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Todd Thomas, Beaver Falls / Lauren Greco, Shady Side Academy
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, Beaver Falls
Last week: Thomas rushed for 186 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 19-0 victory against Beaver that gave Beaver Falls a share of the Class AA Midwestern Conference championship.
Check this out: Thomas, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior, is one of the WPIAL's best two-sport athletes. Hobbled a few games this season by an ankle injury, Thomas rushed for 853 yards on 91 carries and scored 16 touchdowns. He has been a starter since his freshman year in basketball, has scored more than 1,000 points and averaged 21.1 as a sophomore. Pitt already has offered him a scholarship for football.
You play running back, quarterback, receiver and defensive back. What do you like best? Quarterback, because then you get to control the game.
Where do you think your future is? If I grow, it's basketball. If I don't grow, then it's football. I don't have a preference. I wouldn't mind going to a school that would let me play both, but it's pretty hard to play both in college.
Favorite food: Pizza, from Papa John's.
A lot of people call you 'Toddie' a lot. Do you like that name? I like it better than Todd. Todd sounds like a preppie kid.
People might be surprised to know that you ... I'm a mama's boy.
Best Halloween costume you ever wore? I think one year I was a skeleton. My mask had a button you would press and blood would come down.
-- By Mike White
Lauren Greco, Shady Side Academy
Last week: A top tennis player, Greco helped the Indians win the PIAA Class AAA girls' team championship Saturday in Hershey. They defeated Hempfield of Landisville, 5-0.
Check this out: Greco, a senior from Oakmont, won the WPIAL singles championship this fall after losing the title match the previous two years. She will compete in the PIAA tournament in Hershey this weekend and describes her style as "an aggressive all-court game."
How satisfying has this season been? It's been very fulfilling. I'm happy with how I've done individually and how the team has done.
Over the years, a number of top players have skippedhigh school competition for higher-level USTA events. You have not. Why? I've never had a conflict playing in USTA events and with my team. I like the thrill of being on a team. It's nice to share winning with your friends.
Is there anything about the sport you do not like? I like everything about it. Sometimes, you get a little tired of playing, but you get back into it quickly.
What activity would you have pursued other than tennis? Probably lacrosse. I'm the manager for the boys' lacrosse team. I really like the sport.
People would be surprised to know that ... I've played the violin as long as I've played tennis. I'm serious about it, but I put more time into tennis. I've been in the orchestra at school for two years.
-- By Rick Shrum
First Published November 1, 2007 12:00 am
