THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, June 28, 1996                 TAG: 9606260097
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 19   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR 
                                            LENGTH:   53 lines

HEART, SOUL COME BACK AS HIGH ACCOLADE CIARA LASCANO WILL GET A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP, AS WELL AS SOME HARD-EARNED RECOGNITION.

For four years, Ciara Lascano has given her heart and soul to Western Branch.

Now Lascano, who recently graduated with a 2.5 grade point average, is getting something back.

Not only will the three-sport athlete receive a partial scholarship to play soccer and basketball at Barton College in North Carolina, but she'll finally get the recognition she's worked long and hard for.

Lascano, a star on the tennis and basketball courts and on the soccer field, is the Clipper's pick for the female high school Athlete of the Year award in Chesapeake.

``I'm shocked,'' Lascano said. ``I never thought anything like this would happen. It feels great.''

Lascano, a four-year starter in all three sports, began her final season for the Bruins playing tennis at No. 3 in singles and No. 1 in doubles with Erica Villaros. By the end of the season, she racked up three wins in singles and shared the Sportsmanship Award with Lindsay Oldham.

Lascano then jumped to basketball season where she averaged nine points a game for the Bruins. The 5-foot-11 forward then helped her team to its first Southeastern District tournament championship when she nailed a 3-foot jumper off the glass with two-tenths of a second to play for a 45-43 victory over regular season champ Churchland.

Western Branch then advanced to the Eastern Region quarterfinals where it finished with a 17-6 record after a loss to Menchville. Lascano's play was good enough to earn her honorable mention on the All-District squad.

Without a break, Lascano moved to the soccer field where she helped her team reach the Southeastern District tournament semifinals. Lascano, who netted 11 goals, was then promoted to the first team All-District team after earning second team honors in 1995.

``It's been tough,'' said Lascano, who will major in sports medicine at Barton. ``. . . It was hard to keep everything together. But I just told myself to keep my head on straight.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo

Ciara Lascano, left, a star on the tennis and basketball courts and

on the soccer field, is the Clipper's pick for the female high

school Athlete of the Year award in Chesapeake. Lascano was a

four-year starter in all three sports. In tennis, she racked up

three wins in singles and shared the Sportsmanship Award with

Lindsay Oldham. In basketball she averaged nine points a game and

helped her team to its first Southeastern District tournament

championship and earned a place ont he All-District team. In soccer

she helped her team reach the Southeastern District tournament

semifinals and was on the first team All-District team. by CNB