BOYS: BRAD SCHULZE
SCHOOL: South Carroll
CLASS: Senior
GPA, SAT: 3.85, 1050
SPORTS: Baseball, basketball
OTHER ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society, Varsity Club officer, Minds in Motion, manages a produce stand in the summer.
COLLEGE: Virginia Tech
SNAPSHOT: A two-sport standout (baseball and basketball) who also maintained a 3.85 grade-point average throughout his career at South Carroll, Schulze recently was chosen the Baltimore Sun's Baseball Player of the Year in Carroll. Schulze's biggest trademark throughout his career has been consistency. Whether on the basketball court or on the baseball diamond, both his coaches and teammates knew they could expect a reliable contribution from Schulze. He was a first-team All-County selection as a small forward last winter and then enjoyed a stellar baseball season, leading the team in a number of offensive and pitching categories. "He's been a great ballplayer for me for three years and is a quiet, but great leader," said South Carroll baseball coach Joe Foltz. "He leads a lot more by example and spoke up when he needed to. He also did a lot of other things aside from baseball and was very impressive [scholastically]." Schulze plans to continue his baseball career at Virginia Tech where he plans to major in accounting.
GIRLS: TRACY DIDIO
SCHOOL: South Carroll
CLASS: Senior
GPA, SAT: 4.0, 1310.
SPORTS: Field hockey, lacrosse
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Student Government, Executive Board, Varsity Club, National Honor Society, Class of 1994 Executive Board, tutoring, Environmental Club, Students Against Drunk Driving, coached and officiated youth lacrosse.
COLLEGE: University of Maryland College Park
SNAPSHOT: Standing out as much in the classroom as she did on the playing fields, DiDio is at the top of her class with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Her excellence in lacrosse and field hockey were not rivaled in the county as she earned first-team All-County and second-team All-Metro status in both the past two years. As captain of both teams, she also made the players around her better. "Words cannot express the talent, dedication and commitment of this individual," wrote lacrosse and field hockey coach Stacy Stem. "She strives to be the best she can be but also works very hard in making her teammates the best they can be. She is by far one of the top athletes in our county as well as the Baltimore area." DiDio will attend the University of Maryland College Park where she hopes to maintain her 4.0 grade-point average and play a major role on the defending Division I National Championship field hockey team.
THE REST OF THE TEAM AT A GLANCE
* JULIE BACKOF, Westminster, senior
GPA: 3.8 SAT: 1120
SPORTS: Soccer, basketball, softball
OTHER ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society, German Club, Girls Athletic Board, National Art Honor Society, softball umpire, Camp Hashawha counselor.
COLLEGE: Western Maryland College
SNAPSHOT: Without question one of the most naturally gifted athletes in the county this year, Backof brought hard work and dedication to the soccer pitch, basketball court and softball field for the Owls while maintaining a 3.8 grade-point average. She started the school year in goal for the Owls soccer team and had a number of shutouts to earn honorable-mention All-County status. She then led the Owls basketball team to a county championship and a region playoff performance, earning first-team honors as a forward. She completed a solid senior year as a first-team All-County outfielder. In all three sports, she was a captain and earned great respect from coaches and teammates as a leader by example. "Julie has an outstanding work ethic that enables her to excel both athletically and academically," wrote Westminster girls basketball coach Bernie Koontz. "It is the strong work ethic that makes her a positive role model and successful leader both on and off the field." Backof achieved honor-roll status her entire four years at Westminster. She plans
to attend Western Maryland College.
* AMY NORTH, Liberty, junior
GPA: 4.0, SAT: 950
SPORTS: Field hockey, basketball, lacrosse
OTHER ACTIVITIES: National Honor Society, Varsity Club, volunteer assistant for Eldersburg Elementary School Playday
COLLEGE: Undecided
SNAPSHOT: North ranks No. 1 in her class academically and is a valuable member of Liberty's field hockey, basketball and lacrosse teams. She has played two seasons at the varsity level in field hockey and has earned postseason honors both years, and enjoyed solid seasons in basketball and lacrosse at the varsity level this year. "As varsity lacrosse coach, I have worked closely with Amy the past three years. She demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities on the field and in the classroom. Leadership, enthusiasm, sportsmanship, cooperation, dedication and effort are words that describe Amy," wrote coach Courtney Vaughn. North is looking to continue to excel next year as a senior at Liberty and ultimately would like to play field hockey and lacrosse at the college level.
* SUE HEAD, Western Maryland College, senior
SPORT: Basketball
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Administrative assistant at the Carroll County Family YMCA, intramural volleyball and softball, Special Olympics volunteer, Tournament of Champions Volunteer, WMC
Athletic Council Student Representative
SNAPSHOT: Head just concluded a brilliant career at Western Maryland where she finished in the top three in her class with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree, majoring in physical education. Was equally outstanding on the basketball court where she was a two-time team captain, first-team All-Middle Atlantic Conference selection as a junior and a second-team All-Centennial Conference choice as a senior. "Sue typifies the model student-athlete, excelling academically and athletically," wrote Western Maryland basketball coach Becky Martin. "She was a dedicated player willing to devote the necessary time and effort required in attaining team and personal goals." Head finished her basketball career as the school's fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,027 points and was the team Most Valuable Player the past two seasons. She also was selected to the GTE Academic All-America College Division women's basketball first team. Head, a Westminster High grad, is seeking a physical education teaching position in the Carroll area.
* TOM KILER, North Carroll, sophomore
GPA: 3.87
SPORTS: Wrestling, football
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Sophomore Class Vice President, Homecoming Representative, volunteer at the South Baltimore Soup Kitchen, volunteer at Longview Nursing Home, has worked at a snowball stand in the summer since the fourth grade
COLLEGE: North Carolina or Northwestern
SNAPSHOT: Burst onto the wrestling scene as a freshman by winning county, Central Maryland Conference and region titles and repeated the effort as a sophomore. Last fall, he was the starting free safety and punter on the North Carroll football team. Kiler has been just as impressive in the classroom where he has maintained a 3.87 grade-point average in accelerated courses. "Tom has proven to be hard working and highly motivated to always perform his best," wrote football coach Bill Rumbaugh. "He is a natural leader by example and his peers, coaches, as well as teachers have learned to rely on him." Kiler already has taken on a strong leadership role on both the football and wrestling teams. He would like to wrestle at a Division I college.
* CASEY DAVIS, Carroll Christian School, freshman
GPA: 3.50
SPORTS: Baseball, basketball, soccer
OTHER ACTIVITIES: Member of the school's newspaper staff, active in numerous Church of the Open Door youth programs, miscellaneous jobs including lawn care, snow removal, baby sitting, farm hand.
SNAPSHOT: Davis was a standout in three sports as a freshman at Carroll Christian. A starting midfielder in soccer, point guard in basketball and shortstop and pitcher in baseball -- all positions that demand strong leadership qualities. Along with his studies and participation in sports, Davis also finds time to help others. Last winter, Davis played a big role in a benefit breakfast for a neighbor who was seriously injured in a tractor accident. "About eight months ago my 7-year-old son was in a serious farm accident. Casey showed a special interest in my son and family during a very difficult time," wrote James Jennings. Davis plans playing all three sports throughout his high school career.
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* NOTE: No male scholar-athletes were submitted for Francis Scott Key, Liberty, Westminster or Western Maryland. No female scholar-athletes were submitted from Francis Scott Key, North Carroll and Carroll Christian.