Page 46 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch January 3, 2014 Sports In The News Decatur Wrestlers Prep For Iron Horse Duals By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team finished the first part of their season on a big roll and now face the first big dual meet of the second half this weekend when they compete in the Iron Horse Duals. The Seahawks have been strong thus far this season, finishing fourth overall in their own War on the Shore tournament and fourth again in the Lackey Tournament a week later. This weekend, Decatur looks to shake off the holiday rust and continue that momentum as it competes in the 14th Annual Iron Horse Duals at C. Milton Wright High School against some of the top high school wrestling programs in the state. Decatur has enjoyed success recently at the Iron Horse Duals. Last year, for example, the Seahawks finished fourth in the impressive field of 13 of the best teams from around the state. Decatur earned victories over Patterson Mill, Bel Air, Liberty and Parkville. The Seahawks then dropped a close match to LaPlata and fell to North Caroline before falling to Huntingtown. Stephen Decatur’s boys varsity basketball team, pictured above during a timeout at last week’s Governor’s Challenge Holiday Tournament in Salisbury, split its two games in the tourney, falling to Dunbar in its first game but rallying to beat Dickinson in its second game. Photo by Earl Campbell Decatur Splits Pair In Governor’s Challenge By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR Two Nominated For Pop Warner Awards By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR BERLIN – After another highly successful season, the Berlin Pop Warner football program has nominated two of its own for prestigious awards from the larger Henlopen Pop Warner football program set to be handed out later this month. The Berlin Pop Warner program has nominated Stan Griffin for the Homer Mumford Volunteer Award presented after each season to the coach who goes above and beyond for the organization. Griffin was not only the head coach of the Berlin Seahawks Midget team but also assists Coach Bob Knox with the Stephen Decatur varsity football team. Also nominated this year is Griffin’s son Shea Griffin, who is up for the Casey Lynch Leadership Award presented to the Midget League player who best demonstrates outstanding leadership on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. Both awards will be handed out during the Henlopen Pop Warner awards banquet on Jan. 18. The Berlin Seahawks compete in the Henlopen Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading program featuring teams from all over the region. The Berlin program features teams at various age and skill levels including the Tiny Mites, the Mitey Mites, Junior Pee Week, Junior Midgets and Midgets. The program has been successful over the years in teaching young players the fundamentals of football but also in developing strong, smart, responsible young men and women. BERLIN – Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity basketball team held up it end for the most part in the Governor’s Cup Holiday Basketball Tournament in Salisbury last week, winning its only game against a Delaware opponent as the teams from Maryland edged the First State teams in head to head competition by a margin of 11-9. For years, the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center has hosted a holiday basketball tournament featuring some of the best prep teams from around the region between Christmas and New Year’s, but the stakes have been raised in recent years. Three years ago, for the first time, the tournament was renamed the Governor’s Challenge after Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley issued a challenge to Delaware Gov. Jack Markel with a Maryland Smith Island cake on the line against a Delaware peach pie for the winner in the head-to-head competition between schools from both states. The tournament was played last week and Maryland won for the first time, beating Delaware, 11-9, in head-to-head competition between the two states. The two states were tied heading into the final day, but Maryland took care of business. Boys Latin beat Sussex Central to give Maryland a 10-9 advantage with one game remaining. In the last game, Parkside beat Laurel, 57-54, in a tight game to give Maryland its first win in the series. Decatur provided one of the wins for Maryland, beating Dickinson, 6866, in its second game. The Seahawks started fast and built a 10 point lead by halftime. Dickinson battled back in the second half, however, fueled by an 8-0 run and actually took a two-point lead late in the game. Decatur was clutch down the stretch, particularly on the free throw line, and pulled out the narrow 68-66 win. Keyon Eley led Decatur with 23 points in the win. In Decatur’s other game in the Governor’s Challenge, the Seahawks fell to traditional Baltimore powerhouse Dunbar, 48-33. Decatur started hot and led 15-8 in the first quarter. The heavily favored Dunbar battled back steadily and took the lead for good in the third quarter before cruising to the 15point win. Tyler Hunter led the Seahawks with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Running For Brighter Future 10K On Tap By SHAWN J. SOPER SPORTS EDITOR The Berlin Seahawks have nominated Stan Griffin, head coach of the Midgets team, for the Henlopen Pop Warner Program’s Homer Mumford Volunteer Award, and his son, Shea, for the Casey Lynch Leadership Award. Submitted Photo BERLIN – The first significant event of the local running circuit in the new year, the Running for a Brighter Future 10K and 5K walk/run, is set for tomorrow, Jan. 4, in and around the Newark area for the benefit of the Worcester County Developmental Center (WCDC). The Running for a Brighter Future 10K will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. at the WCDC facility in Newark and the course will wind its way through a bucolic, rural area of Worcester County before ending back at the WCDC building. Registration opens at 8 a.m. on race day. The WCDC provides life training and employment opportunities to those in Worcester County with developmental disabilities. The WCDC strives to enable its clients to be productive, responsible and participating members of the community by helping them achieve their highest level of social and economic independence. The entrance fee is $40 per runner for the 10K and $30 for the 5K and the proceeds will help WCDC accomplish its goals. The event is sponsored by OC Tri Running. The fee includes an event T-shirt and post-race breakfast buffet. Friends and family cheering on runners can also join the post-race breakfast buffet for a $10 fee. Awards will be presented to the overall winners along with the winners in various age categories.