Henlopen Conference
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Henlopen Conference is a high school sports conference comprised of public schools in Kent County and Sussex County in lower Delaware. The teams participate in a variety of sports including football, boys and girls soccer, track and field, cross country, boys and girls basketball, wrestling, boys and girls lacrosse, baseball, softball, cheerleading, and field hockey.
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[edit] Schools and Teams
The schools and teams that make up the Henlopen Conference are divided into two divisions. The Henlopen North Conference and Henlopen South Conference. Despite the name, the schools are not divided by geographical location, but rather by enrollment numbers, with the larger schools in the Northern Conference and the smaller schools in the Southern Conference. The Northern Conference is considered the more powerful and competitive of the two due to the size of the schools and athletic base. The conferences are re-arranged every few years based on enrollment numbers.
The schools and teams along with the city they are located in are:
Henlopen North Conference
| School | Team | City |
|---|---|---|
| Caesar Rodney | Riders | Camden |
| Cape Henlopen | Vikings | Lewes |
| Dover | Senators | Dover |
| Polytech | Panthers | Woodside |
| Smyrna | Eagles | Smyrna |
| Sussex Central | Golden Knights | Georgetown |
| Sussex Tech | Ravens | Georgetown |
Henlopen South Conference
| School | Team | City |
|---|---|---|
| Delmar | Wildcats | Delmar |
| Indian River | Indians | Dagsboro |
| Lake Forest | Spartans | Felton |
| Laurel | Bulldogs | Laurel |
| Milford | Buccaneers | Milford |
| Seaford | Blue Jays | Seaford |
| Woodbridge | Blue Raiders | Bridgeville |
[edit] History
The Henlopen Conference as it is today was created in the mid 1960's. Of the schools now comprising the Henlopen Conference, most were original members of the Diamond State Conference, which then consisted of Middletown, Smyrna, Dover, Caesar Rodney, Milford, Seaford, Lewes, and Georgetown. Lewes and Georgetown defected first, with every team but Middletown eventually ending up in the Henlopen Conference. Middletown, the only New Castle County school, moved to a conference comprised entirely of New Castle County schools with the school district mergers of 1969-70 when it became a part of the Appoquinimink School District.
The original teams of the Henlopen Conference were the Rehoboth Beach Seahawks, Milton Warriors, Lewes Pirates (from Diamond State), Greenwood Foresters, Dover Air Force Base Falcons, Harrington Lions, Felton Green Devils, Delmar Wildcats, Millsboro Blue Devils, John M. Clayton Bears, Laurel Bulldogs, Lord Baltimore Lords, Selbyville Rebels, and Georgetown Golden Knights (from Diamond State).
With the school district mergers of 1969-70, several teams changed. Lewes, Milton, and Rehoboth Beach merged to form the Cape Henlopen Vikings. Georgetown, John M. Clayton, and a large part of the Millsboro School District merged to become the Sussex Central Golden Knights (the other portion of Millsboro was absorbed into Cape Henlopen). Greenwood and Bridgeville merged to become the Woodbridge Blue Raiders. Harrington and Felton merged with Frederica to become the Lake Forest Spartans. Lord Baltimore and Selbyville were merged with Frankford and Dagsboro to become the Indian River Indians. The Milford School District also joined the conference after merging with the Ellendale and Houston school districts, keeping the Milford Buccaneers name. Dover Air Force Base was absorbed into the Caesar Rodney School District after the United States government closed down the base's school in the 1980's. The Sussex Tech Ravens and Polytech Panthers joined the conference with the addition of their sports teams in the early 90's when the schools made the transition from vocational trade schools to technical and academic schools.
