Home >  Sports >  High School Sports >  Athlete of The Week

Thursday, February 20, 2003

Eve Pyle

SCHOOL: Oakland Catholic

WHO IS SHE? A 6-foot-1 sophomore forward who has come on strong for the basketball team in recent weeks and become a force for the Eagles.

RECENTLY: Pyle has averaged 16 points the past seven games. Her most impressive game was Jan. 31 against State College, when she had 23 points and 24 rebounds.

SEASON: Pyle averages 12.7 points and nine rebounds a game and is Oakland Catholic's second-leading scorer behind Meg Bulger. Oakland Catholic is 21-4 and will play in the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals this weekend. Pyle missed the first four games of the season with a foot injury.

"She couldn't condition when she was out, but she's really come on strong the second half of the season," said Oakland Catholic Coach Suzie McConnell Serio. "She's a very versatile player. She's become one of our best shooters."

FAMILIAR FACES: Oakland Catholic beat Franklin Regional, 64-20, in the first round of the playoffs Tuesday. Pyle lives in the Franklin Regional School District and used to play on teams with some Franklin Regional players.

FINDING HER NICHE: Pyle tried a lot of sports when she was younger but basketball became No. 1. "I was too tall for gymnastics and I didn't really like the cold water for swimming," she said. "I really didn't like all the running around in soccer. So basketball was my favorite from the beginning."

Jake Herbert

SCHOOL: North Allegheny

WHO IS HE: A 6-foot senior and one of the top wrestlers in the state.

LAST WEEK: Herbert had a pin in North Allegheny's match last Thursday against Chartiers Valley.

SEASON: Herbert has a 25-0 record and is the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked WPIAL Class AAA wrestler at 171 pounds. Twenty-one of his victories have come by pins.

CAREER: Herbert's career record is 128-18. He was second in the PIAA Class AAA tournament last year and third as a sophomore. He has moved up in weight class every year of his career. He wrestled at 135 as a freshman, 145 as a sophomore and 160 last year.

"I've grown every year, so it's not really any different with the weight classes," said Herbert, who will wrestle in the WPIAL Class AAA Section 3 tournament this weekend.

LIKE DAD? Herbert's father, Jim, won a PIAA wrestling championship in 1974. The trophy Jim Herbert won for his PIAA title is still displayed in the basement of the family's home. But Jake doesn't mind being reminded of his father's success.

"No way. I just want to be able to do what he did," he said. His dad is a North Allegheny assistant.

THE FUTURE: Herbert has a full scholarship to Northwestern. He also considered Michigan, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.

-- By Mike White