Impact
Records
Griffin Matthew
Niwot High School
Impact Statement
Matthew jumped 21’2″ – the best high school girls long jump in 2005 and seventh-best all-time.
Biography
Matthew jumped 21 feet, 2 inches – the best high school girls long jump in 2005 and seventh-best all-time – to win the Simplot Games in Idaho last summer. At the Nike Indoor Championships she won the long jump and the 60 meters. After winning the Class 4A state title with a state-record long jump as a sophomore, Matthew won four events – the 100 and 200 meters, the long jump and the 4×100 relay – as a junior, and she posted the second-fastest time during the season (11.56) in the 100.
Also an outstanding student, Matthew holds a 4.3 grade-point average in Niwot’s International Baccalaureate program, and will attend Stanford University.
While a sophomore at Stanford, she was one of two athletes to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the long jump and the 100-meters. As a junior, she again qualified in the 100-meters in the Outdoor Championships.
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Articles
Records
Personal Honors
California High School
“He’s wired differently than 99 percent of the other athletes out there.” -Mark Karbo,
California High School T&F Head Coach
“He’s wired differently than 99 percent of the other athletes out there.” -Mark Karbo,
California High School T&F Head Coach
David Klech
California High School
Impact Statement
“He’s wired differently than 99 percent of the other athletes out there.” -Mark Karbo,
California High School T&F Head Coach
Biography
Some consider the 6-foot-4 Klech the most versatile track athlete to come out of California since Olympic decathlon champions Bob Mathias (1948 and 1952) and Rafer Johnson (1960).
Last year, Klech won the state 300-meter hurdles title in 36.06 – the nation’s second-fastest time – and finished second in the 110 hurdles and third in the long jump. He also has cleared seven feet in the high jump. In April, Klech, the Nike Indoor Championship pentathlon gold medalist this year, won the 400 hurdles in the Stanford Invitational in a state-record 50.35 – the third-fastest time by any American this year – to earn Athlete of the Week honors from American Track and Field – Athletes Only magazine.
The UCLA recruit became the fourth Californian to win three boys events – and the first since 1967 – at the 2006 CIF Championships. He won the 300-meter hurdles with a 35.87 time.
Klech went on to attend UCLA his freshman year. He transferred to the University of Oregon for his last three seasons. He was named All Academic Team in 2009, 2010, and 2011. He was also the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country First Team honoree.
As a senior, Klech finished 16th at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the decathlon. He also took 6th in the heptathlon during the Indoor Track Championships.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Marcus High School
Francis won three State Championships while at Marcus High School.
Francis won three State Championships while at Marcus High School.
Pavi Francis
Marcus High School
Impact Statement
Francis won three State Championships while at Marcus High School.
Biography
Not many players are fortunate to win two state singles titles in hotly-competitive Texas, but Francis has accomplished the feat. Despite a loss in the finals of the region tournament earlier this month – her first in high school competition since the state tournament her freshman year – she has a chance to make it three titles later this month, which she did.
The reigning Dallas Morning News Most Valuable Player is the first three-time champion in Class 5A – the state’s highest class – in 35 years. Also active on the junior tennis circuit, she will attend Southern Methodist University.
She finished her career at SMU with 86 doubles victories, a school record, and 77 single victories, placing her sixth overall.
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Articles
Records
Personal Honors
Nicolet High School
“Appreciate and enjoy what you do everyday so you can continue to inspire future generations.” -Michael Dierberger
“Appreciate and enjoy what you do everyday so you can continue to inspire future generations.” -Michael Dierberger
Michael Dierberger
Nicolet High School
Impact Statement
“Appreciate and enjoy what you do everyday so you can continue to inspire future generations.” -Michael Dierberger
Biography
Later this month Dierberger will complete one of the outstanding prep careers in recent Wisconsin history as he attempts to win a third consecutive Division 1 state individual championship. Dierberger also finished third in the state his freshman year.
Active on the junior tennis circuit, Dierberger won the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Open Boys 18 singles event in St. Louis in November and has advanced to the quarterfinals or better in six events on the USTA National Open circuit in the past 15 months. He will attend the University of Wisconsin.
