October 16, 2002
A happy day for Rachel Constantine
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
Rachel Constantine flashed that broad smile and stepped forward to receive her crown. She had been
introduced as Ocean City High School’s Homecoming Queen Saturday at halftime of the game with Egg
Harbor Township.
“It took me a few seconds to realize they’d called my name,” she said. “My brother actually had to push
me forward.”
It has been a frustrating year for Constantine, a two-sport athlete who transferred to OCHS from Wildwood
Catholic prior to her junior year. On July 23 – she rattles off the date like she will never forget it – she tore
up her knee while dribbling on a fast break during a summer league game at Mainland Regional.
A little over a month later, on Aug. 28, she underwent surgery. After a recovery period, the hard work
began.
“I go to therapy four days a week,” she said, “anywhere from one to two hours each time. I don’t have full
motion yet but I do have the strength back. I usually wear a brace, for extra support, though I took it off
Saturday.”
Constantine was the point guard for last year’s OCHS team, serving like a coach on the court. She is an
aggressive player, spending a fair amount of her playing time diving onto the court for loose balls and being
knocked down by defenders. She also played soccer, which she enjoyed, but really just as a way to stay
in shape for basketball.
Can she return this season?
“The doctors told me not to get my hopes up,” she said. But it is tough not to. “I’m a senior and it is my
motivation to play this year. One doctor did say that there was a chance, if my therapy continued to
progress, that I might be able to play in mid-February.”
That could bring Rachel back against highly-ranked Sacred Heart in the Girls Shootout at Holy Spirit on
Feb. 14.
Valentine’s Day – a perfect day for a queen to return.
---------------------------------------
Obstacles just keep getting thrown in the face of Ocean City’s football fans. And they keep clearing them
with ease.
The construction of the new high school has caused enough problems around Carey Stadium, and will
continue to until the school is completed in 2004. Even then, parking will be more of a problem than before
construction started.
But there was the MS Bike-a-Thon from Philadelphia on the day the Raiders hosted Atlantic City, an event
that took away the parking lot at the boardwalk end and virtually eliminated traffic on both Fifth and Sixth
Streets.
Last Saturday was Homecoming Day and also the day of the city’s annual Fall Block Party, making travel
around the entire resort a little tricky.
But things worked out pretty well.
“People have been very cooperative,” said OCHS athletic director Paul LeFever. “I’d really like to thank all
those who have come to the games and all those who helped us make the best of a difficult situation.”
Unless they qualify for a home playoff or consolation game, the Raiders final home game will be Oct. 26
against Academy Park from outside Philadelphia.
Things will also be challenging next season, however, when both the Mainland and Pleasantville games will
be at Carey Stadium.
GO TO OUR FORUM TO
EXPRESS YOUR OPINION ABOUT THIS COLUMN, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S ON YOUR MIND!