BRIAN POGEL

SCHOOL: Hampton.

	Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Brian Pogel: History calls at Hampton. Click photo for larger image.

WHO IS HE? A standout senior wrestler who is on the verge of becoming Hampton's all-time leader in career victories.

LAST WEEK: Pogel won the 130-pound division Saturday at the Allegheny County Wrestling Championships at Fox Chapel and was named the tournament's outstanding wrestler. Thirty-six teams competed in the event, and Pogel won a championship for the second year in a row with a 5-0 victory against Shaler's Matt Nelson.

FOR THE RECORD: Pogel's career record is 118-20 and he needs only six more victories to break the school record of 123, held by 1994 graduate Jason Bursic, the brother of Hampton coach Joe Bursic. This season, Pogel has a 24-2 record and is the Post-Gazette's No. 2-ranked WPIAL Class AAA wrestler at 130 pounds.

BEATING A FRIEND: At the Allegheny County tournament, Pogel defeated Nelson in the afternoon but was eating dinner with him at night. Pogel's grandmother lives next to Nelson, who also has a twin brother, Nick. In fact, Pogel and his family used to live in Shaler, but moved to the Hampton district when Pogel was in fifth grade.

"It was nice to beat [Matt Nelson] because the Nelsons are usually the ones who get all the triumphs," Pogel said.

GETTING OVER THE HUMP: As a freshman, sophomore and junior, Pogel lost in the WPIAL quarterfinals and finished fifth overall each year. He's determined to change the trend this season. "I just choked when I got to the big time the last few years," he said. "That's definitely driving me this year. I'm working harder and I'm focusing more.

"I think I've gotten noticeably better than last year, especially on my feet. I was weak before on my feet. I have the shots, but I just didn't have the confidence to take them. The Nelson twins are really good on their feet. But I think I actually dominated Matt on our feet. I took him down twice. I don't think he even took a shot at me."

Joe Bursic also believes Pogel is a better wrestler this year.

"He's definitely focused on his weaknesses and improved," said Hampton's coach. "For example, the kid Brian lost to in the quarterfinals last year [Jesse Byerly of Keystone Oaks], he's already beaten him a few times this year."

RIGHT UP HIS ALLEY: One of Pogel's favorite activities away from wrestling is bowling. He and his teammates regularly get together for a few games.

THE FUTURE: Pogel has a 3.7 grade point average and plans to wrestle in college. John Carroll is his top choice, but he also is considering Washington & Jefferson, Pitt-Johnstown and Mercyhurst.

-- By Mike White

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VANESSA ABEL

SCHOOL: Southmoreland.

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-4 point guard for the girls' basketball team and one of the leading scorers in the WPIAL.

PAST WEEK: Abel scored 16 points Thursday in a 54-40 loss to Indiana and 20 Monday in a 55-36 victory at Mount Pleasant.

SEASON: A sophomore, Abel is averaging 22.2 points, 5 steals and 5 assists per game. Her scoring accounts for 45 percent of the Scotties' output.

She is the main reason why the Scotties (13-5, 6-4) share second place with Yough (8-11, 6-4) in Section 3-AAA, behind Indiana (17-2, 11-0).

CAREER: Brandi Brown, class of 2000, is the all-time scoring leader at Southmoreland with 1,266. Abel is more than halfway there at 779. She has been a starter since the opener of her freshman year, in which she averaged 16.5 points. Abel has scored in double figures in 40 of 42 games, including a low of 13 this season.

SPEED THRILLS: Though she is converting 80 percent of her free throws, shooting isn't Abel's trademark.

"She's very quick and athletic," Scotties coach Brian Pritts said. "She has the quickest hands I've seen in a girl in a long time. She gets a lot of points on steals, layups and fastbreaks.

"Vanessa shoots well off the dribble and off screens, and has a very good midrange jump shot. She hasn't been shooting a lot from outside the arc, but I've seen her knock down a beyond-NBA-range 3-pointer like it was nothing."

WORK AHEAD: Though her all-around play is strong, Abel does have areas where she has to improve.

"Vanessa has to continue to work on the mental part of the game," Pritts said. "She gets down on herself at times when she doesn't play as well as she thinks she should. And she does need work on her perimeter game."

Abel said, "Boxing out is my biggest weakness."

DAD A STAR: Athletic success is an Abel trait. Her father, Nate, was a football standout at Connellsville and an uncle, Rich Abel, was a quality athlete at Southmoreland in the 1960s.

FUTURE: Size might be an issue on what college program she ultimately selects. But Abel, of Scottdale, has lofty aspirations.

"It will be either UConn or Penn State," she said matter-of-factly.

-- By Rick Shrum