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Thursday, February 06, 2003

Rodney Slappy

SCHOOL: Beaver Falls

	Rodney Slappy averages 18.8 points a game. (Peter Diana,Post-Gazette)

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior shooting guard for the Tigers' basketball team.

LAST WEEK: Has led the team to four wins, including two key section victories. He had 23 points in a 99-61 win Friday against New Brighton.

SEASON: Slappy is averaging 18.8 points per and 7.0 rebounds game and has scored 338 points this year. He has led Beaver Falls to a 14-4 record, including a 9-1 mark and a tie for first in Section 6-AA. The Tigers have won nine games in a row after a 5-4 start.

CAREER: A three-year starter, Slappy has averaged more than 10 points per game each of the past two seasons. Last year, he was named all-section after averaging 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game.

FOOTBALL STAR: Slappy is an excellent basketball player, but his best sport and first love is football. Over the past two seasons, he has developed into one of the most versatile players in the WPIAL. As a junior, he played receiver and caught 52 passes for 791 yards and also started at cornerback. He was a major reason the Tigers reached the WPIAL Class AA championship game. Last season, he was asked to switch to quarterback and played the position early in the season. He also played running back and receiver. He caught 35 passes for 544 yards and rushed 43 times for 197 yards. He was named all-section on offense and defense both seasons.

GOOD HANDS, FEET: Although Slappy is an excellent athlete, the thing that sets him apart in both sports is his hand strength. His ability to catch is obviously important as a receiver, but he makes a lot of steals in basketball. He also is very elusive and is able to make defenders miss.

FUTURE: Slappy is expected to sign a letter of intent to play football at Howard University. He will play receiver or defensive back.

-- By Paul Zeise

Aubra Thomas

	Aubra Thomas

SCHOOL: Keystone Oaks

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-8 senior who is one of the top swimmers in Class AA.

SEASON: Thomas owns some of the top WPIAL times in several events. She has not, however, decided on which two she'll enter at the WPIAL meet. Her favorites are the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Her best time in the medley is 2:06.32, and her top breaststroke time is 1:04.83.

CAREER: Thomas has won 12 individual medals in her career. She has won six WPIAL medals, including the 2001 gold medal for the 200 individual medley and the silver medal for the 100 breaststroke the same year. She has also won six individual PIAA medals. Last year, she finished third at the PIAA meet in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the medley. She also holds school records in five events.

LITTLE SISTER GAINING: In addition to the five school records Thomas holds, she also held the school record for the 100 butterfly until earlier this year when her younger sister, Annica, broke it. "We've always been into swimming and have swum together," Aubra said. "I don't think I'll have a chance to get that record back, but I still have a lot more [records], so she hasn't caught me yet."

TOP COMPETITION: In addition to swimming for Keystone Oaks, Thomas competes for the Mt. Lebanon Swim Club, one of the best in Western Pennsylvania. That means she must practice six days a week and twice a day. She practices with her high school team before school and with the swim club after school. "I'd say I swim about four hours per day, but it is worth it because I don't think you can have a lot of success nowadays without being a part of a club, and Mt. Lebanon is obviously very successful."

FUTURE: Thomas will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., next year. She has a 4.0 grade point average, is a member of the National Honor Society and hopes to study political science or oceanography. She also will compete for the varsity swimming team. "It is a long process to get accepted to Navy," said Thomas. "But, given the education and opportunity, it is worth all of the work."

-- By Paul Zeise