Robinson family presented with autographed ball from Riders and Vikings

Tess Bernheimer – The freshman Drexel Dragon was selected Rookie of the Year for the Colonial Athletic Conference. She was the only freshman to be selected to first-team all-conference. I am told Tess was "a little shocked," but down here “we” are not shocked. We had her slotted for hockey greatness when she was a Beacon sixth-grader.

Travis Manion Tournament - The Cape wrestling team crowned champions Anthony Caruso and Max Norquest at the Travis Manion Wrestling Tournament Dec. 10 at LaSalle High School in Wyndmoor, Pa., located in Montgomery County outside of Philadelphia. Kennard Dale High School was the overall team winner, while the Vikings placed second. Andre Currie, Vinnie Diego, Dante Jacquet, Cory Lawson, Chris Handlin and Holden Kammerer all made it to the championship round and placed second. Mark Kenestaut and Zack Flores finished third. Cape only brought 11 wrestlers for 14 weight classes, and 10 of them placed. Travis Manion was a LaSalle High three-sport athlete, earning all-Catholic in wrestling and lacrosse. He graduated in 1999 and went to the Naval Academy, where he wrestled and graduated in 2004. He then moved into the Marine Corps as a lieutenant and was killed during his second tour of duty in Iraq. Manion had volunteered for a dangerous mission to protect his men and is quoted as saying, “If not me, then who?” Cape has a monster match this Wednesday at Caesar Rodney. 

A hundred thousand race photos - Looking back over the 2016 road racing calendar, I conservatively calculate that I took 100,000 photos of starts and finishes because I stay to the end, figuring if anyone has the courage to run I have the stamina to wait for them to return, which is why I introduced a chair into my repertoire of gadgets and props. But now I’m thinking of writing a novel – no, I’m not - don’t be that guy – my resolution is to keep doing what I’m doing until I don’t know what I’m doing or can’t do it no more. Just somebody please give me a heads-up.

Snippets - Local runner Darin Slade ran the Honolulu Marathon, completing his mission of running 50 marathons in 50 states. Darin is the guy who runs fast, gets a bottle of water and brings it back to me taking pictures at the finish and says, “Here, Fredman, you have to hydrate as well.” I’m feeling those good hydrations - way to go, Darin. Sonja Friend-Uhl, 1989 Cape and 1993 William and Mary, running for Atlanta Track Club Elite, is U.S. Track and Field Masters National Cross Country Champion after running the 6K course in 20:15 (5:58 mile pace) in Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. Sonja, 45, with a birthday in March, reports there were about 200 runners in the masters women's race. “I think 30 in my specific age group,” she said. Her official title is USATF National Masters Women's Cross Country Champion. Robert “Old Guard” Mitchell, 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, was the minuteman Friday night coming off the bench at mop-up time, as Cape basketball closed out Caesar Rodney. But I saw a big old weapon with good feet, an enforcer and crowd favorite, an energizer. I don’t like the term space eater unless you’re an astronaut. Some NBA enforcement guys were Clyde Lovellette, Alonzo Mourning, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, Rick Mahorn, Maurice Lucas, Al Attles, Kenyon Martin, Wilt Chamberlain, Willis Reed and my personal favorite “Jungle” Jim Loscutoff from the Boston Celtics. The best low-post big man I ever saw play was Roman “Big Doc ” Turmon, 1961-62 for the Allentown Jets of the Eastern Basketball League. Back that booty down, turn around and shoot. I saw him score 40 without a single dunk. Roman was on the league’s 50th anniversary team. He was from Shady Dale, Ga. Go on now, git!