While competing for Wisconsin he was named the captain his senior year. The Badgers made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Sunnyslope High School
“It is rare for one to be able to say they have worked at something for their entire life. I can honestly say that swimming has been a constant in mine for as long as I can remember.”
“It is rare for one to be able to say they have worked at something for their entire life. I can honestly say that swimming has been a constant in mine for as long as I can remember.”
Alexandra Clarke
Sunnyslope High School
Impact Statement
“It is rare for one to be able to say they have worked at something for their entire life. I can honestly say that swimming has been a constant in mine for as long as I can remember.”
Biography
Clarke overcame three knee surgeries since the seventh grade and a season-long recovery from a sprained ankle to win her second consecutive Class 4A state titles in the 200 freestyle (1:52.02) and the 500 freestyle (5:01.58).
Clarke’s performance helped Sunnyslope win its first state team title. She continued to enhance her reputation as one of the nation’s top distance swimmers with victories in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle at the Short Course Junior Nationals in March. Also an outstanding student, Clarke was honored this spring as a National Merit Scholar.
While at Harvard she qualified for the NCAA Championship all four years. Her senior year she earned All-American status with 16th-place time of 16:10.25. As a senior she was honored with the Radcliffe Prize, which is given to the most outstanding senior female athlete.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
The Bolles School
“I truly realized that I definitely had the talent, and along with the talent, the work ethic to attain the highest level of achievement in the sport.” -Shaune Fraser
“I truly realized that I definitely had the talent, and along with the talent, the work ethic to attain the highest level of achievement in the sport.” -Shaune Fraser
Shaune Fraser
The Bolles School
Impact Statement
“I truly realized that I definitely had the talent, and along with the talent, the work ethic to attain the highest level of achievement in the sport.” -Shaune Fraser
Biography
At the age of 16 Fraser represented his native Cayman Islands in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, competing in the 200-meter freestyle, He also competed in the 2005 World Championships in Montreal.
At The Bolles School Fraser helped lead his team to a pair of Florida state team titles. After winning Class A crowns in the 200- and 500-meter freestyle as a junior, Bolles moved up to Class AA and he repeated the double title this year as a senior. He will attend the University of Florida.
While attending the University of Florida, Fraser had quite an illustrious career as a Gator. Fraser set a school record winning he 200-yard freestyle and a NCAA record in the 200-yard butterfly. In addition, Fraser is a two time Silver medalist at the Pan Am Games (2007 and 2011) and a three time Olympic team member for the Cayman Islands. Fraser had the opportunity to also swim with his brother, pictured below.
In addition to all his swimming accolades, Fraser graduated from the University of Florida with B.S. in Finance and his JD and has his own Immigration Law company in Miami, FL.
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Ben Davis High School
“It’s important for kids to know that someone once believed in me and I believe in them. I hope that they follow and pursue everything they dream of.”
“It’s important for kids to know that someone once believed in me and I believe in them. I hope that they follow and pursue everything they dream of.”
Lauren Cheney
Ben Davis High School
Impact Statement
“It’s important for kids to know that someone once believed in me and I believe in them. I hope that they follow and pursue everything they dream of.”
Biography
The 5-foot-8 forward scored 35 goals and added 15 assists as a senior, finishing her career with 112 goals and 67 assists. The Gatorade National Player of the Year, she also was a Parade All-American and the NSCAA Player of the Year.
Cheney was the Indianapolis Star Player of the Year, a four-time All-State selection and a three-time NSCAA All-American. The youngest member of the U.S. Under-21 National Team last summer, Cheney scored two goals and had four assists to help the U.S. win a record seventh consecutive Nordic Cup international title. She will attend UCLA.
While at UCLA, Cheney is the first Bruin in history to be bestowed NSCAA/adidas First-Team All-America honors four times. Also while attending the school, the Bruins played each year in the NCAA Championships.
Cheney, now Holiday, was a US National team member from 2007 through 2015. She also was on the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Team that won Gold, as well the Fifa World Cup team that took Silver in 2011 and Gold in 2015. Cheney announced her retirement in 2015.
“We don’t play for the game. We don’t play for the money,” she told The Star during a May visit to Indy. “We play because we were a little girl once who had a dream and we wanted to play on that national team. We wanted to go to the Olympics or World Cup. It’s important for kids to know that someone once believed in me and I believe in them. I hope that they follow and pursue everything they dream of.”
