Faces in the Crowd

Cedric Battle | Wichita Falls, Texas | Football

Cedric, a senior running back at Hirschi High, rushed for 531 yards and seven touchdowns on 23 carries in a 76--42 win over Burkburnett High to clinch a spot in the 4A playoffs. His single-game rushing performance ranks fifth on the Texas alltime list. Cedric finished the season with 2,699 yards (11.6 per carry) and 30 touchdowns.

Tess Fisher | Vineland, N.J. | Tennis

Tess, a Vineland High freshman, set a New Jersey single-season record for No. 1 singles players with 40 victories; she was unbeaten until falling 6--0, 6--1 to Rumson-Fair Haven High senior Kate Fahey in a state semifinal. Three days later Tess beat Grace Kim of Moorestown Friends 6--1, 6--3 to win the South Jersey Interscholastic Championships.

Max Somple | Santa Cruz, Calif. | Water Polo

Max, a senior righthanded attacker at Soquel High, scored eight goals and had six steals in a 17--11 win over Carmel High that clinched the Monterey Bay League championship, the Knights' 20th straight league title. He has a league-high 65 steals and 62 assists, and is third in goals with 128. Max was named a USA Water Polo Academic All-America in September.

Samantha Ortega | Saugus, Calif. | Cross-country

Samantha, a senior at Saugus High, won her third straight Foothill League title, finishing the three-mile course in 17:13.82 to lead the Centurions to the championship. In September she won the 5K Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul (18:13.80). Last year Samantha was third in the state meet and finished 15th at the Foot Locker nationals.

Gavin Yingling | Salisbury, Md. | Soccer

Yingling, a sophomore forward at Division III U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, scored golden goals in back-to-back double-overtime victories against Drew (2--1) and Scranton (2--1). He led the Landmark Conference in scoring with 16 points (seven goals, two assists) and was named the league's offensive player of the year.

Chelsea Laden | Lakeville, Minn. | Ice Hockey

Laden, a senior goaltender at Quinnipiac, had seven saves in a 3--0 victory over Cornell, earning her fifth of six shutouts in nine starts this season. With just three goals allowed through Sunday, she had the best save percentage (.970) and goals-against average (0.33) among Division I goalies who have started at least twice.

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HIRSCHI HIGH SCHOOL/KFDX (BATTLE)

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COURTESY OF WENDY FISHER (FISHER)

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MIYUKI NAGASAWA (SOMPLE)

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DAVID STEUTEL/MAXPREPS.COM (ORTEGA)

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ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY (YINGLING)

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QUINNIPIAC ATHLETICS (LADEN)