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Thursday, May 17, 2001

By Mike White and Paul Zeise, Post-Gazette Sports Writers

SCHOOL: Deer Lakes.

WHO IS SHE? A senior and standout middle distance runner.

THIS WEEK: McKinney won the 400- and 800-meter runs Tuesday at the WPIAL Class AA track and field championships. She set a record in the 400 with a time of 58.08 seconds and won the 800 in 2:15.57.

	Kerry McKinney: WPIAL record-holder in the 400. (Gabor Degre, Post-Gazette)

ONE OF A KIND: A year ago, McKinney became the first Deer Lakes girl to win a PIAA championship when she finished first in the Class AA 400.

FOR THE RECORD: McKinney has had an unbelievable career at Deer Lakes. She holds school records in every running event, except hurdles. She also has been on Deer Lakes' 1,600- and 3,200-meter relay teams that have school records.

GOING THE DISTANCE: As a freshman and sophomore, McKinney was a sprinter, competing in the 100 and 200. Near the end of her sophomore year, she started running distance races.

"One day, one of the girls from our [1,600] relay team had to go home from a meet," McKinney said. "The coaches needed someone to fill her spot, so they put me there. Ever since, they've kept me there."

McKinney ran only the 400 a year ago at the WPIAL championships. She wanted to also run the 800, but she said her coaches preferred she didn't.

"I think I could've done well in the 800, but we had Crystal Barr in that event last year, and the coaches didn't want me to take anything away from Crystal because it was her senior year," McKinney said.

THE OTHER SPORTS: McKinney will graduate next month with 11 varsity letters. She was a four-year letter winner in soccer and track. She was a three-year letter winner in girls' basketball.

-- By Mike White

SCHOOL: Mt. Lebanon

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-4 senior outside hitter for the boys' volleyball team.

LAST WEEK: Led his team to the championship of the Elderton Tournament.

THIS SEASON: Wentzel is considered one of the top players in the PIAA and has helped Mt. Lebanon to a 38-2 record and No. 3 ranking.

CAREER: Last year, Wentzel was named first team all-WPIAL and second team all-PIAA. He is a three-year starter for the Blue Devils.

A GOOD BREAK: Wentzel has a 37-inch vertical jump but developed it the hard way. As an eighth grader, the femur in Wentzel's right leg was broken playing football. A titanium plate with nine screws was inserted into his leg, which ended his football career. He also was a high jumper, but he jumped off his right leg.That spring, he began learning how to jump off his left leg.

"My left actually became my stronger leg, but then my right leg healed and I became a much better jumper off two feet," Wentzel said. "Still to this day, I have the plate in my right leg and I jump off my left leg. It has all worked out because in ninth grade I started playing volleyball, and that's the sport I'll play in college."

ONE SPORT: Along with football, Wentzel always played basketball and baseball and was hoping to be a three-sport athlete at Mt. Lebanon. But by the end of his freshman year, he knew he would have to focus on only one sport if he wanted to have a chance at a scholarship.

"Well, football was not an option, and I had no interest in waking up at 5 a.m. for basketball practice so that was out," Wentzel said. "That left baseball, but I had joined the volleyball team to see what it was like and really fell in love with it. Since baseball and volleyball are during the same season, I had to choose, and baseball was out."

FUTURE: Wentzel will play volleyball at Penn State University and plans to study bio-engineering.

-- By Paul Zeise