CAPE HENRY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
KEEGAN McLAUGHLIN

The Cape Henry boys swim team has met every preseason expectation that was sent its way, and some were quite lofty. The Dolphins have all but dominated their competition in 2010. As of Thursday their record is 11-3, with their only swimming losses coming at the hands of talented St. Christopher’s and Richmond Collegiate teams, and a big reason why has been the effort of this week’s Athlete of the Week, Keegan McLaughlin.

“Keegan has been great to work with this year,” head coach Josh Fulton said of the talented senior. “He is an extreme talent that is athletic enough to take his swimming anywhere. Keegan has been a huge help to this team because of his strong will to win.”

The will to win pushed McLaughlin to work harder and gain speed in the pool, and he is doing just that during his final year at Cape Henry. In the last week of competition the Dolphins had two meets (last Tuesday and Friday), and they flat out dominated the competition. Cape Henry swept Norfolk Collegiate, Hampton Roads Academy and Trinity Episcopal on Tuesday, and it followed that effort by cruising through the swimming events at Norfolk Academy on Friday. Cape Henry earned three more swimming victories against the Bulldogs, Norfolk Christian and Peninsula Catholic (NA won the meet by earning diving points). McLaughlin was a big reason why the team has had such success.

“His performances at NA were a real treat to watch,” Fulton continued “He stepped it up another notch for his team; that internal desire to be a champion took over and he swam great.”

Individually, McLaughlin won the 200 Freestyle in a time of 1:48.57, and he won the 100 Freestyle in a time of 48.69—Keegan didn’t just win, though, he broke records. His 100 Freestyle victory broke the school record that was previously owned by Robert Knuth. In addition to those impressive results, McLaughlin was part of the 200 Freestyle Relay team that broke another school record.

“Robert and Keegan have a great rivalry and really push each other to get better,” Fulton said of the senior duo. “The biggest swim was of the foursome of Robert Knuth, Max Serpe, Josh Cooper and Keegan in the 200 Free Relay. They beat NA, the best team in the TCIS in that event—not anymore, and they broke a school record that has been on the books for 10 years.”

McLaughlin and the Dolphins have been impressive in their focused determination to march through conference and state opponents this year, and a lot of that success comes from the senior leadership, including that of McLaughlin

“He is an athlete that I have full confidence to put at the end of relays and know he is going to lay it on the line for his team and get his hand on the wall first,” Fulton finished. “His leadership has been impeccable. When healthy he has led by example every practice and every meet. He has shown our younger swimmers what its like to be a competitor.”

These are the intangibles that have allowed McLaughlin the level of success that he has earned thus far, and those same intangibles look to carry him to future success. Keegan was last year’s 200 Freestyle TCIS champion and looks to repeat that performance this year. He also is the favorite in the 100 Freestyle at the TCIS meet. He was a top eight finisher last season at VSIS state meet last year, and he has a shot to be a top three finisher and compete for an individual title this year.

The goals to close out the 2010 campaign remain lofty, but with talent like McLaughlin’s they are all within reach.

CAPE HENRY WRESTLING DOMINATES CATHOLIC

The Dolphins traveled to Bishop Sullivan last night looking to protect their undefeated conference record, and they did just that with a 61-18 victory. Cape Henry dominated Catholic, winning 10 matches and grabbing one forfeit. Of their 10 wins eight were by way of pin. Pins came from Will Mason, Taylor Calley, Josh Lim, Scott Cunningham, Thomas Armistead, Christian Law, Kyle McCammon and Sam Law. Greg Noordanus and Jake Kantor earned decisions, and Russell Sanders won by way of forfeit.

GIRLS BASKETBALL HOLDS OFF PESKY HAMPTON CHRISTIAN SQUAD
TO MAINTAIN UNDEFEATED RECORD

Cape Henry, the #5 seed in Virginia's state private school Division 2 poll, hosted Hampton Christian last night for its 13th contest of the season, and the team fought through a tight game to maintain an undefeated mark. The Dolphins held a nine point halftime lead, and they were able to hold off a pesky Hampton Christian squad for a 47-37 win. Khajae Hester had 15 points; Alexis Smith had nine points; Zeniya Trowell dropped in eight points to go with five blocks, La'Bria Wilson added seven points; and Brianna Perry (four points), Amalia Riess (two) and Meredith Wallace (two) produced the remaining offense. Cape Henry looks to regain its shooting stroke and intensity by Friday when it travels to TCIS rival Norfolk Christian (7pm).

BOYS BASKETBALL IMPROVES TO 10-3 WITH WINS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS

Cape Henry had a successful back-to-back stretch on Friday and Saturday nights. The Dolphins squared off against Atlantic Shores on Friday and First Colonial on Saturday, and they won the games by a combined 32 points. Cape Henry beat Atlantic Shores 83-65 on Friday night and followed that victory with a 69-55 win over First Colonial on Saturday night. The wins improve the Dolphins record to 10-3 overall, and they begin a tough stretch of conference play on Friday when they host talented TCIS rival Norfolk Christian (7pm).

