Stars of the Games

Soccer: Sheriela Dinham, 15
Dinham, a star midfielder for the Cambria Heights Panthers, scored two goals, including the game-winning kick in the Panthers' shootout win over the Kickers in the girls division, assuring the Panthers of a gold medal. It was the first time the Southeast Queens Junior Olympics' soccer component featured a female competition.
A soon-to-be sophomore at Jamaica High School, Dinham's first goal was impressive, according to Coach Ketteley German. &#8220That was a beautiful goal,” she said. &#8220She went right between the defenders to score.”

Baseball: Chelsea Silver, 13
The lone girl on the Brooklyn East Little League baseball team, Silver hit a division-high four homeruns. Brooklyn East won the Major division title, topping the Rochdale Little League, 7-6, in seven innings. Overall, they won all four games during the week. Silver, a pitcher/shortstop, began playing baseball at the age of eight.
She still hears the doubters, but &#8220I prove them wrong, because I show them I can play,” she said. The Brooklyn East Little League director Luis Jimenez has been impressed. &#8220She's really awesome,” he said. &#8220There's nothing normal about this one.”

Martial Arts: Leja Stephenson, 14
Stephenson took home a gold medal in female fighting and silver in male fighting. The Fresh Meadows native took up martial arts because of its tradition in her family. &#8220I do it to defend myself and stay in shape,” she said, although Stephenson, a junior black belt, has yet to use martial arts in public.
&#8220I like it because it teaches me self control and self discipline in tough situations,” said Stephenson, who studies at System of Universal Styles in St. Albans and focuses on the Korean martial art Tang Soo Do that has been incorporated into modern Taekwondo, and mixed martial arts. But martial arts aren't the extent of her extracurricular activities; ironically, Stephenson also dances. She's into modern ballet. &#8220It's kind of similar,” she said, comparing dancing with martial arts. &#8220Sometimes I'll learn a pirouette ballet and it will help me with a spin kick.”

Basketball: Greg Houston, 13
Houston led the Positive Direction Wildcats to the 13-and-under title over the Positive Direction Lady Wildcats with 16 points. He began playing organized basketball with Positive Direction at the age of eight, partly because of his father.
&#8220My dad always influenced me,” he said. &#8220My dad taught me how to play.” In three games, Houston averaged eight points, three steals, and two assists.

Tennis: Melanie Lopez, 17
The gold medal winner in the girls 17-and-under division, Lopez has been playing tennis since the age of four. She's taken part in Youth and Tennis, the Jamaica-based tennis league for eight years, after her father, Dr. Harry Lopez, an instructor there, signed her up.
A Monica Seles fan, Lopez's strength is from the backcourt, where she utilizes both a two-handed backhand and forehand, just like Seles, the former world's No. 1 player. The groundstroke specialist is excited to return to the USTA National Tennis again in the coming weeks to watch the U.S. Open; she's been traveling to Flushing every August for the past several years. &#8220I just like to watch everyone,” she said, adding, &#8220I also like to watch the qualifiers.”
Lopez, who will be a senior at Clara Barton this fall where she is a key component to the volleyball team, would like to attend the University of Connecticut. She plans on studying biology in college, with hopes of a career in plastic surgery. &#8220I used to watch it on TV and I found it so interesting,” she said. &#8220I'm more into constructive surgery than cosmetic.”

Track and Field: Wilfred Ruck, 14
Ruck, a Bellerose resident, took home the gold in the 100-meter dash and the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays in addition to a silver medal in the 200-meter dash. A runner in the Queens-based Metro Eagles Track Club, Ruck will be a freshman at Holy Cross High School in Flushing this September, where he plans to continue his track & field career.
Until a year and a half ago, he had never taken part in organized sports of any kind. But his mom heard about the Metro Eagles program, and signed him up. So far, so good. &#8220I love it,” he said. &#8220It's good competition and it motivates me to do better in school. I also enjoy running against others.”