Applewhite, Mahoney thrill Shields Elementary students

Shields Elementary recently kicked off its annual Jump Rope for Heart program as two schoolwide assemblies were held for the students and hosted by the American Heart Association. I wanted to get the students excited and bring over two well-respected basketball players, and what better two this season than the dynamic duo of freshmen Mehkia Applewhite and Morgan Mahoney from Cape Henlopen High School and the girls’ basketball program?

The girls signed a basketball, which is on display in the lobby, and will be presented to the student who raises the most donations for the American Heart Association. Next was the annual jump rope contest. I chose two students to go head-to-head with Applewhite and Mahoney as well as a staff member. Fifth-grade teacher Mallory Tartal pulled out her New York tricks and won the first contest, as Applewhite was second. Teacher Maura Johnson struggled with the jumping and is still practicing. The girls then participated in a half-court contest, in which Mahoney won with back-to-back 40-footers. Then it was off to the slam fest, as I helped them out by lowering the basket to 8 feet. Applewhite prevailed with a two-handed off-the-backboard throwdown to even up the contests. The duo then spent time in the café at Shields talking to students about the importance of healthy eating, exercise, sleep and making good choices.

Shields raised just over $5,000 last year for the American Heart Association, and we are hoping to top that number this time around. During physical education class, the students will participate in many jumping activities, including single jump roping, double jump roping, long jumping, triple jumping and box jumps, to name a few. At the same time, the students will be learning about their heart and the positive effects of eating well, sleeping well and exercising on the body. 

It was a great day at Shields with the American Heart Association and the basketball dynamic duo of Applewhite and Mahoney.

Middle School track opens March 22

The opening meet for the middle school season will take place Friday, March 22, beginning at 4 p.m., with the largest kickoff meet there has ever been, as five teams will head to the track for three hours of track and field.

Hosts Mariner and Beacon will welcome Millsboro, Georgetown and Milford to Legends Stadium for 13 middle school events, ranging from the 55-meter hurdles to the 1,600-meter run on the track as well as the high, long, and triple jumps, plus shot and discus in the field.

“It’s early in the season and there will be a lot of kids competing for the first time, so it should be a very interesting meet,” said coach Gilbert Maull. “There will be nearly 600 middle school athletes and spectators, which may put us over 1,000 people at the stadium.”

The Cape High School team will open its season Monday, March 25, at Sussex Central in Georgetown against a team coached by locals Derek Shockro and Jen Cawthern.

Andrew O’Boyle recalls the past

Former Sussex Tech runner Andrew O’Boyle was the first runner coach Lou Nicoletti ever had in the early ’90s. Coach Nic got the program going with the help of O’Boyle and the hallway search of four other runners to give the Ravens a team of five and a reason to compete in the Henlopen Conference.

“Coach Nic is the most influential male figure that has been involved in my life,” said O’Boyle. “I will never forget the early teams and the success we had under coach Nic.”

O’Boyle ran the Run for Coach Nic 5K March 9 at Sussex Tech in his team T-shirt from his senior year.

Shamrock Shuffle 10-Miler & 5K on Sunday

The annual Shamrock Shuffle 10-Miler and 5K will take off at 9 a.m., Sunday, March 17, from behind Tanger Outlets Seaside at the Junction & Breakwater Trailhead in Rehoboth Beach. Race-day registration and packet pickup begins at 7:30 a.m. The beautiful course takes off on the trail heading north to Lewes, then goes through the Hawkseye and Senators communities on the trail before turning around at the five-mile mark across from the Lewes library. More race information can be found at www.seashorestriders.com.