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Portage Central High School
Alexander has excelled on the soccer field at all levels – high school, college, and professionally.
Alexander has excelled on the soccer field at all levels – high school, college, and professionally.
Eric Alexander
Portage Central High School
Impact Statement
Alexander has excelled on the soccer field at all levels – high school, college, and professionally.
Biography
The 6-foot midfielder scored 28 goals and added 11 assists as a senior, leading Portage Central to a 19-2-4 record and a district title. One of the top players in Michigan history, he was a two-time All-State and Michigan Dream Team selection and was the recipient of Michigan’s Mr. Soccer award as a senior. One of only two players in the nation to be named to an Adidas Elite Soccer All-Star team twice, Alexander is a four-year member of the Michigan Olympic Development Program (ODP), the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 State Cup, and a three-year member of the Region II ODP team. The National High School Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Player of the Year, he will attend Indiana University.
While a Hoosier, Alexander was named to the Big-Ten All Freshman Team and All-Big Ten First-team his sophomore and junior year.
In 2010, Alexander was the 44th overall MLS draft pick for the Dallas FC. He went on to play with a few different teams throughout his career but went back to Dallas in 2019.
In addition, Alexander has made two US Men’s National Teams in 2011 and 2013.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
St. Andrews School
“There’s no holding back tomorrow. It’s all or nothing. I’m going bridie hunting tomorrow.”
-Morgan Pressel
“There’s no holding back tomorrow. It’s all or nothing. I’m going bridie hunting tomorrow.”
-Morgan Pressel
Morgan Pressel
St. Andrews School
Impact Statement
“There’s no holding back tomorrow. It’s all or nothing. I’m going bridie hunting tomorrow.”
-Morgan Pressel
Biography
Pressel dominated Florida’s Class A state meet for four years, winning state individual titles as a sophomore, junior and senior after finishing second as a freshman. She shot a sparkling 67-67-134 in the state meet last fall and won the title on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Eight days after winning the state crown, Pressel, the U.S. Women’s Open runner-up in 2005, ended her amateur career by joining the LPGA Tour. Ranked No. 1 in the amateur ranks at the time, Pressel finished in the top 25 in each of the seven professional tournaments she played in last year.
Pressel was first in many ways. In 2001 Pressel became the youngest girl to qualify for the US Women’s Open at the age of 12. She turned pro at 17 and is the youngest to win a LPGA tournament in 2007 at 18 years old. She has been on the LPGA circuit since 2006.
In 2019 Pressel finished 4th overall at the British Open.
Photos
Articles
Community Service
Morgan is very active in her community. January 7, 2020, Morgan and her organization, Morgan & Friends Fight Cancer, held their 13th event and raised $1 million dollars to fight breast cancer.
Records
Professional Achievements
Desert Mountain High School
McKenney won two Arizona State Championships while at Desert Mountain before playing in college at the University of Florida.
McKenney won two Arizona State Championships while at Desert Mountain before playing in college at the University of Florida.
Tim McKenney
Desert Mountain High School
Impact Statement
McKenney won two Arizona State Championships while at Desert Mountain before playing in college at the University of Florida.
Biography
McKenney won his second Class 5A state individual championship in dominating fashion, carding a 10-under-par 134 – featuring an opening-round 64 – that tied the state tournament record set by PGA Tour professional Ted Purdy in 1991. It was the lowest 36-hole score in any state tournament this year and helped Desert Mountain win the state title. He was named Player of the Year by the Arizona Republic. Ranked 12th in the Junior Golf Scoreboard national rankings, he will attend the University of Florida.
McKenney went on to play all four years at Florida. His senior year McKenney was named NCAA All-Southeast Region honors and was named a second-team All-SEC performer. He also made the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice during his career.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Warwick Valley High School
Ryan’s first State and Federation championships last fall capped a career that has seen her win major races all over the nation.
Ryan’s first State and Federation championships last fall capped a career that has seen her win major races all over the nation.
Aislinn Ryan
Warwick Valley High School
Impact Statement
Ryan’s first State and Federation championships last fall capped a career that has seen her win major races all over the nation.
