Faces In The Crowd

Cory Pickos, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.
Waterskiing
Pickos, 34, a waterskiing instructor, won the men's tricks competition at the U.S. Open with 10,270 points, 210 more than Russell Gay of Winter Garden, Fla. The No. 1 men's tricks water-skier in the world, Pickos has won 11 Open titles and two world crowns and set world records 23 times.

Tod Spieker, Atherton, Calif.
Swimming
Spieker, 50, competing in the men's 50-54 age group, broke four world records while winning the 200-meter backstroke and the 200-, 400- and 800-freestyle at the world masters championships. He also won the 400-meter individual medley for his 14th world masters title.

Katie Knight, Phoenix
Tennis
Katie, a senior at Xavier College Prep, won a third consecutive Class 5A state doubles crown, this time paired with Carrie Smalley, defeating Natasha Bode and Michelle Duncan, also of Xavier, 6-1, 6-2. During her run Katie has won the state tide with three different partners.

Joe Don Setina, Pittsburg, Texas
Fishing
Joe Don, 18, a professional fisherman, became the youngest winner of an Everstart Series bass tournament. He landed five bass, weighing a total of 19 pounds, 12 ounces, on the last day of competition to defeat 150 anglers in the final regular-season event in Everstart's Central Division.

Jerry Gruenemeier, Cincinnati
Trapshooting
Gruenemeier, 46, a mechanic for the U.S. Postal Service, was the only shooter out of a field of 1,268 to break his first 100 targets in winning the Ohio Handicap Championship. He finished second in the 1997 President's Handicap and will compete in the Grand American world championships next month.

Eric McCoo, Red Bank, N.J.
Football
Eric, 18, rushed 26 times for 184 yards and two touchdowns, leading New Jersey to a 36-20 victory over New York in this month's Governor's Bowl prep all-star game. During his senior season at Red Bank High, Eric rushed for 1,774 yards and 23 TDs. He will play in the fall for Penn State.