Is that money flying around or is it just sitting there?

OFF CAMERA - Cape wrestling coach Dale Eckrote locked up with his freshman son Ian just off the corner of mat 2 during the semifinals of last Saturday’s Henlopen Wrestling Championships as one generation tried to toss the other, but I could tell each grappler was at less than full speed.

And then they turned to watch a match with Ian having his arm around his father’s back and shoulder. Perhaps it is natural to see such affection shown by a son for his father, but it’s not a common sight at a wrestling tournament because most relationships go into battle station mode and don’t come back out.

EARMARKED – Let’s say on a project as big as the building of a new high school that somewhere there’s a million dollars not designated but lost if not spent. Is that money flying around or just sitting there?

In the case of Cape Henlopen would the community rather see a second turf field bracketed by the bleachers of the old stadium giving the Vikings two stadiums or see the Little Big House left standing with a million dollars to operate it for the community interests? Whatever the decision, both seem like winners. The bigger question is, “Who gets to make it?”

SOUNDS OF TALENT - The Rehoboth Elementary School’s production of “The Sound of Music” last weekend brought tears to me eyes and not because I was wedged into my theater seat and couldn’t get out. It was all those beautiful and talented children singing such wonderful music and, being a sports guy, I am always impressed when talent is discovered then harnessed into a production that puts smiles on the faces of kids.

We all know about No Child Left Behind, but the other end of that is the children who leave adults way behind as the sound of music in my household growing up was me on the piano playing the four keys of the “Dragnet” theme.

SCHOOL FIRST SPORTS SECOND - Everyone in athletics knows that school choice is really sports choice and no one goes into transportation and financial hardship mode to take advantage of a better science program. I tell parents of college-bound athletes that if there is no reason for a kid to go to a school besides a sport then they shouldn’t go there, which is why the University of Delaware has a fulltime person who does nothing but help Delaware kids transition back to the Blue Hen flock which often requires a Delaware Tech Roadrunner cap. I can look into the future and look back and see athletes who left home schools because the parents believe the kid will have a better experience someplace else. Sometimes behind the scenes at receiving schools coaches are saying, “I’m getting a great kid who comes with a crazy and over-the-top parent.”

PAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS - Here are some past Henlopen Conference wrestling champions of interest to me, which is how life works when you have your own column. Phil Shultie, Sussex Central 1971 at 107 would later coach his team to a state title and his son Brandon to a pair of conference titles. Willie Vann, Cape 1973 at 123; Joe Gibbs, Cape 1973 at 180; Tyrone Gibbs, Cape 1974-76 at 185; Joe Booth, Sussex Central 1975-76 at heavyweight; John Doney, Cape 1976 at 96; Randy Johnson, Cape 1977 at 138; Perry Walls, Cape 1978 at 105; Charles Turner, Cape 1980 at 167; Keith Dawson, Cape 1987 at 112; Andy Nowakowski, Cape 1989 at 160 and 1990 at 171; Bill Blakeney, Cape 1990 at 103; Jon Lobiondo, Cape 1990 at 189; Baron Vincent, Cape 1990-91 at heavyweight; Shawniel Williams, Cape 1991 at 119; Jared Hill, Cape 1991-92 at 125; Matt Wiggins, Cape 1992 at 152; Frank Payton, Cape 1997 at 171; Matt Martin, Cape 1998 at 152; Matt Graviet, Cape 1999 at heavyweight; Bobby Hopkins, Cape 2005 at 171; and Travis Dorman at 140 and Brian Riggin at 215, Cape 2006. Hook
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SNIPPETS - Randy Johnson, Cape’s 1976-77 athlete who won six varsity letters his senior year and won individual state titles in track - pole vault - and wrestling at 138 pounds, has been named the new head coach of the Caravel softball team. “They’ve been in the state finals the last nine years and already we have six players signed to Division 1 programs,” Johnson said. “But you know me,; I’m not afraid of a challenge or to be out there in the middle of the action.”

Johnson is known throughout the Delaware travel ball circuit and has been known to jump on a plane - hopefully inside - to go watch one of his players perform in college.
Erin Williams, Cape’s and Delaware’s soccer player of the year her senior season, is now in her fifth year at Drexel University closing in on her master’s degree in environmental engineering. Erin told me she is thinking of taking a job with the Philadelphia Water Department and I had to inform Erin the word in Philly is pronounced wooder.

Speaking of Phillly pronunciations, my granddaughter Katie did her two source report for second-grade teacher Charlene Jones on the porcupine. I had to inform Katie afterwards that she did a great job, but the animal is actually better known by her grandfather as a porkypine.

Here’s a question: How many wrestlers do you know who excelled in high school and went on to wrestle all four years in college? Holler back!