High Schools Texas

Seventeen-year-old Marian Lynn Ward looked out at Santa Fe High's packed football bleachers Friday night and did what she'd wanted, what she'd promised--and what she needed a last-minute court order to do. In a husky voice that balked with nervousness, she invoked God in a pregame "inspirational message" to her peers, teachers and neighbors.

Seventeen-year-old Marian Lynn Ward looked out at Santa Fe High's packed football bleachers Friday night and did what she'd wanted, what she'd promised--and what she needed a last-minute court order to do. In a husky voice that balked with nervousness, she invoked God in a pregame "inspirational message" to her peers, teachers and neighbors.

The results of the U.S. Academic Decathlon brought a sinking feeling of deja vu to eight students from Laguna Hills High School on Monday afternoon. For the second year in a row, the school, representing California in the two-day national competition, placed second behind a team from J. J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Tex. The Texas team received 48,946 of a possible 60,000 points. Laguna Hills finished with 47,246 points.

Last fall, size alone wasn't enough for Nate Steinbacher. Sure, he stood 6-feet-6 and weighed 325 pounds, but he also had to be quick when he stepped onto the football field for Esperanza High. A lot quicker than he had been as a junior. So Steinbacher, who played offensive tackle, spent the off-season lifting weights. He logged plenty of hours running on the track and up a steep street near campus in the Yorba Linda foothills. The work paid off.

South Grand Prairie High senior quarterback Bill Shafer, a victim of Texas' "no pass, no play" regulations, was allowed to play one last game Friday, and he made it count. Under Texas University Interscholastic League rules, Shafer and five other starters were technically eligible only until the hour of the final school bell Friday (3:10 p.m., CST), after failing at least one course during the last six-week grading period.

Six of the 197 students at Rivercrest High School in northeast Texas have tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS, Supt. Freddy Wade confirmed at a news conference Thursday. That is more than six times the national average infection rate of one in 250 people. Although none of the infected students participate in extracurricular activities, two junior varsity girls basketball games have been canceled when opponents refused to play Rivercrest.

Last fall, size alone wasn't enough for Nate Steinbacher. Sure, he stood 6-feet-6 and weighed 325 pounds, but he also had to be quick when he stepped onto the football field for Esperanza High. A lot quicker than he had been as a junior. So Steinbacher, who played offensive tackle, spent the off-season lifting weights. He logged plenty of hours running on the track and up a steep street near campus in the Yorba Linda foothills. The work paid off.

The results of the U.S. Academic Decathlon brought a sinking feeling of deja vu to eight students from Orange County on Monday afternoon. For the second year in a row, Laguna Hills High School, representing California, placed second in the two-day scholastic competition involving 45 champion teams from across the nation. Once again, it was the state champions from Texas that topped Laguna Hills' score and walked away with top honors. The team from J.J.

The principal calls it "the coup of the century." The Massachusetts Institute of Technology says it is a record. And a teacher who gets much of the credit says modestly that "their parents give them the direction and care about them . . . . I provide them with an opportunity to display their wares."

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration Thursday called on the Supreme Court to replace race-based affirmative action in college and university admissions with "race-neutral" approaches that reward top students regardless of their race or ethnic heritage.

The principal calls it "the coup of the century." The Massachusetts Institute of Technology says it is a record. And a teacher who gets much of the credit says modestly that "their parents give them the direction and care about them . . . . I provide them with an opportunity to display their wares."

Six of the 197 students at Rivercrest High School in northeast Texas have tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS, Supt. Freddy Wade confirmed at a news conference Thursday. That is more than six times the national average infection rate of one in 250 people. Although none of the infected students participate in extracurricular activities, two junior varsity girls basketball games have been canceled when opponents refused to play Rivercrest.

The results of the U.S. Academic Decathlon brought a sinking feeling of deja vu to eight students from Laguna Hills High School on Monday afternoon. For the second year in a row, the school, representing California in the two-day national competition, placed second behind a team from J. J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Tex. The Texas team received 48,946 of a possible 60,000 points. Laguna Hills finished with 47,246 points.

The results of the U.S. Academic Decathlon brought a sinking feeling of deja vu to eight students from Orange County on Monday afternoon. For the second year in a row, Laguna Hills High School, representing California, placed second in the two-day scholastic competition involving 45 champion teams from across the nation. Once again, it was the state champions from Texas that topped Laguna Hills' score and walked away with top honors. The team from J.J.

South Grand Prairie High senior quarterback Bill Shafer, a victim of Texas' "no pass, no play" regulations, was allowed to play one last game Friday, and he made it count. Under Texas University Interscholastic League rules, Shafer and five other starters were technically eligible only until the hour of the final school bell Friday (3:10 p.m., CST), after failing at least one course during the last six-week grading period.

California, Texas and Florida are regarded as the best places to find future NFL players. And although it's debatable which state produces the best high school talent, there is no question which produces the most. Last year, the NFL released a survey showing that 202 of the 1,590 players on opening-day rosters had attended California high schools. Texas had 158 and Florida 136.

* WHO: Recently graduated football players from California high schools vs. Texas all-stars. * WHEN: Tonight, 7. * WHERE: Cal State Fullerton. * WHY: Proceeds go to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Los Angeles. * TICKETS: 15, $10 and $8. Available at the gate or through the Shrine football office at (213) 749-0166. Parking is $3. * TELEVISION: Fox Sports West 2. * FAST FACTS: California has won both previous games, 6-0, in 1995, and, 27-12, last year. . . .