Faces in the Crowd
Kasen Williams
SAMMAMISH, WASH. > Track and Field, Football
Kasen, a senior at Skyline High, swept the high jump (6'10"), long jump (24' 5¼") and triple jump (50' 9¼" for a state record) at the 4A state meet. A wide receiver, he holds school records in receptions (236), receiving yards (4,161) and touchdowns (56) and was named the Parade All-America player of the year. He will play football for Washington in the fall.
Kristi Marks
APEX, N.C. > Lacrosse, Volleyball
Kristi, a senior attacker and co-captain at Apex High, had 46 goals and 45 assists to lead the Cougars to an undefeated record (20--0) and the state title. Last fall, as a setter and co-captain, she led the volleyball team in assists (538) en route to a 27--0 record and a state title. She was voted most valuable female athlete for her school and will play lacrosse at Robert Morris next year.
Steve Johnson
ORANGE, CALIF. > Tennis
Johnson, a junior at USC, won his 35th straight singles match (4--6, 6--2, 6--1 over Tennessee's Rhyne Williams) to become the NCAA singles champion less than a week after being named most outstanding player in the Trojans' successful run to their third straight NCAA team title. The Pac-10 player of the year, he is ranked No. 1 in men's college tennis.
Emily Dicus
TOPEKA, KANS. > Swimming
Emily, a senior at Topeka West High, broke her own records at the Class 5-1A state meet with a 1:48.33 time in the 200-yard freestyle and a 49.25 performance in the 100-yard free, becoming the first Kansas girl to break 50 seconds in the event. Emily also owns state marks in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. Next year she will swim for Virginia.
Brian Karalunas
DEWITT, N.Y. > Lacrosse
Karalunas, a senior long stick midfielder and team captain at Villanova, led the nation in caused turnovers per game (4.38), setting a Wildcats career record (153). An All-America selection and two-time Big East defensive player of the year, he graduated with a 3.94 GPA as a philosophy major and was awarded the Lowe's Senior Class Award for scholar-athletes.
Loreal Curtis
HOUSTON > Track and Field
Loreal, a senior at Lutheran South Academy, won her fourth straight pair of Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools 4A state titles in the 200 (25.97) and 400 meters (56.46, breaking her own meet record). At the same meet, she added a silver in the triple jump and a gold in the 100-meter dash (12.38), for nine career event titles. She will compete for DePaul next year.
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COURTESY OF THE MARKS FAMILY (MARKS)
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