RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Titans name MVPs in 7 sports

Westminster College passed out some early Christmas gifts recently in the form of Most Valuable Performer honors at its annual Fall Sports Banquet staged at Russell Hall.
The MVPs were named in Westminster's seven varsity sports teams. All of the honorees were seniors.
There was no MVP selection in women's soccer this season, but the six senior players who formed the first varsity team in 1998 were recognized. Over the past four years, these players led the Titans to a record of 48-26-1.
Receiving soccer honors were Laura Halford, Manchester (Conn.) High School; Carrie Mathers, Moon Area High School; Sarah Morrison, Norwin; Ashley Pyle, Quaker Valley; Stacy Tempalski, Moon Area, and Heidi Vogt, Harbor Creek.
Other awards: MVP honors in the remaining fall sports went to: men's cross country, Jacob Gleason, Uniontown; women's cross country, Desiree Henry, Butler; football, Brian Lipiello (wide receiver), Brentwood; men's soccer, goalkeeper James Houser, Boardman; women's tennis, Brenda Rowland, Keystone Oaks, and volleyball, outside hitter Shannon Simmons, Crestview.
Gleason earned cross country MVP honors for the second straight year. He captured six invitational titles during the 2001 season, including posting the fastest time at the 2001 Presidents' Athletic Conference championships. He also placed 10th at the NCAA Division II East Regional.
Henry was also outstanding, capturing seven invitational titles on the season. She posted the second-best time at the 2001 PAC championships, and was eighth at the NCAA Division II East Regional.
Lipiello caught 52 passes for a school-record 866 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Titans (4-5). He broke the single season receiving yards held by Tim McNeil (847 in 1994).
Six shutouts: Houser made 125 saves, posted a 1.52 goals-against average, and was credited with six shutouts for the Titan men's soccer team, which tied the school record for wins in a season with a 14-5-1 season.
Rowland played at No. 2-4 singles and No. 1-2 doubles for the women's tennis team, posting a 5-5 singles mark and a 6-6 doubles record with two different partners.
Simmons led the volleyball team (27-8) to the ECAC Division II Championship, with a team-high totals of 527 digs and 46 aces, to go along with 380 kills and 85 blocks.
Good start: Grove City College sophomore Peggy Whitbeck continues her mastery of competition in the Presidents' Athletic Conference swimming and diving.
She has now captured the PAC Women's Swimmer of the Week award twice in a three-week span. She posted a pair of first-place finishes against both Frostburg State and West Virginia Wesleyan, capturing both the 200 individual medley (2:16.55) and the 200 butterfly (2:11.39). Whitbeck is a product of Saegertown High School.
Let's get it on: Lennox Lewis wants it, Mike Tyson wants it. So what's the hold up?
In this corner, there are only two legitimate heavyweights in the world, the rest are all 'wannabees.' Both have been talking big for years now, and it's time to put up or shut up. Tyson wants several more bouts before he's ready for the maga-fight. Lewis wants Tyson now, especially after cleaning Hasim Rahman's clock in less than four rounds on Nov. 17. Lewis avenged an earlier knockout by Rahman seven months ago in South Africa. Rahman's reign as heavyweight champ was the shortest ever.
It's a fight the world wants to see. Lewis vs. Tyson. Let's get it on!