By D. Matt Dale
MaxPreps.com
After winning two consecutive state championships in 2006 and 2007, the Padua Academy girls’ soccer team will begin the 2008 season with high expectations.
Any team hoping to knock off the two-time defending state champs will have to be able to contain a powerful Padua offense led by forward Morgan Morrow. The world-class junior has started for Padua since she was a freshman and recently gave a verbal commitment to USC, the 2007 NCAA Division I women’s soccer champions. Morrow has kept the rust off in the preseason by playing for the U.S. Olympic development team.
Two of Padua’s seniors have also made commitments to Division I colleges: Kortney Rhoades to Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia and Danielle Henry to the University of South Carolina, where she will play with 2007 Padua graduate Brittany Rhoades.
Despite entering the 2008 season on a 27-game winning streak, Padua’s talent will have to carry the team through a tough schedule that consists of a grueling 11-day stretch against the state’s top teams: St Mark’s, A.I. DuPont, Middletown and Caesar Rodney, which finished second in the state behind Padua in 2007.
Even with all the pressure that comes with being Number 1, look for Padua to continue to set the precedent for state girls’ soccer competition.
All-State Basketball Teams Announced
Here's a look at the top names in boys' and girls' basketball for the 2007-08 season in Delaware:
BOYS
First Team
Nafis Richardson (player of the year, sr., Hodgson)
K'yan Andrews (sr., Woodbridge)
Ben George (sr., Dover)
Travon O'Brien (sr., Glasgow)
Paul Reynolds (jr., Smyrna)
Second Team
Ron Giplaye (jr., Newark)
Dominic Morris (jr., Caravel)
Justin Perillo (jr., Tatnall)
Daiquane Peterson (jr., A.I. du Pont)
Vashad Whidbee (sr., Wooodbridge)
Third Team
Trevor Cooney (fr., Sanford)
Tracey Jones (sr., Cape Henlopen)
Issa Mase (sr., Archmere)
Demetrus Richardson (sr., McKean)
Donte Sturgis (sr., Sussex Central)
Honorable Mention
Tyshawn Bell (jr., Caesar Rodney)
Kory Belle (sr., Sussex Tech)
Greg Benjamin (jr., Newark)
Lou Burton (sr., Glasgow)
Malcolm Gilbert (so., St. Elizabeth)
R.J. Griffin (sr., Charter of Wilmington)
Erique Gumbs (jr., Caravel)
Jeffone Hill (jr., Sussex Tech)
Corey Lewis (sr., Sussex Central)
Jacob Mitchell (jr., Sussex Tech)
Tyler Niggebrugge (sr., Caravel)
Jeremy Purnell (sr., Indian River)
Kevin Ricketts (sr., Delmar)
Omar Skinner (jr., William Penn)
Kwame Smith (sr., Concord)
GIRLS
First Team
Elena DelleDonne (player of the year, sr., Ursuline)
Michelle Baker (sr., Brandywine)
Chelsea Davis (jr., Middletown)
Jasmine Gibson (sr., Sanford)
Kayla Miller (sr., Ursuline)
Second Team
Jacquetta May (jr., Delcastle)
Joy Rutland (sr., St. Elizabeth)
Dara Taylor (jr., Caravel)
Caitlin Van Sickle (sr., Tower Hill)
Symone Woody (sr., St. Elizabeth)
Third Team
Kanzes Battin (sr., Hodgson)
Gabrielle Jackson (sr., St. Mark's)
Betnijah Laney (fr., Smyrna)
Jamie Milliski (sr., Sanford)
Telisha Turner (so., Glasgow)
Honorable Mention
Dohnay Banice (sr., Dover)
Courtney Baynard (jr., Caesar Rodney)
Rayona Benson (sr., Cape Henlopen)
Ambra Burbage (sr., Seaford)
Shavonda Cephas (sr., Milford)
Amanda Craig (sr., St. Elizabeth)
Joycelyn Downs (sr., William Penn)
Erin Edwards (sr., Ursuline)
Ericka Furrowh (jr., Hodgson)
Kristi Kerrigan (sr., Wilm. Friends)
Brittany Neil (sr., Archmere)
Stephanie Nichols (sr., St. Mark's)
Shannon O'Hanlon (sr., Ursuline)
Bianca Parker (so., Delcastle)
Kellie Whaley (jr., Sussex Central)
D. Matt Dale covers Delaware for MaxPreps.com. He may be reached at dmdale.del@gmail.com.
