Samantha Pickens

Franklin Regional

Recently: Pickens, a sophomore, overwhelmed the field at the WPIAL Class AAA girls' diving championships at North Allegheny. She upset two-time gold medalist Amanda Lohman of Upper St. Clair and set a WPIAL record, accumulating 542.25 points. Pickens smashed the record of 516.65 Jamie Tomazich of North Allegheny set in 1999.

Check this out: Last year as a freshman, Pickens finished second at the WPIAL championships but won the PIAA. This year's championships will be Wednesday-Saturday at Bucknell University.

At the WPIAL meet, did you realize how many points you had? Somewhat. I knew I was pretty far ahead, but I knew I had to keep doing well. But when I saw the final points, I was a little shocked.

How confident are you going into the PIAA meet? I am confident because I have been diving well recently. But I know I need to go there and concentrate on every single dive because every time you dive makes a difference in whether you win or not.

Just before you begin your dive, what is your last thought? Pretty much the same thing all the time and that is "Dear God I hope I do good."

Did you play other sports growing up? I was a swimmer and I did gymnastics. There are a lot of divers who were gymnasts because you use most of the same movements in both sports. I think it prepared me well to be a diver.

-- By Colin Dunlap

Trevor Scheid

Shady Side Academy

Last week: At the WPIAL Class AA swimming championships, Scheid set records in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle and was a member of the record-setting 400 and 200 freestyle relay teams.

Check this out: Scheid, a senior and Lower Burrell resident, has signed with Stanford, one of the top college swim programs in the country. At Shady Side, he has won four WPIAL individual championships and been a part of seven relay teams that have won gold medals. He also won two individual PIAA championships last year and set a record in the 200 free.

Will it be disappointing if you don't break records at the PIAA meet? I think so. I set a record last year and I've already gone faster than the [PIAA] 500 free record this year.

What's the hardest stroke to master? The breaststroke, just because there is so much timing involved. And the butterfly, too.

What's the best thing about Shady Side Academy? I'd say just the wide range of people you meet from so many different backgrounds. You have athletes, but you also have gifted people in things like math, music, singing or playing an instrument.

Scariest movie you ever saw? The Exorcist. That's the only time I was ever afraid to go to sleep after a movie.

Obama or Clinton? Definitely Obama. That's just a simple answer because I don't like Hillary at all.

-- By Mike White