Faces in the Crowd
GRACIA LEYDON MAHONEY
NEWTON, MASS. > DIVING
Gracia, a junior at Durham (N.C.) Academy, won gold in the 16- to 18-year-old division three-meter springboard at the world junior championships in Adelaide, Australia. In fourth place with one round to go, she executed a reverse 1½ with 2½ twists for 73.95 points—including a pair of 9s—to win by 2.70. It was the highest-scoring dive in the final. In August, Gracia won her age group's one-meter title at junior nationals and her first senior national title in the three-meter.
GABE MYLES
STARKVILLE, MISS. > FOOTBALL
Gabe, a senior quarterback at Starkville High, led a 46--0 homecoming victory over Yazoo City, throwing for a season-high 155 yards and rushing for a season-high 101 to help the Yellow Jackets remain the only undefeated team in their region. It was the team's fifth straight win after his return from an ankle injury in the season opener. Gabe, named to this year's Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic roster, led Starkville to the 5A state title game last year. He will play at Mississippi State.
TIMBRELEE MCNAIR
GIRARD, KANS. > GOLF
Timbrelee, a junior at Girard High, won the 4A state girls' title in a playoff at Hesston Golf Course, shooting a one-over 72 to equal her own school record for lowest score. She was tied with Coffeyville's Anna Pool before sinking an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole—the same hole she had birdied to open the day—to clinch the championship. Her ninth straight individual victory this year helped the Trojans to a third-place team finish.
JACK BOYLE
AVON-BY-THE-SEA, N.J. > CROSS-COUNTRY
Jack, a senior at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, N.J., led the nationally No. 1--ranked Colts to the 4K Eastern States Championship team title at the 40th Manhattan High School Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park (Bronx). He finished fifth in 12:25.70 to pace CBA to an average of 12:44.54, breaking the course mark by 4.3 seconds. It was the third time the defending national champion Colts have set a course record this fall. Jack will attend Columbia next year.
SHANICE ROBE
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. > SOCCER
Robe, a freshman forward at Division III Mount Saint Mary College, scored three goals and added an assist in a 4--1 win over Sage to help the unbeaten Knights clinch the Skyline Conference regular-season title. In the previous week she scored back-to-back hat tricks in wins over Maritime and Purchase, and added the game-winner in a 2--0 defeat of Denison. Through Sunday, Robe led all NCAA divisions with 27 goals, including a nation-leading 10 game-winners.
CLAY YOUNGQUIST
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. > SWIMMING
Youngquist, a sophomore at Texas, won two individual races and a pair of relays to help the Longhorns to a season-opening win at the Southwest Collegiate Plunge. He won the 500-yard freestyle by 6.15 seconds (4:25.50) and the 200 free by 4.29 (1:36.20). He also helped win the 200- and 400-free relays with a meet-best 43.81 split in the 400. Youngquist, who swam a leg in Texas's winning 400- and 800-free relays at last year's NCAAs, was a 200-free semifinalist at the 2012 Olympic trials.
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RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS
At 7'8", Igor Vovkovinskiy is the tallest person in the U.S. The Ukraine-born 30-year-old is also an avid Timberwolves fan who had to quit playing basketball in grade school when he couldn't find shoes that fit, and he has undergone 16 surgeries on his feet. Last week Reebok gave Vovkovinskiy three pairs of size 24 10E sneakers, custom-built at a reported cost of $25,000 and emblazoned with IGOR on the back and soles.
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MICHELE JOKINEN/ROCHESTER POST-BULLETIN/AP (VOVKOVINSKIY)
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JORDAN TOWNSEND (LEYDON MAHONEY)
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LISA BROWNING PHOTOGRAPHY (MYLES)
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GIRARD HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK STAFF (MCNAIR)
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TAMMIE BENNETT (BOYLE)
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JUSTIN SATKOWSKI (ROBE)
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UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY (YOUNGQUIST)