahead, 15-11. At halftime, the Seahawks led 28-22.

Decatur started and 18-0 run in the middle of the third quarter and it continued into the fourth.

The Berlin squad netted three threes – two by freshman Sam Boger and one by Bullock – to go into the fourth quarter with a 43-33 advantage.

“We opened it up with a 9-0 run, then we got six points, and they couldn’t stop us,” Kurtz said. “It was so close, then the next thing we knew we were up 10, 15 then 18. They had no answer for us at the other end of the court.”

Decatur’s full-court man-to-man defense proved very successful throughout the game.

“Our press worked very well. Kendall was our focal point, and we had [junior] Shelby Rosemond on their point guard. She took her out of the game,” Kurtz said. “The energy and effort she put forth helped pump up the girls.”

Bullock led Decatur with 19 points. Garner and Boger had 12 points each and freshman Allison Swift scored 11.

“The girls rose to the occasion. It was a full team effort. We knew we were the better team and if the scheme we came up with worked we would be successful.” Kurtz said. “The girls are exhausted. I couldn’t be more proud of the way they attacked the rim and rebounded. They were all in there fighting as one.”

Decatur’s next game is Monday in Ridgely against the North Caroline Bulldogs at 5:30 p.m. The Seahawks will then host the Washington Jaguars on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Scott Kurtz

Decatur wrestling squad to host regional dual meet

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Feb. 4, 2022) Despite it not being their best display of skills, the Stephen Decatur wrestlers still dominated and won, 70-9, over the North Caroline Bulldogs on Wednesday in Ridgely.

“Overall, it wasn’t our best performance. The two matches that were contested, we lost both,” said Decatur Coach Todd Martinek. “If we want to defend our regional title [next week] we need to wrestle bet-

ter.”

Decatur wrestlers who pinned their opponents were: freshmen Aaron August (113 pounds) and Liam Hugues (120), sophomores Reid Caimi (126), Gavin Solito (145) and Parker Intrieri (170), seniors Cody Drummond (132) and Henry Brous (220), and senior captains Noah Reho (182) and Alex Koulikov (195).

Junior Timothy Lyons outscored his 138-pound opponent, 11-2, earning a major decision.

North Caroline earned a pin at 285 pounds and a decision at 152 pounds. The Bulldogs forfeited the 106- and 160-pound matches.

Martinek thought the best performance of the night was by Caimi, who pinned his 126-pound opponent in 54 seconds.

Decatur will take a trip to Salisbury to compete against the James M. Bennett Clippers today, Friday, at 5 p.m.

The Seahawks will host the Queen Anne’s Lions on Saturday at noon in Berlin. Decatur will honor its seniors during the competition.

On Monday, Decatur will host the Kent Island Buccaneers for the first round of the 2A East Regional duals at 5:30 p.m. Eight teams are competing in the dual tournament, and all were seeded by random draw.

Decatur – the reigning regional champs – drew the No. 1 spot and Kent Island got the eighth seed. When the two met on Jan. 19 in Stevensville, Decatur won, 49-24.

If the Seahawks win on Monday, they will host the remaining four teams for the regional championship on Wednesday.

“We need to show our technique from the [practice] room, we need to be more consistent with our conditioning, and we need to win the simple wrestling positions,” Martinek said. “We’re trying to get healthy. If we wrestle our best we can beat anybody.”

Todd Martinek

DECATUR HOOPS

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY

Stephen Decatur senior captain Joe Buxbaum grabs a rebound during Tuesday’s game against Queen Anne’s in Berlin. Decatur came up a bit short, losing 46-50.

OC winter surfing calls for quality surfwear

By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer (Feb. 4, 2022) Our last column began with the emphasis on winter surfing and morphed into an overview of potentially needed wetsuit gear for anytime of the year.

Many people think of surfing only in warmer times of the year and/or in places in the world that stay warm yearround.

In my opinion, there is no one season for surfing in this area. It can happen at any time of the year.

Sure there are seasons where the potential for waves are better than others, but this notion can often be nullified when a good swell hits when one least expects it.

Be that as it may, this column will really concentrate on winter surfing. After all, we currently find ourselves in the clutches of winter and all that it offers or conversely takes away. As the saying goes, there is no bad weather only bad clothes, or in this case, only bad wetsuits. A decent quality, well-fitting wetsuit is essential for surfing in this area in the winter. Some get away with the thinner 3mm variety, but a suit of at least 4mm in thickness coupled with boots, gloves and a cap or hood is the way to go.

These accessory pieces for the hands, feet and head should also be of greater thickness in order to adequately contain one’s body heat and insulate properly. I personally like a suit with an attached hood.

Not only will it cover the head, but also the neck to provide a cocoon-like environment with only the face exposed.

In this manner, the surfer can be ready for just about anything Mother Nature throws his or her way.

Good wetsuit gear becomes as important as a good board. In cases of extreme temperatures, hypothermia can become a very serious condition.

I always remember a television ad from the Department of Natural Resources. It’s message was “cold water kills.”

A human being can die in 55-degree water if immersed for as little as a half hour. Don’t forget that we’re talking about water in the 40’s around here in the winter time and it can easily dip into the 30’s in certain cases.

There are also some little tricks that can be employed to ease off the discomfort of the cold.

Park a car to where the sun can be fully exposed to the windshield to warm the vehicle via passive solar on a surf day that is hopefully sunny and bright.

Find a place that’s out of the wind to remove wetsuit gear after a session and dry off quickly. Have a water-tight container to protect a vehicle from the water and salt that comes with a wet wetsuit. Even something as simple as a five-gallon bucket will suffice.

Suit up in a warm place, at home for instance. To stay warm it’s a good idea to start warm. I’ve even heard of people bringing warm/hot water along to help in warming up after a session. Plan to get to a warm shower as soon as possible.

Winter surfing is a special experience despite it being counter intuitive. Those that practice it know what I’m referring to. It separates the committed from the casual and will go a long way in keeping in tune and maintaining an edge in one’s surfing.

Surely it will cost a bit more money, but the benefit will more than outweigh the expense.

Serving Maryland and Delaware OFFERING COMPETITIVE PAY AND BENEFITS CALL US TODAY AT 410-641-1434 OR APPLY ONLINE ARCTICHEATANDAIR.COM Ocean City receives official praise from youth sports org

(Feb. 4, 2022) Ocean City has joined an elite group of organizations from around the world having recently been designated as a “Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider” by the National Youth Sports Alliance (NAYS).

Through an extensive review process, NAYS has recognized Ocean City Recreation and Parks as meeting or exceeding the highest standard of excellence for youth sports league offerings.

Northside Park on 125th Street, plays host to over 1,000 local schoolaged athletes each year who partake in flag football, soccer, basketball, and futsal leagues. With the help of dedicated and certified volunteer coaches, children learn the fundamentals of the sport, enjoy some healthy competition and most importantly, learn how to display characteristics of sportsmanship, teamwork and hard work.

“We are very honored to receive this designation,” said Recreation Superintendent Kate Gaddis. “Our staff and volunteer coaches work very hard to provide the best experiences possible to kids participating in our programs. We strive for our youth clinics and leagues to give education and introduction to sports, provide a positive competitive experience to learn and grow, and most of all we want kids to be active and have fun.”

To learn more about Ocean City Recreation and Parks, visit www.oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/recreation-parks/.