BECCA ZIMMER

SCHOOL: Bethel Park.

WHO IS SHE? A sophomore and one of the top scholastic freestyle swimmers in the state.

THE PAST WEEK: Zimmer won three gold medals at the WPIAL Class AAA girls' championship Thursday and Friday at Trees Pool. She finished first in the 200-yard freestyle (1 minute, 52 seconds) and 500 freestyle (5:00.60). Both were personal-best times. Zimmer also led off the winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:33.03) and was on the 200 freestyle unit that took second. She will compete in all four events at the PIAA championships March 14-17 at Bucknell University.

NEARLY HIT THE WALL: Bethel Park coach Bill Kennedy said Zimmer almost quit as a competitive swimmer two years ago. "She was bored with it. She wasn't serious about it in any way. Then she made a decision to dedicate herself. She's come very far."

GOING THE DISTANCE: A number of scholastic swimmers consider the 500 freestyle a grueling event. Not Zimmer. "Once you get going, it's fine," she said. "Hearing the crowd keeps you going."

BACK IN THE POOL: Zimmer won't get much of a break after the PIAA championships. She will start competing in Junior Nationals March 20.

FUTURE: Zimmer, who has a 3.5 grade point average, would like to swim in college. Kennedy said a number of Division I programs are already interested in her.

By Rick Shrum

PHIL SORRENTINO

SCHOOL: South Allegheny.

WHO IS HE? A senior who has made wrestling history at South Allegheny.

THE PAST WEEK: Sorrentino won the Southwest Region Class AA championship at 152 pounds with a 7-5 victory against Southern Huntingdon's Jason Foor.

THE FIRST: Sorrentino is the first wrestler in South Allegheny history to win WPIAL and Southwest Region championships. He also was the first to have 100 career wins and will be the first South Allegheny wrestler to compete in the PIAA tournament. Sorrentino's record this season is 39-1.

WORKING THE MAT: Gephart calls Sorrentino "the hardest working kid I've ever seen in any sport." On many days during the season, Sorrentino would practice with South Allegheny after school and then go to the home of a friend -- Elizabeth Forward wrestler Jake Boyer -- for more practice at night. "He has a little wrestling room in his garage," Sorrentino said. "Kids from Belle Vernon, Charleroi and McKeesport would come over, too." Some days, Sorrentino also worked out at South Allegheny before school.

THE OTHER SPORT: Sorrentino, who is 5 feet 8, was a nose guard/fullback on South Allegheny's football team.

THE FUTURE: Sorrentino hopes to wrestle in college and is considering Pitt. First on his mind, though, is the PIAA tournament. "There's no doubt I'm going to win it," he said. "I'm that confident. You have to be. My coaches told me there can't be any doubt."

Mike White