Biography
Ryan’s first state and Federation championships last fall – she was the 2004 runner-up – capped a career that has seen her win major races all over the nation. She was the Foot Locker Girls National champion in 2004 and was the top senior in 2005, finishing third overall.
A two-time Foot Locker Northeast Region runner-up, she also has won the Great American Cross Country Festival and posted the fastest two-mile time (10:26.64) in the nation last year. Also an indoor track standout, she won the mile run at the Stanner Games, Boston Indoor Games and Millrose Games a year ago. Her time at the Millrose Games was the seventh-fastest in the history of the prestigious event. She will attend the University of Colorado.
At Colorado Ryan capped off her freshman year with an All-Big 12 honor. In 2007 she was a team member for the USA Cross Country Junior World Championship.
Ryan is currently the head coach at SUNY New Paltz and leading the Hawks to prominence. In 2019 the team had it’s best finish at the SUNYAC Championships. She was also voted the Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, a first for the Hawks program.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
El Camino High School
” I think there’s kind of not necessarily a cookie-cutter way to do it, but there’s a basic training plan and then it kind of diverges from there.” -A.J. Acosta on training
” I think there’s kind of not necessarily a cookie-cutter way to do it, but there’s a basic training plan and then it kind of diverges from there.” -A.J. Acosta on training
A.J. Acosta
El Camino High School
Impact Statement
” I think there’s kind of not necessarily a cookie-cutter way to do it, but there’s a basic training plan and then it kind of diverges from there.” -A.J. Acosta on training
Biography
Acosta was the champion of the Foot Locker Boys National Championship in 2005 after finishing ninth in the race as a junior. Twice third in the overall California state championships, he was the Division 1 state champion as a senior and runner-up as a junior. Acosta was selected as the state Senior Runner of the Year by dyestatcal.com and was the mile runner-up in the Boston Indoor Games this year.
Already the holder of California’s fastest time in the 3,200-meter run this spring, Acosta competed in the Oregon Twilight Meet May 5 and posted a time of 3:45.73 in the 1500 meters, the second-fastest time ever run by a high school runner in the state. He will attend the University of Oregon.
While at Oregon Acosta was a two time NCAA Champion in the distance medley relay. He was an eight time All American. Acosta was the National Runner-up in the 1,500 meters at the 2010 NCAA’s and owns the school record in the event.
He also competed at he 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Christ the King High School
“If I’m going out there, I might as well be the best.”
-Tina Charles
“If I’m going out there, I might as well be the best.”
-Tina Charles
Tina Charles
Christ the King High School
Impact Statement
“If I’m going out there, I might as well be the best.”
-Tina Charles
Biography
Charles led Christ the King to a second consecutive unbeaten season, the Royals going 30-0 and finishing No. 1 in the USA Today Super 25. The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 26.5 points, 14.8 rebounds and 5.2 blocked shots per game and was named Gatorade National Player of the Year, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year, USA Today Player of the Year, New York State’s Miss Basketball and a McDonald’s All-American.
Her 49 points against Brooklyn Bishop Ford Central Catholic High this year is a school record, as are her 1,224 career rebounds. She will attend the University of Connecticut.
During her junior year at UConn Charles led the Huskies to a National Championships. She was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Charles is the lead scorer in UConn’s illustrious history.
Charles was the #1 overall WNBA Draft pick in 2010 by the Connecticut Sun. She was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. She led her way to the top of the leader board in rebounds. In 2014 Charles went to the New York Liberty. Charles was selected to the WBNA All-Star game for the sixth time in her career in 2018. In 2019 she became the Liberty’s all-time leading scorer.
Charles also won a Gold Medal at the 2012 and the 2016 Olympic Games with Team USA.
Photos
Videos
Professional Achievements
Lawrence North High School
“I am a basketball player through and through and I got my degree, but I don’t want to be looked at as just a basketball player.” -Greg Oden
“I am a basketball player through and through and I got my degree, but I don’t want to be looked at as just a basketball player.” -Greg Oden
Greg Oden
Lawrence North High School
Impact Statement
“I am a basketball player through and through and I got my degree, but I don’t want to be looked at as just a basketball player.” -Greg Oden
Biography
The 7-foot center is the second player in two years from the talent-rich Indianapolis area to be named NHSCA National High School Senior Boys Basketball Athlete of the Year. Oden averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 74 per cent from the field, and led Lawrence North to three consecutive Class 4A state titles, a feat accomplished by just two other Indiana schools.
