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Mania is aces for the St. Mary's golf squad St. Mary's High golfer Katie Mania hasn't received a lot of publicity the last two years while winning back-to-back District 6 titles and finishing 10th and 13th at the Class 3A-2A-1A state tournament. It's hard to get out of the shadows when playing for a small school, and harder still when you're playing in the same neighborhood as some of the state's top high school female golfers such as Tai Kinney (North Medford) and Johnna Nealy (Grants Pass), who tied for the 4A title last year, and Abby Fowler (South Medford). Those three graduated last spring, with Kinney earning a scholarship to Minnesota, Fowler to Xavier University in Cincinnati and Nealy to the University of Oregon. Finally, Mania is out of the shadows and into the spotlight, illuminated as perhaps the top high school golfer in the Rogue Valley. After shooting a District 6-record 80-82-162 last season, the St. Mary's senior is looking to break into the 70s this spring and perhaps challenge for a state championship. "There's no question she's gotten a lot better," St. Mary's coach Bert Putney says. "She's hitting the ball longer and more consistent, she's getting to where she can hit a draw or a fade when she wants to and her short game has improved." Mania also carries a 3.95 grade-point average and is being recruited by Willamette and the University of Portland. Those close to Mania believe her potential has barely been tapped because she has never played on the state junior circuit during the summer months. "I like golf a lot, but it's not like I'm obsessed with it," she says. "I play on the weekends during the summer, but I also like to hang out with my family and friends." Mania hopes to win district for a third straight time and improve on her state tournament finishes. THE RESULTS ARE in for the Oregonian Cup's winter standings that recognize schools in the state based on athletics, activities and academics. Sheldon High of Eugene tops the Class 4A list. Marist of Eugene is king of the 3A schools, while Oakridge tops the 2A list and Canyonville Christian the 1A list. Sheldon took advantage of a state championship in dance/drill, a fourth-place finish in cheerleading and an eighth-place showing in girls swimming to emerge as the 4A leader. Rounding out the top five are Jesuit of Beaverton, Churchill of Eugene, Crescent Valley of Corvallis and South Eugene. South Medford tops the schools in the Southern Oregon Conference at 22nd place, followed by North Medford (23rd), Roseburg (25th), Klamath Union (33rd), Grants Pass (36th), Ashland (43rd), Crater (48th) and Eagle Point (79th). The 4A is comprised of 81 schools. In the 3A ranks, Phoenix registered an 11th-place showing out of 60 schools, while among the 110 2A schools, St. Mary's was ninth and Cascade Christian 14th. Schools earn points based on their finish in all OSAA-sponsored events and for top 10 placement in the academic program. A sportsmanship component that takes away points for ejections from sporting events was added to this year's scoring system. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.