Faces in the Crowd

Kristen Rafael
GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS > Tennis
Kristen, a senior at Nolan Catholic High, won her third Texas private schools singles title, losing only two sets (to Ursuline's Peta Maree Lancaster in the state final as a junior) during her high school career. Kristen, the USTA's No. 5 under-18 player, beat Lancaster in this year's final.

Matt LaPorta
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA. > Baseball
LaPorta, a senior at Florida, is the Southeastern Conference player of the year for the second time. The first baseman was second in the SEC in batting (.402) and homers (20) and led in on-base percentage (.582), thanks partly to 10 walks (nine intentional) in 14 plate appearances against Tennessee.

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Tony Mendes
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. > Lacrosse
Tony, a senior attacker at East Chapel Hill High, scored 78 goals and had 33 assists for the Wildcats, the second straight season he had at least 100 points. The Maryland-bound, two-time All-America led his team to two North Carolina championships.

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Janet Anson
KANSAS CITY, MO. > Gymnastics
Anson, a senior at Iowa State, is a co--Big 12 champ on the uneven bars and the first athlete to be the Big 12 gymnast of the year in consecutive seasons. The eight-time All-America was second in the all-around and vault and third on the balance beam and in floor exercises at the conference championships.

Michael Henitiuk
SPRUCE GROVE, ALBERTA > Freestyle Skiing
Michael, a 17-year-old junior at the National Sports School, is the youngest male to win the dual moguls at the Canadian national championships, rallying from ninth after the morning qualifier. He was a gold medalist at the Canada Winter Games in the half-pipe and dual moguls.

Emily Pendleton
LINDSEY, OHIO > Track and Field
Emily, a senior at Woodmore High who is headed to Michigan, broke the Ohio record in the discus by more than six feet with a throw of 183' 3", the nation's longest this season. She is a four-time state champ and won the event at the Nike outdoor national and the USA Junior Track and Field meets last year.

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