Athletes working hard at jobs, school and track and field
By BUDDY HURLOCK
Staff reporter
05/16/2002
Ernie
Anderson's office still has a brittle corkboard old enough to list the 40-
and 220-yard dashes, track events long made obsolete by the metric system.
Anderson has been Delcastle's boys track and field coach since 1969. He
knows the demands of coaching at a vocational/technical school, where
students learn both in the classroom and on the job.
Work schedules can push sports aside. But vo-tech athletes have pushed
themselves to the forefront in boys track and field this season.
The state's other vo-tech schools are Hodgson (Glasgow), Howard
(Wilmington), Polytech (Woodside) and Sussex Tech (Georgetown).
Entering the Delaware High School Boys Track and Field Championships,
which begin Friday at Lake Forest, there are nine events in which at least
one athlete from a vo-tech school is among the state's top five.
Polytech senior John Drummond, for instance, is the state's top-ranked
hurdler.
"That's pretty good, seeing that most kids don't come here for
sports," Delcastle junior thrower Kyle Fray said. "They're
coming to learn their individual trade. But I'm just glad to see, as a
group, we're coming up."
Vo-tech schools don't necessarily field the state's smallest teams, but
Howard, the state's top program from the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, has
just 10 on its team this season. Howard placed sixth among 19 teams at the
New Castle County championships, thanks to sprinters such as Reggie
Hopkins, Matt Carre and Mike Schmidt.
Other teams continued dual meet success this season. Sussex Tech went
10-1 for the second straight year. Hodgson won its sixth Blue Hen Flight B
title in seven years, and hasn't lost a dual meet in more than four
seasons.
"Co-ops are great experience for kids, and I won't hold that
against them. Sometimes they'll show up for practice late," Hodgson
coach Kelly Parsley said. "But coaching at a vo-tech school is
easier. The kids are more focused."
Purpose and character are encouraged by Anderson, whose Cougars won
four Division I state titles from 1985 to '90.
In the 1970s, Anderson found having too many seniors was a burden. They
would devote the bulk of their time to their jobs.
That is not the case today. At all of the state's vo-tech schools, the
athletes often have their schedules worked out to allow for participation
in athletics.
But there are complications.
Polytech coach Tad Damash said being Kent County's sole vo-tech school
leads to some problems for athletes.
"Students travel greater distances and get home late,"
Polytech coach Tad Damash said. "It can be a bit of a burden getting
the whole team there, especially for relays.
"But the kids keep it together. The kids are committed."
Reach Buddy Hurlock at 324-2807 or bhurlock@delawareonline.com.
 The News Journal/WILLIAM BRETZGER |
| Hodgson Vo-Tech's Troy Dennis has a good shot at winning a state title in the long jump or the triple jump at the upcoming state championships. Vo-Tech schools are well-represented at this year's meet. |
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