Sports

High-school wrestlers from five states will have a showdown this weekend at Indian River High School’s Battle at the Beach.

When Ben Smith of Bryn Mawr, Pa., went surf-fishing last weekend, he was just trying to catch some dinner. He certainly didn’t expect to nab a record-breaking rockfish at 7 a.m.

Indian River High School soccer coach Steve Kilby once surprised a student manager by asking him to play goalie. For the only time in his entire high school career, the senior got to field the ball, and the memory stuck with him.

“Go shake out your arms,” said coach Donna Smith to a handful of freshmen exiting the pool after a long race. You’re going to feel like Jell-O.”

The fourth quarter began with a tie score: Indian River and Lake Forest both had 38 points, and each wanted more. After pulling out of a first-quarter slump Dec. 4, the IR girls’ basketball team edged past Lake to win their first game of the season, 51-46.

Stunned might be the best word to describe the Indian River football fans who drove to Bear to fill the Caravel stands Nov. 23. The players weren’t too happy either.

The 2012 Indian River boys’ soccer team was the first Sussex County team to make state finals in 15 years, possibly more. Their opponents at Salesianum, a private Wilmington boys’ school, had won seven of the last eight state championships. And, though Sallies shut out IR, 4-0, the Indians know they’ve made history.

A nerve-wracking start didn’t hold the Indians back this week as Indian River High School’s football team defeated Howard High School of Technology, 35-14, to win the first round of the Division II state tournament on Nov. 16.

This week, for the first time in the school’s history, Indian River High School played in the boys’ state soccer championship, in a grudge match against Salesianum — the only team to defeat them in 2012.

For Indian River High School senior Jake Butch, one special soccer game recently became the opportunity of a lifetime. After three years as manager of the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, Butch stepped into uniform for the first time on Oct. 25 to celebrate Senior Night. And he didn’t even know it was coming.

There was only one way the Selbyville Middle School football team could improve last year’s undefeated season, so they did it: SMS shut out every opponent they faced in the 2012 season, with a record of 7-0.

Sussex Central football got off to a fast start Nov. 9, leaving Indian River in the dust for the first time in several Indians seasons, ending the game with a score of 42-20.

Sports teams often wear pink clothes to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but Indian River volleyball’s pink game resulted in dedication and selflessness at their season closer against Red Lion Christian Academy Oct. 25.

Nothing but the last 35 seconds mattered on the gridiron in Indian River stadium Oct. 26. Lake Forest, their last major opponent, had one touchdown. IR had none, but they had possession on the fourth down, needed 14 yards for a first down, and 15 for a touchdown. Players on the sidelines and fans in the stands had clutched each other as IR pushed slowly up the field for the last five minutes.

Indian River field hockey ended the season in high spirits, adrenaline pumping to the last minute in their last game at Lake Forest Oct. 25. Lake had scored twice in the first half, and IR was eager to respond, eventually closing with a 2-1 score.