A two-time USA Today and Gatorade National Player of the Year, Oden also was named Player of the Year by the James Naismith Foundation and Parade magazine. He will attend Ohio State University.
Oden only played one season as a Buckeye in which Ohio State finished second at the NCAA Division I Championships. Oden was the #1 overall draft pick in 2007, landing with the Portland Trailblazers. Oden was plagued by injuries to his knee throughout his career.
He has recently re-enrolled at Ohio State and graduated in the spring of 2019 with his Bachelor’s degree. Oden was recently hired as an athlete adviser and hopes to help future athletes with the nuances of a career in sports.
Photos
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Bonners Ferry High School
“I approach every match the same, regardless of whether it counts or they use it for this or that.”
-Adam Hall
“I approach every match the same, regardless of whether it counts or they use it for this or that.”
-Adam Hall
Adam Hall
Bonners Ferry High School
Impact Statement
“I approach every match the same, regardless of whether it counts or they use it for this or that.”
-Adam Hall
Biography
A three-time Idaho Class 3A state champion and four-time finalist, Hall went 7-0 and won one of the toughest weight classes – 152 pounds – in the NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships in March and was voted the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler. Undersized for the weight, Hall won his first match by 12 points and his final six matches by a combined 11 points, scoring a takedown at the buzzer in an 8-7 victory over three-time Michigan champion Jonathan Reader of Davison (Mich.) High in the title match. He was a USA Wrestling Cadet National All-American in 2004 and a Junior National finalist in 2005. He will attend Boise State University.
While at Boise State, Hall was a two time All American placing 3rd and 5th his Junior and Senior year. He finished with a 122-18 career record, placing him second with his overall wins in BSU’s history.
After graduation, Hall coached 15 NCAA Qualifiers and one NCAA All-American at Columbia University. In 2015, he became the assistant coach at North Carolina State. The Wolfpack has been extremely successful. In 2016, the Pack tied a school record with eight NCAA Qualifiers.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Riverside High School
Hodge is considered the finest player in North Carolina high school history. She won a Silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Hodge is considered the finest player in North Carolina high school history. She won a Silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Megan Hodge
Riverside High School
Impact Statement
Hodge is considered the finest player in North Carolina high school history. She won a Silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Biography
Considered the finest player in North Carolina high school history, the 6-foot-3 Hodge totaled 363 kills, 30 blocks, 197 digs, 109 assists and 86 aces as a senior. She is a two-time winner of the Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year award and was selected as the Gatorade National Player of the Year this year.
A two-time member of the USA Volleyball Girls Youth National Team, Hodge is following in the footsteps of her parents, Michael and Carmen Hodge, who were members of the Virgin Islands national volleyball teams. She holds a 4.5 grade-point average, scored 1800 on the SAT and headlines Penn State University’s top-ranked recruiting class.
Hodge was the first freshman to ever be named Big Ten Player of the Year. As a Nittany Lion she led the team to two National Championships, knocking off Stanford and Texas, respectively in 2007 and 2009.
Upon graduating from Penn State Hodge was a member of Team USA at the Grand Prix in 2012, where the team won gold. She was named the Most Valuable Player and Best Scorer. Later in 2012 Hodge won the Silver at the Olympics.
Photos
Videos
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Keller High School
Shortidge became the fifth player in LSU’s storied history to receive First-Team All-American honors.
Shortidge became the fifth player in LSU’s storied history to receive First-Team All-American honors.
Kirsten Shortridge
Keller High School
Impact Statement
Shortidge became the fifth player in LSU’s storied history to receive First-Team All-American honors.
Biography
Often compared to former NHSCA Senior Athlete of the Year and University of Texas pitching ace Cat Osterman, the 5-foot-11 Shortridge improved to 24-1 this season after pitching back-to-back perfect games on April 22, striking out 30 of the 45 batters she faced. She has a 0.13 earned-run average and 331 strikeouts in 160 innings for Keller, ranked No. 2 nationally.
