A

SfcvV:

All-American Coed Hopes To Be '83 Miss America

By Jacob Schaad Jr. NORTH CAPE MAY - When people flip over the new Miss Cape May County, it is really a reciprocation in kind. After all, 21-year-old Darlene Deeley has been flipping for people a good portion of her young life. The 5-6, blue eyed blonde is an All-American gymnast. Now she wants to become Miss America and judging from the reaction she received at the county pagent in Ocean City with her eye popping, show stopping gymnastic-dance routine Darlene' has broken fast toward her goal for tly 1983 title. If her shapely legs survive further injury in intercollegiate competition at West Chester State dur-

ing her senior year, Darlene should be a strong candidate for Miss New Jersey at the pageant in Cherry Hill next June. She has all the attributes to get her to Atlantic City and may well be the most physical candidate to take part in the competition. Once she returns to college next month, she’ll begin her training for gymnastic competition by running two miles a day and lifting weights. "Darlene makes my son and me look sick when she bench presses,” says her father, Raymond, a professional percussionist who recently played in the house band for the Philadelphia production of "The Pirates of

% Pemtance" and for Frank Sinatra THROUGH THE YEARS

Darlene has paid the price of pain for her athletic accomplishmcrtts. She broke her right ankle seven times and in 1979 it underwent surgery. In 1980 her right kiice was operated^in for the removal of bone chipsMloth times she v as motivated to come back stronger and her desire earned her /,ll American honors at West Chester in her junior year. Darlene's athletic career bef an at 12 when she combined acrobatics with dancing in Philadelphia. A year later : he successfully tried out for a priv ite club gymnastic team (in f PaRc 2 Fleasei

SPECIAL SECTION Of THE HERALD AND LANTERN AUGUST 23, 1982

&