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Thursday, June 07, 2001

SCHOOL: Sewickley Academy.

WHO IS HE? A senior and standout lacrosse player.

LAST WEEK: Bryson, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound midfielder, had three goals and one assist as Sewickley Academy defeated Mt. Lebanon, 10-4, in the Western Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association championship game Saturday.

RECORD BREAKER: Bryson has a school record 71 goals this season. Sewickley Academy will play Ridley for the Keystone Cup championship at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Peters Township.

HEADED FOR PRINCETON: Bryson will play next season at Princeton University. The Tigers won the NCAA championship a few weeks ago and have won six NCAA titles in the past 10 years.

"They recruited him to play there," said Sewickley Academy Coach Tim Hastings. "He's the real thing. He's a big, strong kid who can just run forever. He's just in incredible shape and he has excellent stick work. He has an incredibly hard shot, too."

ALL-AMERICAN STATUS: Bryson was recently named to the U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American Team.

ON THE MOVE: Bryson attended school in the North Allegheny district through sixth grade. Then in seventh grade his family moved to Sewickley. When he lived in North Allegheny, he was on all-star baseball teams with some North Allegheny players who have signed with Division I colleges.

"But baseball is kind of nonexistent down here in Sewickley," Bryson said. "I had always known about lacrosse because I had sisters who had gone to Sewickley Academy and they informed me about it."

As a youngster, Bryson wanted to play football.

"But my mom wouldn't let me. I guess lacrosse is kind of my way to get my fill of football. But I fell in love with lacrosse right from the start."

THE OTHER SPORT: Bryson was the starting goaltender on Sewickley Academy's soccer team that won the WPIAL Class A championship last season and finished second in the PIAA. Bryson allowed only two goals in seven postseason games.

By Mike White, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

SCHOOL: Chartiers-Houston

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-8 senior pitcher for the Bucs' softball team and one of the WPIAL's best pitchers.

THE PAST WEEK: After losing, 1-0, to Burgettstown in the WPIAL semifinals, Riggle bounced back with a 2-1 victory against Leechburg in the consolation game Thursday. She then led the Bucs to 4-0 victory Monday against Conneaut Valley in the first round of the PIAA Class A playoffs. Against Leechburg and Conneaut Valley, she allowed only seven hits while striking out 23.

THIS SEASON: Riggle is 15-4 and has struck out 200 batters for a third consecutive year. She has pitched 11 no-hitters and one perfect game. She also has 16 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .347.

CAREER: A three-year starter, Riggle is 58-11and has struck out a school record 750 batters. She has led the team to one WPIAL title and two PIAA second-place finishes.

PRICE OF SUCCESS: Riggle used to play basketball and volleyball but quit in 10th grade because she wanted to concentrate on pitching. Since then, she has spent most of her free time practicing, going to pitching clinics or traveling to tournaments.

"I basically have no social life and very little time for myself," she said. "It's tough sometimes, but it has paid off."

FAMILY TIES: Riggle's younger sister, Elexis, is a sophomore and the Bucs' starting center fielder. Riggle said that her sister is a good pitcher but doesn't want to follow in her footsteps.

"She doesn't want to spend all of her time on softball," Riggle said.

Her older sister, Erin, also played softball for the Bucs.

THE FUTURE: Riggle has signed with Robert Morris College. She will study secondary education and wants to become an English teacher and softball coach.

By Paul Zeise, Post-Gazette Sports Writer