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Thursday, September 05, 2002

By Mike White, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

SCHOOL: Bethel Park

WHO IS SHE? A junior and the defending WPIAL girls' golf champion.

	Jordyn Wells: A strong start to 2002. (Gabor Degre, Post-Gazette)

LAST WEEK: Wells shot an even-par 36 in a match against Seton-LaSalle at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray.

DEFENDING HER TITLE: Wells won the WPIAL championship a year ago by beating Hempfield's Katie Miller in a four-hole playoff. Miller has won two PIAA titles in her career and is back for her senior season.

"I definitely want to defend my title. That's one of my main goals," Wells said. "I know Katie is a senior now and is going to be gunning for it. We have a pretty good rivalry going. Going against her adds a little extra."

HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER: Wells traveled this summer, playing in tournaments in North Carolina, Michigan, New York, Virginia, Mississippi and State College. Her best finish was seventh at a tournament in New York.

"It was a good experience playing girls from all over the country," Wells said. "It's good to see how you play against the top girls. I was actually very excited about the way I competed against them."

BIG HITTER: Wells is only 5 feet 6, but said she regularly drives the ball 240 yards. "I'm not very big, but I pack a big punch," she said.

TRACK AND FIELD HELPS: Wells is a middle-distance runner on Bethel Park's track and field team in the spring. She runs for enjoyment but also because it helps her in golf.

"Track has given me a lot more leg strength and endurance. You go to some of these places in the summer, and it's hot and hilly. Everyone gets kind of tired, but by the 18th green, I feel like, 'Let's go play some more.' "

LEARNING FROM A PRO: Wells and her family belong to South Hills Country Club, but she takes lessons from Oakmont pro Don Sargent.

SCHOOL: Quaker Valley

WHO IS HE? A 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior running back who had an unforgettable start to the football season.

LAST WEEK: Rockymore rushed for 411 yards on 37 carries and scored four touchdowns in a 41-6 victory against Shady Side Academy. And he played only three quarters.

ONE OF THE BEST: Rockymore's rushing total was the fourth-best in WPIAL history. The record is 455 yards by Connellsville's Marcus Furman in 2000. Rockymore is the seventh player in WPIAL history to rush for 400 yards in a game.

"I really had no idea how many yards I had until a couple of my friends told me after the game," Rockymore said.

CHECK THIS OUT: Rockymore has gained 300 yards or more twice in the past four games dating to last season. He had 350 against Carlynton in 2001.

BOUNCING BACK: Rockymore played in only six games last season. A broken left ankle against Charleroi forced him to miss the rest of the year. He finished with 786 yards on 121 carries. Judging from his first game, Rockymore apparently has recovered from the injury.

AT HOME IN SEWICKLEY: Rockymore spent much of his childhood living in the Hill District with his parents. But in sixth and seventh grade, he lived at the Holy Family Institute, a home in Emsworth for students with discipline or legal problems. While there, he attended school in the Avonworth district.

"I used to be a little bit of a bad kid," Rockymore said.

Since eighth grade, Rockymore has lived in Sewickley with an aunt, Dorothy Bailey, and attended Quaker Valley schools.

"My mom lives on the North Side and my father has passed away," Rockymore said. "I could live with my mom and attend a city school, but I'm better off here.

"I'm a lot smarter nowadays. I have my head on straight. I get into a little trouble here and there but nothing major. Being in athletics has helped me stay out of trouble."

Rockymore also plays basketball and baseball at Quaker Valley.

Thursday, September 05, 2002