Athletes of the Week Aug. 30

August 30, 2024

Trey Batson

Trey is a versatile football stud and only a junior at Cape. He is 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, and he can move. He lines up mostly at defensive end, but he can really play anywhere on both sides of the line of scrimmage. “Trey will be a handful for any opposing offensive line to handle,” said Cape football coach Mike Frederick. “He is strong, fast and physical.” As a junior, he is now providing depth in multiple positions on offense as well. Frederick elaborated, “Trey has huge upside at the next level. He flew under the radar defensively for Cape during the deep run last year. He typically matches up against the opponent’s best offensive linemen. Trey has had a really good preseason, and I expect teams throughout the state will need to game plan against him. Trey is a terrific student as well.”

Xzavier Bennett

In just his third year of playing organized football, Xzavier Bennett has turned into a czar, or rather a Xzar, on the football field doing what he wants when he wants. During Cape Elite's Aug. 17 scrimmage against Snow Hill, Bennett was one of many to exact revenge following last year's sweep of all four age groups at the hands of the visitors. This year, the script flipped, and thanks to Bennett piling up tackles for loss, a few sacks and being a menace on the defensive line, all four teams won their battles. Transferring from Milford to Beacon this year, Bennett is now a scholastic Viking in addition to being a Cape Elite Viking. The 13-year-old is a New York Giants fan whose favorite former player is Lawerence Taylor and favorite current player is Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Bodie Frederick

Bodie is entering his senior year and his third consecutive football season as a Cape kid. Bodeman came to Cape with his coach/dad Mike Frederick; his three older sisters graduated from Owen J. Roberts in Chester County, Pa. Bodie is a force at left offensive tackle, but he can also play center and long snap. And he will get his reps on defense as well. Dedicated to the weight room along with a growth spurt, Bodie is 60 pounds bigger than during his sophomore season. He claims 6-foot-2 and about 265 pounds, but he looks and plays much bigger. He has been bothered by back issues during preseason, so coaches have been careful to limit his scrimmage reps. Bodie played just six plays in a scrimmage at Delaware Military Academy, later joking, “I was the best player on the field for those six plays.”

Adrian Thomas

Adrian Thomas, 44, ran a personal-best time of 21:55 to win his age group Aug. 25 at the WaterMel Run 5K at Lewes American Legion Post 17. Afterward, he rang the PB bell as family members took his photo. "My wife's belief in me that I could do this was my inspiration," Adrian said, seizing the moment. A native of Princess Anne, Md., he was a track athlete at Washington High School, running the 100 and 400 meters as a member of the Class of 1998. Adrian graduated from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore with a BA in business administration. He is employed at the corporate office of Perdue Farms in Salisbury, Md., serving as the senior credit analyst. “I rekindled my passion for running 10 years ago, participating in 5K races throughout Delmarva,” Adrian said. “My current passions are faith, family and running.”