KURT BRENNER

	Kurt Brenner: He is also a standout football player at Freedom. (Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette)

SCHOOL: Freedom.

WHO IS HE? A senior and one of the top wrestlers in the state.

THIS WEEK: Brenner kept his record perfect with a 17-5 major decision in a match against South Park Monday. Brenner has a 9-0 record in the 171-pound weight class.

GOING FOR THREE: Brenner has won two PIAA Class AA championships in a row. He is trying to become only the 11th wrestler in WPIAL history to win three career PIAA championships.

"I'm going to have to work hard to get it again," Brenner said. "My main competition is back in my weight class."

MOUNTAINEER MAN: Brenner had a scholarship offer from the University of Minnesota, which won NCAA championships in 2001 and 2002. But he turned down the Gophers and accepted a scholarship to West Virginia University.

"West Virginia has a good program, too," Brenner said. "They have a national champion at the weight I'm going into."

Brenner is talking about Greg Jones, a Greensburg Salem graduate who won an NCAA title in 2002.

"He'll be a great workout partner for me," Brenner said. "Plus, I think it's better for me to stay closer to home so that my family and friends can come watch me. One of their assistants [Zeke Jones] will be one of the Olympic coaches in 2004, so they have good coaches, too."

THE OTHER SPORT: Brenner also was a standout football player at Freedom. He was a starter at running back and linebacker the past two seasons, led the team in rushing this year with 787 yards and helped the Bulldogs to the WPIAL Class AA semifinals.

THINKING OF BROTHER: Brenner credits some of his wrestling success to his older brother, Keith, who used to wrestle for Freedom in the mid 1990s.

"He used to beat me up a lot when I was younger. He made me tougher," Kurt said.

Keith Brenner is now in the Army and is stationed in Kuwait.

"It's tough having your brother over there because it's always in the back of your mind," Kurt said. "You just keep hoping nothing happens to him."

-- By Mike White

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KAITLYN ORSTEIN

SCHOOL: Mt. Lebanon

WHO IS SHE? A senior who is considered one of the best swimmers in the eastern part of the country.

THE PAST WEEK: On Monday, Orstein broke her own school record in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.92 seconds.

On Saturday, she was named the Most Outstanding Female Athlete at the University of Pittsburgh Christmas Meet. She won the 200 individual medley and broke a 20-year-old meet record with a time of 2:03.76.

Overall, she won six individual events in a meet that included more than 1,000 athletes from several different states.

GOLD RUSH: In her career, Orstein has won four gold medals in individual events at the PIAA Class AAA championships. The bad news for opponents is that she's better this season.

"I definitely think I'm ahead of last year," Orstein said. "The 2:03 I did at the Christmas meet was what I did last year at WPIALs."

Although Orstein is a talented, all-around swimmer, she said her best events are the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke.

VOLUNTEER WORK: Orstein has accepted a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee. She signed in November, choosing the Volunteers over Auburn and Virginia.

"Kaitlyn is one of the leading breaststrokers coming out of high school this year," said Tennessee coach Dan Colella. "But the exciting thing about Kaitlyn is her versatility."

OLYMPIC THOUGHTS: Orstein believes she has a chance to make the times for the Olympic Trials in the 200 IM or the 100 breaststroke this year. But she also is looking past this year.

"I don't know about making the Olympics this year, but I think it's definitely in sight for 2008," Orstein said.

She also has some goals for this high school season.

"I want a state record in the 200 IM, plus I'd like to get a national record in the 100 breast," she said.

PRACTICE TIME: Swimmers probably practice more than any other high school athlete. Orstein and her Mt. Lebanon teammates usually practice three days a week before school from 5-7 a.m. They practice after school from 3-7 p.m.

-- By Mike White