DOLPHINS WRESTLERS OVERCOME ADVERSITY IN THE ST. CHRISTOPHER'S DUALS

The Cape Henry wrestling team's dual record is 8-6 after finishing 2-3 at the St. Christopher’s Duals this past weekend. The Dolphins battled through injury and illness to put forth a solid team effort, one that saw multiple wrestlers compete in more than one weight class. Will Mason and Sam Law both wrestled in multiple weight groups, and both finished the day with unblemished 5-0 marks. Scott Cunningham (4-1) and Jackson Law (3-1) each turned in solid performances. Other contributors for Cape Henry were Kyle Mytelka (2-2), Gray Crigger (0-1), Jake Kantor (2-2), Thomas Armistead (2-3), Jake Henning (2-3), Kevin Riggins (0-1), Kyle McCammon (1-4) and Justin Lee (0-1). The Dolphins wrestle again on Wednesday when they travel to Bishop Sullivan (5pm).

GIRLS BASKETBALL SURVIVES AN OVERTIME SCARE FROM FIRST COLONIAL

The Dolphins hosted First Colonial on Saturday afternoon and battled through their closest contest of the season, winning 47-39 in overtime. Cape Henry started the game slow, suffering an early 9-1 deficit, but it got back to within one at the end of the first quarter. The Dolphins entered halftime up by three, but couldn’t find their shooting touch in time to put the Patriots away in the second half. First Colonial overcame an 11-point deficit in the third quarter to force the game into OT, but Cape Henry stepped up its game to take their 12th victory. Alexis Smith led the offense with 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Khajae Hester dropped in 14 points to go with six steals and three assists. La’Brian Wilson added seven points and seven rebounds; Zeniya Trowel had five points and nine rebounds; and Amalia Riess had five points. The Dolphins look to get back on track tonight against Hampton Christian (7pm) before they travel to TCIS rival Norfolk Christian on Friday (7pm).

BOYS SWIM TEAM REMAINS DOMINANT AS IT SURGES TOWARDS TCIS MEET

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010

The Cape Henry boys swim team traveled to Norfolk Academy on Friday and dominated the swimming portion of the events. The Dolphins beat Norfolk Christian and Peninsula Catholic but fell victim to the Bulldogs, whose diving results were enough to claim the four-point win over Cape Henry. The Dolphins won 10 out of 12 swimming events. Keegan McLaughlin was a double winner with victories in the 100 Freestyle (48.69) and 200 Freestyle (1:48.57). Keegan's 100 free swim was a new Cape Henry school record. Robert Knuth also was a double winner in the 50 Freestyle (22.54) and the 100 Backstroke (54.87). Knuth's 100 Backstroke swim was a new Cape Henry school record. The foursome of Josh Cooper, Max Serpe, Keegan McLaughlin and Robert Knuth won the 200 Freestyle relay in a new Cape Henry school record time of 1:31.47. The record that these gentlemen broke was from 1998. The Dolphins pick the season back up next Friday against Nansemond-Suffolk.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2010

Cape Henry swept the competition against Norfolk Collegiate, HRA and Trinity Episcopal on Tuesday, winning eight of 12 events including all 3 relays. The foursome of Robert Knuth, Andrew Vice, Sal Serpe and Josh Cooper led the meet off with a win in the 200 Medley Relay winning with a time of 1:43.57. Max Serpe swam to a personal best and new state meet qualifying standard in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:03.87. Freshman Andrew Vice swam to a new school record in the 100 Breastroke, winning the event in 1:04.22.

THE CAPE HENRY GIRLS SWIM TEAM CONTINUES TO PROVE THEY BELONG IN TCIS CONVERSATION

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010

Cape Henry raced against some of the best competition in the TCIS on Friday night and once again proved that it will make noise on the conference level. The Dolphins began the meet with a win and season best time in the 200 Medley Relay. The foursome of Kendall Tompkins, Addie Cooper, Brianna DiSilvestro and Morgan Sabol won with a time of 1:58.79. DiSilvestro swam to a win in the 100 Fly as well, dropping over two seconds with a season best of 1:04.06. Addie Cooper also added a win of her own in the 100 Breastroke with a time of 1:14.60. The Dolphins have one more meet next Friday against Nansemond-Suffolk before they compete in the TCIS meet.


TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2010

The Dolphins had another great outing Tuesday, just missing a victory over a very strong HRA opponent. Cape Henry led the meet off with a great swim in the 200 Medley Relay, winning with a time of 2:00.30. The foursome of Kendall Tompkins, Addie Cooper, Brianna DiSilvestro and Morgan Sabol continue to prove they are one of the fastest groups in the TCIS and State. Kendall Tompkins had another strong showing winning the 50 Freestyle in a time of 26.77. Addie Cooper added a win of her own by swimming to a victory in the 100 Freestyle (57.76). The Dolphins foursome of Addie Cooper, Liza Nash, Bryce Glaser and Kendall Tompkins added another relay win in the 200 Freestyle relay, winning with a season best 1:48.97.