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Thursday, November 16, 2000

Veronica Rathi

SCHOOL: Mt. Lebanon

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-5, senior center midfielder for the Mt. Lebanon girls' soccer team.

LAST WEEK: Rathi has scored at least one goal in four consecutive playoff games, all Blue Devils victories. The Blue Devils won the WPIAL championship, 2-1, over Butler on Nov. 2, thanks to Rathi's goal with nine minutes to play. Against Penn-Trafford in the PIAA quarterfinals on Saturday, a 2-0 Blue Devils win, she again scored the winner. On Tuesday in the Blue Devils' 2-1 shootout victory over Norwin in the PIAA semifinal, Rathi scored Mt. Lebanon's only goal in regulation. She also has been outstanding on defense and when setting up plays.

SEASON: Even though she plays in the midfield, she is the team's leading scorer with 24 goals, seven of which, came during the playoffs.

Will SHE PLAY?: Rathi has a knee injury. She said that one of the Norwin players fell on her during the first overtime on Tuesday, and it was twisted, causing it to swell up. She had to sit out of the remainder of the game and went to the doctors yesterday to have it checked out. She said she's unsure if she'll be able to play in the PIAA championship game Saturday against Downingtown at HersheyPark Stadium.

FINALLY ON TOP: Rathi's class had played in five championship games (three WPIAL, two PIAA) without winning before this year when they finally won the WPIAL. Rathi said that winning the WPIAL was a great relief, but winning the PIAA is the team's ultimate goal.

"I think the fact that we've had so much success has made it much more fun for me," said Rathi, "but I hate to lose. And I hate losing more than I love winning, so some of those years have ended pretty bitterly. But I think this team is really different in that we seem to be more like a family. I have a good feeling about Saturday.

XTREME SPORTS: Rathi plays recreational league softball for fun in the spring, but her real passion outside of soccer is snowboarding. Once an avid skier, she said she was turned on to snowboarding a few years ago by some friends and has never gone back to skiing. She makes annual snowboarding trips to Colorado.

"It is a lot more fun than skiing is," said Rathi, "because in some ways it is easier to do, and I think you can do more things on a snowboard."

FUTURE: A senior, Rathi is undecided about her college plans but said she'd like to attend James Madison University and possibly study something in the field of sociology or psychology because she enjoys helping people. She carries a 3.8 GPA.

-- By Paul Zeise

Aaron Krepps

SCHOOL: Belle Vernon.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot, 180-pound junior on Belle Vernon's undefeated football team. Krepps is extraordinary at returning punts, and has played receiver, running back, quarterback and linebacker.

LAST WEEK: He caught an 82-yard touchdown pass from Josh Cramer and threw a 36-yard TD pass to Erik Gill as Belle Vernon defeated Hampton, 39-8, in a WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal.

SEASON: Calling Krepps versatile may be an understatement. He has rushed for 260 yards on 19 carries (13.7 average), caught 12 passes for 468 yards (39.0 average) and completed 8 of 14 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. He also has played well on defense and is one of the reasons Belle Vernon is 11-0. The Leopards play West Allegheny in a WPIAL semifinal Saturday morning at Three Rivers Stadium.

RETURNS ARE IN: Krepps' best attribute may be his ability to return punts. He has returned six punts for touchdowns of 57, 71, 51, 55, 54 and 72 yards. If that's not impressive enough, consider this: He has had six other punt returns for touchdowns called back because of penalties.

"I've never seen a kid do that in punt returns. I don't think anybody has ever seen it," said Belle Vernon Coach Gary Dongilli. "He's just been unbelievable."

IS THERE A SECRET? Why is Krepps so successful at returning punts? Before this season, he hadn't returned a punt since junior high. "I really don't want to give out my secrets. We're still in the playoffs," Krepps said, with a laugh. "But first off, you just want to catch the ball. Teams have been kicking away from me lately, so I just have to run after the ball then."

Krepps has made only one fair catch all season. Dongilli has no idea why Krepps is so successful at punt returns.

"He must have great vision. That has to be it," Dongilli said. "He's able to really see the field well and make some guys miss. Then, that wall sets up, and he always seems to get behind that wall."

BIG-PLAY SPECIALIST: Krepps has scored 15 touchdowns this season. Besides the six punt returns, he has scored on three runs and six receptions. His scoring plays average 50.7 yards.

THE OTHER STUFF: Krepps also was the starting right fielder on Belle Vernon's baseball team in the spring. He has a 3.8 grade-point average.

Krepps is well-spoken and has an interesting hobby.

"I like to spot deer," he said. "I've never hunted, but I just like to spot deer."

Say what?

"I don't know why," he said. "It's just something I've picked up along the way. It's relaxing. I just like to go out in the woods and relax."

-- By Mike White