RYAN TOMEI

SCHOOL: Penn-Trafford.

	Post-Gazette Ryan Tomei Click photo for larger image.

WHO IS HE? A junior who, in his first season of high school wrestling, has developed into one of the top heavyweights in the WPIAL.

LAST WEEK: Tomei won the 275-pound division of the Powerade Tournament at Canon-McMillan. The tournament attracts many top wrestlers from Western Pennsylvania and other states. In the title match, he decisioned Myles Caragein of Keystone Oaks, 8-7.

SEASON: Tomei has a 17-2 record, and both losses came to opponents outside the WPIAL.

ONE OF THE BEST: Winning the Powerade championship showed Tomei's talent. In the semifinals, he beat defending WPIAL champion Adam McKnight of Chartiers Valley.

"He pinned the WPIAL champ," said Penn-Trafford coach Vince Testa. "What's funny is that, at the beginning of the season, I remember telling my family that I have the best-kept secret around. But he's not a secret any longer."

FIRST-YEAR IMPACT: The last time Tomei wrestled before this season was eighth grade.

"I just thought I wanted to lift weights for football," Tomei said. "But they lost their heavyweight from last year, and some of the wrestlers kept coming up to me and asking me to come out. So I decided to try."

Tomei admits he is surprised his success.

"I had some expectations, but I really just wanted to have a winning record," he said. "I wasn't thinking about any tournaments such as Powerade."

Testa also is surprised by Tomei's fast success.

"It really is unbelievable because he has a total of about 7 1/2 months of wrestling experience," Testa said. "He wrestled in seventh and eighth grade, and those seasons are three months long. He's been with us for only a month and a half."

THE OTHER SPORT: Tomei, who is 5 feet 10, 250 pounds, also was a starting nose guard on Penn-Trafford's football team. "For a big guy, he just can move so well. He's so agile," Testa said.

THE FUTURE: Tomei, who has a 3.7 grade point average, thought he'd like to play college football someday. Now wrestling might be in his future.

-- By Mike White

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KATRINA STREINER

SCHOOL:Gateway.

WHO IS SHE? One of the best freestyle swimmers in the WPIAL.

Sprints are her specialty, as Streiner has the best reported times in the 50- and 100-yard events this season. Her clocking of 23.86 seconds in the 50 is well ahead of the runner-up, Charlotte Brackett of Bethel Park (25.09). Her best in the 100 is 53.37.

WALKING ON SUNSHINE: This Katrina is making waves. Streiner, a senior, is the defending WPIAL Class AAA champion in the 50 and 100. She also won the 50 title as a sophomore.

Streiner is still searching for PIAA gold, finishing fourth and 10th in the 50 and 100 last year, and sixth and 10th the previous winter.

"I just wish I would have done better," Streiner said. "I was happy with fourth, but 10th definitely was disappointing.

"I want to win the WPIAL titles again, then, hopefully, finish in the top 10 at states."

SLOW STARTER: Most top-flight sprinters are quick out of the blocks. Not Streiner.

"She knows her start could be faster," said Gateway coach Herman DeMao. "She knows that's her weakness. There's something about the blocks. But once she gets out there, you'd better catch her quickly."

DIFFERENT STROKES: Though freestyle is Streiner's signature, DeMao said she is a versatile swimmer who "has qualified [for the WPIAL championships] in every stroke but the breast, and she may do so in that."

A REALIST: DeMao said Streiner "has a burning desire to be the best" but is objective about her abilities and those of her rivals. She is a student of her sport.

"Katrina pretty much knows her limitations," DeMao said. "She also knows every sprinter in the state, their teams and what her chances are. She is satisfied with setting realistic goals and achieving them.

"Katrina models what a true high school swimmer should be. She doesn't belong to a USA [Swimming] club. Everything she does is with us. Our girls watch her and emulate her."

FUTURE: A Monroeville resident, Streiner committed to Duquesne during the early signing period in November.

"I liked the location and the coaches a lot," Streiner said. "I'm going there more for school than swimming."

-- By Rick Shrum