Sports is where the eternal present intersects the storied past

Jake Mundok - Let’s catch up to the senior SUNY Maritime All-Skyline Conference cross country runner straight out of Lewes and Sussex Academy. I wrote the following about Jake in February 2020: “Fly Like an Eagle - Jake Mundok is an Eagle Scout, surfer and distance runner from Sussex Academy and Lewes who has earned 21 merit badges. I know him from cross country and indoor track. He’s one of those mentally and physically fit athletes and tough competitors on the sports scene. If there were an Academy of Lifelong Learning and Fitness, a guy like Jake would matriculate every day. Jake placed fifth in the 1,600 meters at the Henlopen Conference Indoor Championships in a time of 4:50 and fifth in the 3,200 in 10:40.” And now in the fall of 2023, Jake was named first-team All-Skyline after leading the Maritime College men's cross country team to fourth place at the Skyline Conference Championships Oct. 22. He captured fifth place individually after completing the 8,000-meter course at the Hudson Valley Sports Dome in 29:16.8. This is Mundok's third consecutive All-Skyline selection. He earned a place on the second team in both 2021 and 2022.

Merle “Mike” Werley - I met Merle along the fence Tuesday night at Champions Stadium. She was introduced by her daughter, coach Jenna Werley Burkhart, who is married to band director Chris Burkhart. I knew Merle had a big-time lacrosse pedigree because Jenna told me all about it, but I couldn't get her to talk about her past. She joked, “I have a good memory, it's just short. And by the way, what did you say your name was again?” Below is her USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame bio from her induction in 2003, just 20 years ago: Merle "Mike" McCallister Werley was captain of the 1972 team at West Chester University and spent eight years (1972-79) with the U.S. National Team. She played on the 1975 U.S. touring team and served as captain of the 1978 U.S. touring team. She later served as an assistant coach for the 1980 U.S. squad in a series against England. As a two-sport star at West Chester, Werley was named all-college in lacrosse 1971 and 1972 while earning the same distinction in field hockey in 1971. Werley served as team captain for both squads during her senior season. The Golden Rams’ lacrosse and field hockey teams posted a combined record of 31-4-7 (.821) during her playing days. Werley enjoyed a career of over 30 years as a physical education teacher at Conestoga (Pa.) High School and also coached high school lacrosse for three decades, serving as a coach at Baldwin, Conestoga and Springfield high schools in Pennsylvania. She has been inducted into six halls of fame, including the Pennsylvania State Hall of Fame, U.S. Lacrosse Philadelphia Chapter Hall of Fame, Conestoga High School Hall of Fame and the West Chester University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Neptune Factor - There is a game-day team psyche in all sports that defies analysis but helps explain mysterious performances. I call it the Neptune Factor, where you look into the collective faces of a team and they look back at you like they are from the planet Neptune. The Phillies are getting fan mail addressed to the Camden Aquarium because they all went to the bottom of the tank, going belly up like carps in a polluted pond. I told younger fans, “If you missed 1964, you will always have 2023.” Angst, but no thanks.

Five quarters - The Cape JV football team remained unbeaten (6-0) Oct. 23, driving 98 yards with 90 seconds remaining, going no huddle with no timeouts. Trailing 15-14, quarterback Mikey Thompson engineered the drive, hitting Navin Duffy with the game-winning touchdown pass with just seconds on the clock. Ozmeer Daisey ran for the two-point conversion and made it 22-15. AJ Mosley returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and also scored on a first-quarter touchdown reception. The team next plays at Smyrna at 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 30. A player is limited to five quarters of play per week, including varsity and JV. That rule prevents programs from dropping down varsity players for the purpose of winning a JV game.

Snippets - Sandhill Fields is a 56-acre destination for cross country meets, soccer and lacrosse games, and pickleball matches. And an indoor field house is coming. Just a jewel of a venue thanks to Joe Schell, Sussex Sports Center Foundation president. I know Joe, and we are simpatico. There was a VIP pre-opening event for stakeholders Sept. 2, 2020. I must have been busy that day. I live in a world of fit people, people of healthy mind and body, so I get a skewed perspective thinking that's the way most people rock their world, but the medical muppets confide in me that I am wrong. I just don’t know the lethargic and sedentary class of people, because they are not out there at races and play days. Go on now, git!