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Thursday, May 03, 2001

Akeem Vance

SCHOOL: Greensburg Salem

WHO IS HE? A 5-foot-6, 157-pound junior sprinter on the track team.

LAST WEEK: Vance won the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the Westmoreland County meet. He also ran the anchor legs of the Lions' winning 400 and 1,600 relay teams. The 400 team set a meet record with a time of 43.4 seconds, and his split time in the 1,600 was 49.2.

THIS SEASON: Vance has developed into one of the top sprinters in the WPIAL. He won the 100 and 200 at the Tri-State Coaches Association meet a month ago. At the Vikings Invitational relays at Mount Pleasant, he anchored an 800 team that won with a time of 1:29.5, which is believed to be one of the fastest times in the event in Western Pennsylvania in the past 20 years. Overall, he has the fastest times in the WPIAL in the 100 (10.6 seconds) and 200 (21.7).

A HIGHER LEVEL: Vance is a natural athlete with raw ability. Last year, however, he didn't achieve any of his goals in track because he didn't put in time practicing and working out. After not winning any key races a year ago, Vance decided to dedicate himself to reaching his potential. He started working out in December -- a month before the rest of the Lions' sprinters -- and had a tremendous indoor season. The result of his work is obvious by his success.

"I'll be honest, last year he was a little immature and didn't understand that there are a lot of people with ability out there," said Greensburg Salem Coach Steve Snider. "After he started getting beat, then he realized that he needed to work hard and go after it if he was going to become among the elite, but by that time, it was too late in the year."

ONE DOWN: The two sprinters who caused Vance the most heartache last year were Derry's Derek Skillings and Connellsville's Marcus Furman. Vance never beat either, and in fact, they finished 1-2-3 in the WPIAL meet. Last week, Vance beat Skillings in the 100 and 200. His next mission is to beat Furman.

FOOTBALL STAR: Vance hadn't played much football until last year when he joined the team. He played running back and averaged 9.1 yards per carry while rushing for 922 yards. He also scored 10 touchdowns.

STAYING PUT: Vance was born in Kalamazoo, Mich. In eighth grade, he got into some trouble and was sent to George Junior Republic, a school in Grove City for court-adjudicated youths. During his sophomore year, he was transferred to a group home in Greensburg and enrolled at Greensburg Salem. However, Vance's term at George Junior is coming to an end and he could return to Michigan if he so chooses, but instead he will stay with a foster family in Greensburg to finish up his senior year with the Lions in hopes of earning a track scholarship.

-- By Paul Zeise

Ali Grenert

SCHOOL: Sewickley Academy

WHO IS SHE? A senior and one of the best lacrosse players in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

THE PAST WEEK: In three Sewickley Academy victories, Grenert had 12 goals and seven assists. Included in that stretch was a five-goal, two-assist performance against North Allegheny.

SEASON: In 11 games, Grenert has 31 goals and 23 assists and is one of the main reasons Sewickley Academy has an 11-0 record.

THREE-SPORT ATHLETE: Grenert also played soccer and basketball in her career. She was a four-year starter in soccer and a two-year starter in basketball and lacrosse.

BIG SHOT: At 5 feet 11, Grenert is much bigger than most lacrosse players. The height helps more in lacrosse than it did in basketball.

"I played guard in basketball," she said. "In lacrosse, my height is definitely an advantage because I'm normally a lot taller than my defender. I think in lacrosse it's harder to defend someone taller. When a defender is shorter than me, I know I can just cradle the ball high and they won't be able to reach it."

BETTER THAN SHE THOUGHT: Grenert and her family moved from North Carolina to the Pittsburgh area before seventh grade.

"People told me lacrosse was like soccer, which I had been playing all my life," she said. "There was no other spring sport to play, plus all my friends were going out for lacrosse. So I just went out and fell in love with it."

COACH'S COMMENTS: "I think her knowledge of the game is what makes her good," said Sewickley Academy Coach Cheryl Ann Lassen. "She's calm, she relaxes and doesn't rush and panic."

GOING OVERSEAS: Grenert, her mother and her sister were part of a community service project that raised money to buy Christmas presents for people in Croatia. Over the holidays, Grenert and her family flew to Croatia to visit hospitals and deliver the presents.

THE FUTURE: Grenert will play next season at Colby College in Maine.

-- By Mike White