Some 243 spectators at Valley Brook Country Club witnessed the coronation of Miller as the 2009 Female Athlete of the Year and Marsh as the Male Athlete of the Year.

In addition, Brad Strimel from Canon-McMillan was named the 2009 Waldie/Shaeffer Award Winner, which included a $1,000 scholarship. (See related story.)

Miller's tale

Splice Rocky and Hoosiers together and one might just get the Emily Miller Story for this Mt. Lebanon senior demonstrated true grit on the basketball court.

Determined to play basketball again, she worked diligently to rehab. Sidelined still during the soccer season, Miller remained dedicated to her club. She attended every practice and every game despite not being able to play.

Surely a difficult task for Miller had been a three-year letterwinner not to mention an All-Section, All-WPIAL and All-Almanac selection on Lebo's state semifinal club as a junior. Yet, she supported her Blue Devils as they won a WPIAL title and section banner

Once she had healed and gained clearance to play basketball, Miller put the Blue Devils on her back and carried them to a season of firsts. Lebo won its first WPIAL title. The Blue Devils claimed their first state championship, too. In fact, they won an unprecedented 31 games against no losses.

As team captain, Miller ranked second on the team in scoring and rebounding. She led the team in blocked shots.

She gained All-State honors and also earned All-WPIAL, All-Section and All-Almanac acclaim. She played in the Pennsylvania Girls' Roundball Classic.

Off the court, Miller excelled, too. In the classroom, she maintained a 4.8 QPA. She belonged to Mt. Lebanon's Cum Laude Society, National Honor Society, Executive Council, Student Council, Student Athletic Council and Leadership Council. Plus, she has been a homeroom representative for four years.

Accepted at Penn State, Miller plans to major in engineering.

Marsh outsmarts

Einstein just about sums up The Almanac's Male Athlete of the Year for, according to Jeff Metheny, Lyle Marsh is the smartest player he has ever coached.

The University of Pennsylvania thought so too. For that Ivy League think tank recruited him and Marsh is now enrolled in the famed Wharton School of Business.

Of course Penn loved his mind. Marsh possessed a 4.5 QPA. The Quakers, however, adored his physique. He's 6-foot-1, 210 pounds and runs the 100-meter dash in under 12 seconds.

Last fall, he romped over everybody. Marsh rushed for over 1,500 yards. He caught 27 passes for another 500 yards. He scored 25 touchdowns.

When it mattered most, Marsh was sharpest. Shrewdly he picked his spots and rushed for over 100 yards in six of seven playoffs. He smartly stepped out for 195 yards, two scores and one interception in the state finals. He weaved his way to 113 yards and the only touchdowns in the WPIAL win over Gateway

Marsh was duly rewarded for his efforts--All-State. All-Conference. All-Almanac and Big 33 selection.

Alas but no trip to Disney World. Instead of traveling to Orlando with the basketball team, Marsh, one week removed from football, stayed home to study the plays.

Despite having not played for three years, Marsh caught on quickly. He ingeniously figured out how to help the Black Hawks win. With Marsh, BP went from 2-7 overall to playoff bound. He averaged 10 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.

Contemplating no time off from sports, only the future, Marsh ran track this spring. He qualified for the WPIAL championships in the sprints.

According to Metheny, Marsh is the ultimate team player. He deflects attention away from himself and diverts it toward others. "In Lyle, there is no finer, outstanding young man," he said.

Touching times

Nearly 50 athletes were honored by The Almanac as either Most Valuable Players in their respective sports or as top 10 male and female finalists.

Among the top 10 female finalists were Emily Mueller, Elizabeth Kline and Meredith Cain from Upper St. Clair; Colleen Graeser from South Fayette, Emily Correal and Maggie Walker from Peters Township; Alexa Del Greco and Emma Simmers from Seton-La Salle and Becca Zimmer from Bethel Park.

Among the top 10 male finalists were: Steve Radke, Christian Brandstetter and Nick Wilcox from Peters Township; Adam Lazenga from Bethel Park; Michael Hull and Alex Pihakis from Canon-McMillan, David Del Greco from Seton-La Salle, Brad Banas from Chartiers-Houston and Anthony Zanetta of Keystone Oaks.

Pastor Joe DiDonato from the Meadows Race Track Minister emceed the banquet while Brandstetter delivered the invocation. 2006 Male Athlete of the Year award winner Andrew DiDonato and Jaci Timko, an MVP and female athlete of the year finalist in 2008, presented plaques to the honorees.

Two touching moments during the evening occurred when Timko awarded the boys' tennis doubles to her sisters, Tanya and Karli of Chartiers-Houston and the boys' diving MVP, John Szott of Bethel Park.

The Timko sisters became the first female pair to ever win a WPIAL doubles title in boys' tennis. State and district champions in 2008, the duo were forced to play on the boys' team when their girls' club folded due to lack of participants.

Szott received a standing ovation from the crowd for his personal battle with cancer. Despite being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma during the diving season, the senior still managed to finish eighth in the WPIAL and in the top 20 at states. He will dive at Washington and Jefferson College next season.