CATE STEWART, QUAKER VALLEY

A sophomore at Quaker Valley, Stewart recently captured the WPIAL Class AA girls' individual tennis title with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win against Alexandra Kaluza, a Beaver senior. Stewart transferred to Quaker Valley from Shady Side Academy before the school year and said she hopes to play Division I tennis.

Q: Why were you able to win a WPIAL title?

A: Definitely because I worked hard. Every time I am out on the court, I want to get better and when I'm out there I stay focused. I think right now, my mental focus is stronger than it has ever been.

Q: Can you win a PIAA title Nov. 4 in Hershey?

A: It will be tough, definitely. Obviously, I am going to have to play my best and I might have to play Kaluza again and she is tough. I'm just going to go there and play my best.

Q: With Quaker Valley teammate Annie Houghton getting injured before the season and being unable to compete, that opened the field quite a bit, didn't it?

A: Yeah, she would have definitely been a big factor. I always like to play against the best competition and she would have been the best out there, so I would have liked to play against her.

Q: There is some controversy about boys playing girls' sports in the WPIAL. What would it be like in tennis?

A: Guys are a lot stronger, especially with their serves. Considering how they are built and because they are bigger, I think the main thing would be the serve being a lot faster. But, I like the competition and like to play the best so I wouldn't mind it. I think I'd benefit by playing against the boys, but I don't know if all the girls feel that way.

Q: It's a 'C' in your first name, not a 'K' and that's kind of unique. Why is it that way?

A: I don't know. That's just what my parents named me. They just felt like it I guess.

Q: So the Steelers lost against New England. Now for some finger-pointing, whose fault was it?

A: Oh my gosh. Why did [Antwaan] Randle El try to pitch that ball backward? That was so dumb. But, they are going to beat the Patriots next time.

Q: The Quaker Valley football team hasn't had that much success. Do you still support them?

A: Definitely. You always have to support them.

Q: Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger broke up. What's going on there?

A: I don't know (laughs). I play tennis, I don't read all those magazines. I don't have time for it.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Personally, I'd like to go pro and would love to be playing pro tennis. But, realistically, I don't know if that is possible. I hope to have played Division I tennis and gotten good grades in college and be working in a good job.

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JOHN MALECKI, FRANKLIN REGIONAL

A 6-foot-3, 270-pound senior at Franklin Regional and one of the top linemen in WPIAL football, Malecki plays offense and defense and has helped turn the Panthers (4-1) into one of the top teams in Class AAA. He made a verbal commitment to Pitt in the spring.

Q: How good is Franklin Regional?

A: We're good, but we have the potential to be a lot better. Right now, we're trying to work on a lot of little things, just like going 100 percent all of the time at practice.

Q: You play offense and defense. Are you better on one side?

A: I'm better at defense, but this year has been kind of tough because I'm basically getting double- and triple-teamed every play. I was recruited for defense.

Q: Did Pitt's 0-3 start matter to you?

A: Well, I knew if they lost to Notre Dame, they might have a rough start. But you have to expect that with a new coaching staff. These players weren't recruited by Coach [Dave] Wannstedt. But I knew they'd be able to pull it together eventually. I think they'll start showing they're no joke.

Q: What's your favorite school subject.

A: Lunch.

Q: Good one, but you might not come off looking too good in this article with that answer. Do you seriously have one?

A: I guess I better go with math or calculus. My teacher is a pretty cool guy.

Q: Ever play a musical instrument?

A: I played guitar for a couple years until I started focusing on football.

Q: Tell me three things in your room.

A: I have a framed T-shirt signed by my cousin [Steve Sciullo], who played at Marshall University and then in the NFL with the Colts and Eagles. I have my helmet from last year in a frame. And I have my scholarship offer from Pitt in a frame.

Q: The Post-Gazette recently did a story on a couple boys playing high school girls' volleyball. What do you think of that?

A: If they can take all the ridiculing for playing a girls' sport, then God bless them.

Q: Have you watched Montour yet on their ESPN reality series, and what do you think of it?

A: Yeah, I've watched it. They do need all the help they can get. But I don't know if Dick Butkus is the best coach to bring in for it.

Q: There's a female voice on your cell phone asking if you want to leave a message. What's up with that?

A: She's a friend. I didn't know how to do my voice mail when I got the phone, so she did it. But now I don't know how to change it.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Hopefully, I'll still be involved with football, whether coaching or playing somewhere. Or rich on a beach.

-- By Mike White

DATA WAY

9.99

Amount, in dollars and cents, www.gatewaygators.com is charging for the career highlights DVD of former Gateway football star Justin King. It's a sales price, recently slashed from $20.

20-0-3

Combined records of the South Park boys' and girls' soccer teams. South Park is the only school in the WPIAL with unbeaten boys' and girls' teams.

120

Matches won in a row by the Upper St. Clair girls' golf team before losing to Peters Township, 167-172, last week.

91-0

Halftime score of the recent six-man football game between El Paso School of Excellence (Texas) and Sierra Blanca. The game was called at halftime because of the mercy rule.

-- By Mike White