Offensively, she is hitting .539 with six doubles, seven triples, two home runs, 24 RBIs and 36 stolen bases. Over the past two seasons she has allowed just five earned runs in 414 innings. A two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team selection, Shortridge will attend Baylor University.
While at Baylor, she was named Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year. She was also deemed First-team All-Big 12 Conference selection. After her freshman year Shortridge transferred to LSU. In her senior year she was one of four who started in each game. She’s the fifth player to be designated Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All American honors in the program’s illustrious history.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Morris High School
“I like to be the guy who can come up and hit instead of always being hit.” -John Dergo
“I like to be the guy who can come up and hit instead of always being hit.” -John Dergo
John Dergo
Morris High School
Impact Statement
“I like to be the guy who can come up and hit instead of always being hit.” -John Dergo
Biography
He won’t be playing football in college, but no player anywhere was more versatile or more important to his team than Dergo. He wore No. 5 and was a five-way standout as a running back, linebacker, kick returner, placekicker and punter.
As a senior, the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year rushed for 3,010 yards – the second-highest single-season total in state history – and scored a state-record 53 touchdowns to lead Morris to a 14-0 record and the Class 5A state title. His 110 career touchdowns also are a state record. In a 28-21 quarterfinal victory over eight-time state champion Joliet Catholic Academy, Dergo rushed for 366 yards, scored four touchdowns, and made two game-saving interceptions in the end zone, and he added 206 yards, a touchdown and 14 tackles in the state title game. He also averaged 36 yards as a punter and kicked 53 of 64 extra points and two of three field goals, including a 37-yarder.
Dergo was a two-time state wrestling champion and earned a wrestling scholarship to the University of Illinois. While at Illinois, Dergo competed in wrestling and was a four time NCAA Qualifier and placed 5th at the 2010 NCAA Championships as a Senior.
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Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Crestwood High School
Survilla set a Pennsylvania state record by scoring 63 goals as a junior.
Survilla set a Pennsylvania state record by scoring 63 goals as a junior.
Amie Survilla
Crestwood High School
Impact Statement
Survilla set a Pennsylvania state record by scoring 63 goals as a junior.
Biography
Survilla, a forward, set a Pennsylvania state record by scoring 63 goals as a junior, two of them coming in the state championship game as she led Crestwood to an unbeaten season and the Class AA state title.
A three-time selection to the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School All-America Team, including First Team honors the past two years, Survilla also is a four-year member of USA Field Hockey national teams. She competed on the Under-16 national team in 2003 and 2004 and the Under-21 national team the past two years.
Also a standout center fielder on the Crestwood softball team, she will attend Duke University.
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Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
The Woodlands High School
Drabek boasted a fastball that was clocked as high as 97 miles per hour while at The Woodlands High School prior to being drafted in 2006 at the MLB Draft.
Drabek boasted a fastball that was clocked as high as 97 miles per hour while at The Woodlands High School prior to being drafted in 2006 at the MLB Draft.
Kyle Drabek
The Woodlands High School
Impact Statement
Drabek boasted a fastball that was clocked as high as 97 miles per hour while at The Woodlands High School prior to being drafted in 2006 at the MLB Draft.
Biography
The youngest son of former major league pitcher and Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, the 6-foot-1 right-hander, whose fastball has been clocked as high as 97 miles per hour, sports a 9-0 record with a 1.15 earned-run average and 97 strikeouts this spring to lead the top-ranked team in the USA Today Super 25. At the plate Drabek leads the Houston area with 10 home runs, and also has 33 RBIs and a team-leading .462 batting average.
As a junior, Drabek batted .479 with six home runs and 33 RBIs and was 11-1 on the mound with a 0.82 earned-run average and 155 strikeouts in 77 innings. He was selected to the Baseball America Pre-Season All-America First Team and is projected to be a high first-round selection in the upcoming Major League Baseball amateur draft.
Drabek was selected by the Phillies as the 18th overall draft pick in 2006. In 2009, he was honored with the Paul Owen award, which is given to the top pitcher and the top position player in the Phillies’ minor-league system. Drabek was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in late 2009 where he remained until 2015.
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