Faces In The Crowd

Chris Gbandi, HOUSTON
Soccer
Gbandi, a junior center back at Connecticut, was named the male college player of the year—the first defender so honored since Alexi Lalas in 1991—after helping the Huskies win the national championship by beating Creighton 2-0 in the title game.

Lauren Hayden, BELLEVILLE, ILL.
Volleyball
Hayden, a junior outside hitter at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., set the NAIA women's career record for kills (2,747) and led the Lady Bulldogs to the TranSouth Athletic Conference title for the second year in a row. A first-team all-conference choice, she ended the season with 950 kills.

Terry Aldrich, CORNWALL, VT.
Cross-country
Aldrich, 54, the women's coach at Middlebury College for the past 26 years, guided the Panthers to their first national title and an undefeated record in Division III. He was named the division's women's coach of the year in his sport.

Amber Davis, CHIEFLAND, FLA.
Weightlifting
Amber, 14, broke U.S. school-age (16 and under) records in the snatch (149 pounds) and the total (325) en route to winning the gold medal in the women's 117-pound class at the American Open. She's the U.S. junior national champion in the 106-pound class.

Carey Fetting-Smith, BALTIMORE
Field Hockey
Carey, a senior midfielder at Bryn Mawr School, scored the deciding goal against Roland Park Country School in the Interscholastic Athletic Association championship game. A two-time high school All-America, she led the Mawrtians in assists, with 15, and scored 11 goals this season.

Clayton Fitzsimmons, WHEELING, W.VA.
Football
Clayton, a senior running back and safety at Central Catholic High, scored four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) and made an interception and a fumble recovery in a 34-6 victory over four-time defending champion Moorefield High in the state title game.