Rose Court Is in Full Bloom : Contest: The queen of the 102nd Tournament of Roses Parade will be selected Tuesday from among the seven American beauties.

For 17-year-old Cara Payton Rullman, trying out for the Tournament of Roses Royal Court was just a lark, something that she and about 35 of her San Marino girlfriends decided to do this year.

For 18-year-old Dawn Christine Gray of Pasadena, the competition represents a third, determined try for the coveted title of Rose Queen. The Rose Court is the closest Gray has come yet.

“I think it’s easier every year,” she said of her previous attempts, “but everything that comes up now will be new.”

Despite different motives for entering the contest, both teen-agers ended up teary-eyed Monday after they were named to the seven-member court. More than 700 young women competed this year at Tournament House in Pasadena in a three-week round of judging. The contest is open to residents of the Pasadena Community College District.

The seven teen-agers compose an exotic-appearing court this year, reflecting the ethnic diversity of the San Gabriel Valley. Members include a young woman whose parents are from India, an African-American, a Japanese-American and a Chinese-American.

Those named Monday were Tisha Mei-Lin Kong, 16, of San Marino, captain of the varsity tennis team at San Marino High School; Wendy Nicole Schnee, 17, of Pasadena, active on the student council at Westridge School; and Jessica Leigh Roegler, 17, of Altadena, principal violist in the John Muir High School Symphony.

Also named were Harini Reddy, 17, of Arcadia, a Westridge student who takes Indian music classes; and Andrea Sae Uyeda, 16, of Pasadena, a Polytechnic School student and member of Zendeko Taiko, a Japanese drum group.

Gray, a Pasadena City College student active in the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People, and Rullman, a San Marino High School varsity cheering squad member, complete the court.

One of the seven will be named the Rose Queen on Tuesday. She presides over the 102nd Tournament of Roses Parade, Jan. 1 in Pasadena.

The parade, whose theme this year is “Fun ‘n’ Games,” will be followed the same day by the 77th Rose Bowl game, featuring the Pacific 10 and Big Ten conference champions.