Rob Kalkstein

Gateway

The past week: Kalkstein completed 12 of 24 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns as Gateway defeated McKeesport, 31-27, to finish the regular season undefeated and untied for the first time since 1986.

Check this out: Kalkstein, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior, has been a starter since his freshman year and has thrown for 3,349 career yards. This season, he is 87 of 146 for 1,266 yards. Kalkstein also has lettered in basketball and baseball as a freshman and sophomore and carries a 3.7 grade point average.

Do you still hear that you're too small to be a successful quarterback in Class AAAA? Not so much now. I heard that more my freshman year. The only time I hear it now is when people talk about college football. They say I'm undersized to be a Division I college quarterback.

Is this the best team you've been on? We've had great teams before. Last year, we went to Heinz Field for the WPIAL championship. This team has worked hard and has really good team unity. We're looking forward to the playoffs.

What's the most important trait needed to be a good quarterback in high school? I'd say leadership.

Best Halloween candy to get? Skittles.

You just won a big game, where are you going afterward? Probably home and go to bed.

People might be surprised to know that you ... I play the game "Guitar Hero" the night before every game.

-- By Mike White

Jacki Gigliotti

Norwin

The past week: A senior goalie for the Norwin field hockey team, Gigliotti pushed the Knights to the WPIAL Class AAA title by posting a shutout in a 3-0 championship game victory against North Allegheny Monday. She also had a shutout in the semifinals against Mt. Lebanon.

Check this out: Gigliotti played goalie for the Knights in all of their games this season, posting a 15-3 mark. She is undecided about her college choice, but said she is interested in playing at Division II IUP.

The first thing you did when the final buzzer went off in the WPIAL title game? I was just so ecstatic. I looked up and all the girls were running at me and I was waiting for them and we jumped on each other. We had practiced our trophy run and celebration.

Do people think goalies are strange? I don't know, they probably think I am a little crazy, I mean, who wants to get hit by all these shots? But, some of the other players are crazy, too.

To get fully suited up as a field hockey goalie costs ...? It didn't cost much, because our school is awesome; they bought us all the equipment. I know the leg pads and the kickers are expensive and for everything, it is probably about $500. But we are so lucky to have a great committee that pays for all of those things. It is awesome they do that for us.

How many fans go to field hockey games? Quite a few. We have our own little 'Coliseum Crew' with our brothers and sisters and boyfriends and parents and some friends.

What are your thoughts about boys who want to play field hockey against girls? I say let them play if they want to, I don't get intimidated by them. If they have the skills and want to show they can play, then come out and see what you can do.

-- By Colin Dunlap