By Andy Walter

WILMINGTON — Her daughter was too small, people were always telling Darice Lane.

How could Lauren Park-Lane be a serious basketball player when she stood only 5-foot-3?

“People always doubted her, at every stage of the game,” said Lane. “From elementary to junior high, she had those issues. From junior to high school. .... even in the AAU circuit, they always ended up selecting a bigger point guard over her.

“But God has a way of making things happen. She always ended up in that spot.”

Indeed, now an established college player at Mississippi State, Park-Lane continues to prove that being a little smaller than most of the other players on the court isn’t a problem.

Because of her accomplishments, the Wilmington native and Sanford School grad was named the state’s 2023 Athlete of the Year by the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association at its 75th annual luncheon on Monday.

Park-Lane was one of several sports figures honored at the event.

Also among the honorees was the Smyrna High girls’ volleyball squad, which was named the state Team of the Year.

Now a grad student in her one season at Mississippi State, Park-Lane played her first three seasons at Seton Hall. She made first-team All-Big East three seasons in a row while netting 1,905 points.

As a sophomore, Park-Lane led Division I in assists. She was also twice named Seton Hall’s female Athlete of the Year.

Lauren Park-Lane, a former Sanford School standout, has collected 165 assists for the Bulldogs this season. Mississippi State Athletics/Jaden Powell

Park-Lane wasn’t able to attend Monday’s DSBA luncheon but sent a video message that was played for those on hand.

“Growing up in Delaware and being small, I’ve always been overlooked,” Park-Lane said in the message. “But winning this award has shown that none of that even matters. Representing my state in this way has been such an honor.”

For the Bulldogs, Park-Lane currently has 165 assists on a team where nobody else has more than 69. That puts her eighth in the country. She’s also averaging

9.3 points per game.

“No matter what the size of her opponent, she accepted the challenge,” said Sanford coach Marcus Thompson. “She really stepped up on every occasion. The thing about her, her work ethic is so strong.

“Every year that I’ve seen her play — all the way through this year as a graduate student — she’s improved a facet of her game.”

Hearing that she was too small always served as motivation for her said her mom.

“I used to always tell her not to pay attention to people,” said Lane. “If you love the game, you have found a way to work around that and you’ve done it an elite level. So you keep going. That has really driven her. I think that’s made her work even harder to be the best at what she’s doing.”

The Smyrna High state champion girls’ volleyball squad was named the state Team of the Year. Smyrna High athletics photo.

Smyrna earned its award after becoming the first Downstate team to win the DIAA state championship in girls’ volleyball. The Eagles finished 19-1, winning 14 of those matches without losing a set.

Monday’s event was one of several times Smyrna has been honored since the season ended in the fall.

“This is really cool, especially to hear the other stories about the other athletes,” said senior Elise Carter.

“It’s really cool to think that we did make history,” said senior Eliza Schneider. “It’s just amazing to think about that.”

Dickinson High cross country runner Anthony Papiro was named the winner of the Buddy Hurlock Unsung Hero Award.

Visually impaired since birth, Papiro still competed in the sport, running the courses while tethered to another runner. The senior ran cross country for seven seasons in middle and high school, finishing his career in the DIAA state championships at Brandywine Creek State Park.

“When I first started in sixth grade, I never thought I would make it this far,” said Papiro. “But here I am.”

Delaware Military baseball coach Aaron Lewis won the Tubby Raymond Coach of the Year after leading the Seahawks to their second DIAA state title in the last three seasons last spring.

Since 2021, DMA has gone 65-10 and is 128-53 in Lewis’ 10 seasons as head coach, A three-time first-team All-State outfielder at St. Elizabeth, Lewis went on to play at both and starred at Cecil Community College and Wilmington University.

Midway Little League’s Jack Agnew won the Herm Reitzes Award for public service. He’s volunteered at the league in different capacities for 53 years.

Along with winning eight league titles, his 2001 Midway squad reached the World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at awalter@iniusa.org. Follow on X at @DSNsports.