CLOSE-UPS

CROSS-COUNTRY

MARK MATUSAK

Sr., Los Angeles Loyola

Then: Finished second at the Southern Section Division I cross-country final at Mt. San Antonio College as a sophomore, helping the Cubs win their first title since moving to that level in 1987. The following week, he finished third at state, leading Loyola to its first Division I championship in its first state final appearance. As a junior, he won the Division II state title in 15 minutes 8 seconds, the fastest time of the meet.

Now: Overcame a stress fracture in his foot that sidelined him for six weeks during the track and field season last spring and mononucleosis that slowed his training last summer to defend his Division II state title Saturday at Fresno’s Woodward Park in 15:09. Matusak will return Saturday to Mt. SAC to race in the Foot Locker West Region championships, where he finished sixth last season and advanced to the national championships, where he was 22nd.

Quote: “It kind of touches you, knowing you were able to come back,” Matusak said of his recent injury and illness. “It makes it all that much better.”

-- Dan Arritt

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FOOTBALL

AARON ALONZO

Sr., Lakewood Mayfair

Then: A tailback on the 9-1 freshman team, Alonzo was brought to the varsity for the playoffs and did a good job on the scout team in preparation for the Monsoons’ successful championship run. Moved to defensive tackle his sophomore season, at an undersized 6 feet 1, 230 pounds, he was named the league’s lineman of the year for the Suburban League champions in 2003.

Now: An aggressive defender whose “motor is always running,” according to Coach Mike Fitch, Alonzo made the transition this season to middle linebacker, where he calls the defensive alignment for the Monsoons and probably will be the league’s defensive back of the year. He has recovered three fumbles and forced two others for Mayfair (11-1), which has recorded five shutouts and has held opponents to 14 points or fewer nine times going into the Division VI semifinal Friday against Newport Harbor.

Quote: “One way or another, I always end up coming out on top,” Alonzo said. “I’ve been doubted, I’ve overcome that. I keep focusing on my goals, take advantage of every opportunity, and when Friday night comes, I leave it all on the field.”

-- Martin Henderson

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GIRLS’ TENNIS

ALLY KRASNOPOLSKY

Sr., North Hollywood Campbell Hall

Then: Reached No. 3 in singles and No. 1 in doubles in the girls’ 14 division in Southern California in 2001 and rose to the same lofty heights in 16s in 2003. Nationally, she reached No. 9 in singles in 16s last year after advancing to the U.S. Tennis Assn.’s Southern California sectional final match in June 2002 and then making the finals of Whittier and Long Beach tournaments and winning the third-place match at Southern California sectionals in 2003. She was a finalist in doubles sectionals with Fullerton Troy’s Cosmina Ciobanu last December.

Now: Ranked No. 11 in Southern California and No. 29 nationally in girls’ 18 and headed to Boston College next year, Krasnopolsky has a 49-2 season record, with losses only to North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake’s Hilary Barte and Los Angeles Brentwood’s Logan Hansen. She led the way as Campbell Hall (19-1) won its second consecutive Division III title last week, and she has advanced to today’s fourth round of the Southern Section individual tournament, where she lost a three-set quarterfinal match last year to eventual champion Riza Zalameda.

Quote: “I call her the Albert Einstein of tennis,” said Nels Van Patten, Krasnopolsky’s private coach. “She wins because she’s smarter than anybody else on the court and she outwits them.”

-- Lauren Peterson