Charlotte Brackett

Bethel Park

Last week: A senior swimmer for the Black Hawks, Brackett set pool records at Bethel Park, Seneca Valley and Peters Township in the past week. She also has raced against and beaten the top three ranked swimmers in the WPIAL.

Check this out: Brackett is top ranked in WPIAL Class AAA in the 50 freestyle (23.91) and 100 freestyle (52.45). She also is part of Bethel Park's top-ranked 200 medley relay.

I sense an accent, where are you from originally? We moved here from England when I was 8. My dad got transferred here for his job. I remember most of living back in England. But swimming was definitely not as big of a deal and I would not be anywhere near as good as I am now without moving here.

How much better do your teammates make you? Racing against them in practice every day makes me a lot stronger. We really push each other, and I think it might get boring if they weren't there to push me.

Estimate how many yards you swim in a week: Wow. Probably at least 40,000. Because I know in some practices we do 7,000 and then in others we do 11,000 and we have nine practices a week.

You are headed to Richmond next year. Why did you choose that program? The girls on the team are very nice and I know I will fit in with them. Also, they had the major I wanted, which is journalism, and the minor I wanted, which is education.

-- By Colin Dunlap

Brian Walsh

Moon

Last week: Walsh had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in a 64-39 victory Friday against Plum in the first round of the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs.

Check this out: Walsh, a 6-foot-4 senior, is one of the top guards in the state and signed with Xavier in November. He is a three-year starter who averages 19.8 points a game this season for the Tigers (18-6).

You play in the quarterfinals against a Franklin Regional team that has guard Nick Novak (21 ppg). Do you look forward to games more when the opponent has a high-scoring guard? Absolutely, but I look forward to every single game this time of year because it could be my last game. I can't wait for it.

Where do you see yourself fitting in at Xavier next year? I know their point guard, Drew Lavender, is leaving, and their shooting guard, Stanley Burrell, is a senior. So I'll be coming in as a combo guard, a backup at both positions.

Do you have a tatoo? No, but I might have to get one for next year. Everyone keeps telling me to do it.

How often do you get your hair cut? Usually every 2¹/₂ weeks. But I got it cut two weeks ago and we've been winning. So I'm not going to get it cut until the end of the season, or until we lose.

Who has the best french fries? I'd say between Burger King and McDonald's, but I'd have to go with Burger King.

-- By Mike White