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Thursday, January 30, 2003

Scott McKillop

SCHOOL: Kiski Area

WHO IS HE? A junior and one of the top wrestlers in the WPIAL. He also is a standout on the football team.

THIS WEEK: Kiski Area won two matches in the WPIAL Class AAA team tournament Tuesday. McKillop got a forfeit win in a 54-9 victory against Pine-Richland, then recorded a pin in a 51-12 victory against Trinity.

SEASON: McKillop has a 23-0 record and is the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked wrestler at 215 pounds. Fifteen of his wins have come on pins.

YEAR OFF: McKillop started wrestling in elementary school but gave up the sport in seventh grade and played basketball. He returned to wrestling as an eighth grader.

"I just got sick of wrestling," he said. "That year off was probably the best thing I ever did. As soon as I took a year off, my love for the sport grew right back."

Also, McKillop wasn't the most adept basketball player. "I was pretty terrible. I couldn't shoot. All I could do was rebound."

'BIG' FAMILY: McKillop is 6-3, 210 pounds. One of his brothers, Chris, was a fullback-linebacker for the football team and is a Pitt recruit. Chris (6-4, 230) played only five games this past season before season-ending ankle surgery. He recently was cleared to start running and expects to be ready for preseason camp at Pitt. Robert, the oldest son in the family, is a heavyweight wrestler at Slippery Rock University.

PITT-PENN STATE BATTLE?: Scott McKillop led Kiski Area in rushing this past season with 729 yards on 109 carries and was a force on defense. Although he does not have any scholarship offers, Division I colleges are interested in him. He might make an unofficial visit to Penn State next month. Pitt also is interested.

"I love the Pitt coaches," he said. "I'm just starting to get to know the Penn State coaches. It's about equal between the two right now. Pitt might be a little ahead. I just have to wait and see what happens."

-- By Mike White

Karlyn Busby

SCHOOL: Union

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-9 senior forward on the basketball team.

PAST WEEK: She scored 54 points the past two games. In a 71-34 win against Cornell she had 34 points.

SEASON: She is averaging 26.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.5 assists a game. She has led the Lady Scots to a 12-9 record and a 7-4 mark in Section 1-A.

CAREER: Earlier this season, she surpassed Jeanette Regina as the school's all-time leading scorer and has 1,684 career points. Last season, she averaged 21.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game and was named to the all-section team for the second consecutive year. She is a four-year starter.

WANTS TO WIN: Busby appreciates all of the school records she has set but is more motivated by the fact that she hasn't been able to lead the team to the WPIAL Class A playoffs. "I think that's what great about this season," Busby said. "We have a chance as long as we hold things together for three more games. I don't think we've made the playoffs since 1997 or so, so for me to help us break that streak would be special."

LOTS OF ACTIVITIES: Busby is involved in a number of activities at school and in the community. She is the president of the Youth Education Association, which is a mentoring and tutoring program for elementary school students. She is also a member of the choir and a community service organization called the Key Club and still manages to carry a 3.99 grade point average. "I study whenever I have a free moment," she said. "And that includes during pregame and halftime if I need to."

A SUCCESSFUL MISSION: In each of the past five summers, she has participated in a mission project called R.E.A.C.H. She has traveled to underprivileged areas in the country and spends a week fixing and rebuilding houses with other youths. "I just enjoy helping people," she said. "This year, we're working in New Castle, so it will be great to help out at home."

FUTURE: She will attend West Liberty State University in West Virginia and major in physical education. She would like to become a teacher and high school coach.

-- By Paul Zeise