[edit] 2007 Regular Season Football Standings
The final standing for the 2007 Football Regular Season were:
Henlopen North Conference
| School | Team | Record (wins - losses) |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex Central | Golden Knights | 9 - 1 |
| Sussex Tech | Ravens | 7 - 3 |
| Ceasar Rodney | Riders | 6 - 4 |
| Dover | Senators | 5 - 5 |
| Cape Henlopen | Vikings | 4 - 6 |
| Smyrna | Eagles | 3 - 7 |
| Polytech | Panthers | 2 - 8 |
Henlopen South Conference
| School | Team | Record (wins - losses) |
|---|---|---|
| Delmar | Wildcats | 10 - 0 |
| Indian River | Indians | 8 - 2 |
| Milford | Buccaneers | 6 - 4 |
| Laurel | Bulldogs | 5 - 5 |
| Woodbridge | Blue Raiders | 4 - 6 |
| Lake Forest | Spartans | 1 - 9 |
| Seaford | Blue Jays | 1 - 9 |
[edit] Football Championships
| Year | Henlopen South | Henlopen North |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Delmar | Sussex Central |
| 2006 | Delmar | Sussex Central |
| 2005 | Indian River | Dover |
| 2004 | Indian River | Caesar Rodney |
| 2003 | Indian River | Caesar Rodney |
| 2002 | Delmar | Sussex Central |
| 2001 | Delmar | Dover |
| 2000 | Delmar | Caesar Rodney |
| 1999 | Woodbridge | Caesar Rodney |
| 1998 | Delmar | Cape Henlopen |
| 1997 | Delmar | Cape Henlopen |
| 1996 | Delmar | Caesar Rodney |
| 1995 | Delmar | Caesar Rodney |
| 1994 | Seaford | Caesar Rodney |
| 1993 | Laurel | Seaford |
| 1992 | Laurel | Seaford |
| 1991 | Lake Forest | Caesar Rodney |
| 1990 | Lake Forest | Caesar Rodney |
| 1989 | Lake Forest | Caesar Rodney |
| 1988 | Indian River | Dover |
| 1987 | Indian River | Seaford |
| 1986 | Indian River, Laurel, Smyrna | Seaford, Caesar Rodney, Dover |
| 1985 | Laurel | Seaford |
| 1984 | Lake Forest | Cape Henlopen |
| 1983 | Seaford | Caesar Rodney |
| 1982 | Seaford | Dover, Cape Henlopen |
| 1981 | Lake Forest | Seaford |
| 1980 | Indian River | Caesar Rodney |
| 1979 | Indian River | Cape Henlopen |
| 1978 | Dover Air Force Base | Caesar Rodney |
| 1977 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney |
| 1976 | Delmar | Caesar Rodney |
| 1975 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney |
| 1974 | Smyrna | Milford |
| 1973 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney, Sussex Central |
| 1972 | Lake Forest | Dover |
| 1971 | Laurel | Dover |
| 1970 | Indian River | Sussex Central |
| 1969 | Indian River | Smyrna |
Prior to 1969 there were no conferences, simply an overall champion. They were:
1968 -- Indian River
1967 -- Bridgeville
1966 -- Bridgeville
1965 -- Delmar
1964 -- Harrington
1963 -- John M. Clayton
1962 -- Millsboro, John M. Clayton
1961 -- Rehoboth
1960 -- Millsboro, Rehoboth
1959 -- Bridgeville
Note that of those pre-1969 teams listed above, only Indian River and Delmar still exist as school districts today, with Indian River's merger coming prior to the 1969-70 school year.
Total Championships:
Caesar Rodney - 19 (most all time in the North Conference, includes 1 win by Dover Air Force Base)
Cape Henlopen - 7 *includes 2 won by Rehoboth
Delmar - 10
Dover - 6
Indian River - 14 *includes 2 won by John M. Clayton (most all time in the South Conference with 12)
Lake Forest - 7 *includes 1 won by Harrington
Laurel - 5
Milford - 1
Polytech - 0
Seaford - 9 (6 in the North, 3 in the South)
Smyrna - 6 (1 in the North, 5 in the South)
Sussex Central - 7 *includes 2 won by Millsboro
Sussex Tech - 0
Woodbridge - 4 *includes 3 won by Bridgeville
[edit] Wrestling Championships
| Year | Henlopen South | Henlopen North | Conference Dual Meet | Tournament Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Laurel | Caesar Rodney | ||
| 2002 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Sussex Central |
| 2001 | Lake Forest | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 2000 | Milford | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1999 | Milford | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1998 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1997 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1996 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1995 | Smyrna | Sussex Central | Smyrna | Smyrna |
| 1994 | Smyrna | Dover | Dover | Dover |
| 1993 | Smyrna | Dover | Dover | Dover |
