FACES IN THE CROWD

ALEX PERKINS

WESTPORT, CONN. > ROWING

Perkins, a freshman at Washington, in the stroke seat helped lead the freshman men's eight to a three-length victory over Brown in the Temple Cup, for collegiate crews, at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England. The Huskies' freshman crew was undefeated for the season, including wins at the Pac-12 championships and the Intercollegiate Rowing Association nationals. Last year, as a rower at Kent (Conn.) School, Perkins was a member of the junior national team.

DESTINEE GAUSE

REYNOLDSBURG, OHIO > TRACK AND FIELD

Destinee, a senior sprinter at Reynoldsburg High, was the only athlete, male or female, to win four events at the Ohio Division 1 state championships, leading the Raiders to their fourth consecutive team title. She won the 100 meters (11.95 seconds), the 200 (23.91) for the fourth straight time and anchored the 4 √ó 100 (45.99, a state record) and the 4 √ó 400 relay teams (3:50.33) to amass 12 career titles, another state record. She will compete at Florida next year.

RYAN KEAFFABER

WABASH, IND. > BASEBALL

Ryan, a junior lefthander at Northfield High, he pitched the Norsemen to their second straight state 2A title with a 3--2 win over Evansville Mater Dei, capping a school-record 16--0 season on the mound. He allowed seven hits and struck out nine, including the final batter with the tying run on second. Ryan batted .426 this season and broke the school's single-season record for doubles (12) and RBIs (45). He is just 12 wins away from breaking the alltime Indiana high school record for pitchers.

HOPE STOCKEL

HOSCHTON, GA. > WEIGHTLIFTING

Hope, who will be senior at Flowery Branch High, won her third straight national youth title in Dearborn, Mich., competing in the 128-pound (58-kilogram) weight class of the girls' 16--17 age division. She lifted 66 kilos in the snatch and 81 in the clean and jerk to win by 27 kilos. In May she won her third straight Georgia state title and lifted a personal-record 148 combined kilos at junior worlds in Guatemala. In September, Hope will compete in her second youth world championships in Slovakia.

WALLY ELLENSON

RICE LAKE, WIS. > TRACK AND FIELD, BASKETBALL

Wally, who graduated from Rice Lake High, won his second straight Wisconsin high jump championship, clearing 6'10" at the Division 1 state meet to win by four inches. Earlier in the season he jumped 7'1" at regionals, to tie for the best national high school mark this season. A guard in basketball, Wally averaged 20.1 points and 8.9 rebounds this year, and he scored a school-record 1,356 points in just three seasons. In the fall he will play basketball at Minnesota.

MICHAELA KIERSCH

CHICAGO

OWEN GRAHAM

ARGYLE, TEXAS > CLIMBING

Michaela, who will be a senior at Whitney Young High, and Owen, who will be a sophomore at Colorado State, were crowned the female and male junior champions at the Sport Climbing Series youth nationals in Atlanta. Michaela tied Cicada Jenerik in the final with 59.64 points and clinched the title because she had the top-ranked finish in the semis. Owen won with 65.11 points.

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TOP THIS

The U.S. Olympic team unveiled its outfits for the London opening ceremonies: navy Ralph Lauren blazers, cream slacks and skirts, and—putting pundits in a panic—berets. Americans last wore the t√™te-toppers at the 2002 Winter Games, where they were a hit, but that didn't stop folks last week from questioning the patriotism of the choice. (Also, they were made in China. Whoops.) "Why not do something very American and go topless?" joked one Fox News anchor. Laugh away, but here's photo evidence that the beret is as American as What's Happening and the Duke.

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BUENA VISTA PICTURES/EVERETT COLLECTION (RUSHMORE)

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LIONSGATE/EVERETT COLLECTION (SYLVESTER STALLONE)

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KRISTIN CALLAHAN/EVERETT COLLECTION (LL COOL J)

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EVERETT COLLECTION (JOHN WAYNE)

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COLUMBIA PICTURES TELEVISION/EVERETT COLLECTION (RERUN)

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EVERETT COLLECTION (SAM KINISON)

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MIRAMAX/EVERETT COLLECTION (SAMUEL L. JACKSON)

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UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (PERKINS)

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COZETTE HAZEL (GAUSE)

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COURTESY OF TONY UGGEN (KEAFFABER)

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GAGE AXFORD (STOCKEL)

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ERIC MILLER (ELLENSON)

TWO PHOTOS

BOB LOCKHART (KIERSCH, GRAHAM)