| 1992 | Smyrna | Dover | Dover | Dover |
| 1991 | Smyrna | Dover | Smyrna | Dover |
| 1990 | Smyrna | Cape Henlopen | Smyrna | Smyrna |
| 1989 | Smyrna | Sussex Central | Smyrna | Smyrna |
| 1988 | Smyrna | Dover | Dover | Dover |
| 1987 | Smyrna | Dover | Smyrna | Dover |
| 1986 | Smyrna | Dover | Smyrna | Dover |
| 1985 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1984 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1983 | Laurel | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1982 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney |
| 1981 | Smyrna | Milford | Milford | None |
| 1980 | Smyrna | Milford | Milford | None |
| 1979 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Smyrna | None |
| 1978 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Smyrna | None |
| 1977 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | None |
| 1976 | Smyrna | Sussex Central | Sussex Central | None |
| 1975 | Smyrna | Sussex Central | Smyrna | None |
| 1974 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | None |
| 1973 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Caesar Rodney | None |
| 1972 | Smyrna | Caesar Rodney | Smyrna, Caesar Rodney, Sussex Central | None |
| 1971 | Smyrna | Sussex Central | Smyrna | None |
| 1970 | Smyrna | Sussex Central | Smyrna | None |
| 1969 | None | None | None | Harrington |
| 1968 | None | None | None | ? |
| 1967 | None | None | None | Delmar |
| 1966 | None | None | None | Harrington |
| 1965 | None | None | None | Delmar |
Prior to 1969 there were no conferences, simply a Tournament Champion. In 1970 the school districts consolidated. Of those pre-1969 teams, only Indian River and Delmar still exist as school districts today, with Indian River's merger coming prior to 1969-70.
Total Division Championships:
Caesar Rodney - 18 (most all time in the North)
Cape Henlopen - 1
Delmar - 0
Dover - 7
Indian River - 0
Lake Forest - 0
Laurel - 2
Milford - 4 *Only team to win championships in both the North & South (2 in each)
Polytech - 0
Seaford - 0
Smyrna - 29 (Most by any school, in any conference, in any sport in the state)
Sussex Central - 6
Sussex Tech - 0
Woodbridge - 0
Conference Dual Meet Championships (Overall Champion):
Caesar Rodney - 15 (most all time)
Cape Henlopen - 0
Delmar - 0
Dover - 4
Indian River - 0
Lake Forest - 0
Laurel - 0
Milford - 2 *One of only 2 Sussex County schools to win overall championship
Polytech - 0
Seaford - 0
Smyrna - 12
Sussex Central - 2 *One of only 2 Sussex County schools to win overall championship
Sussex Tech - 0
Woodbridge - 0
Tournament Championships:
Caesar Rodney - 10 (most all time)
Cape Henlopen - 0
Delmar - 2
Dover - 7
Indian River - 0
Lake Forest - 2 *Both won by Harrington prior to 1970 merger
Laurel - 0
Milford - 0
Polytech - 0
Seaford - 0
Smyrna - 3
Sussex Central - 1
Sussex Tech - 0
Woodbridge - 0
[edit] Notable Sports Alumni
- Walter "Huck" Betts of Millsboro was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves in the 1920's and 1930's.
- Chris Short of Milford (Milford Buccaneers) was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers from 1959 to 1973.
- Randy Bush of Dover was drafted as an outfielder by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round in 1979 out of the University of New Orleans.
- Delino DeShields of Seaford (Seaford Blue Jays) was drafted as a second baseman by the Montreal Expos as the 12th overall pick in 1987 out of Villanova University.
- Dave Williams of Camden (Caesar Rodney Riders) was drafted as a pitcher by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1998.
- Luke Petitgout of Georgetown (Sussex Central Golden Knights) was drafted as an offensive lineman by the New York Giants as the 19th overall pick in 1999 out of the University of Notre Dame.
- Ian Snell of Dover (Caesar Rodney Riders) was drafted as a pitcher by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2000 out of high school.
- Professional wrestlers Jamin and Mark Pugh, the Briscoe Brothers, of Laurel (Laurel Bulldogs) recieved honorable mention all-state for football in both their junior and senior years of high school.
- Theodis Bowe of Ellendale (Milford Buccaneers) was drafted as a center fielder by the Cincinnati Reds in 2008 out of high school.
