Sports briefs for July 14, 2005

Thursday, July 14, 2005 | 9:52 a.m.

Gatorade names year's top athletes

Greg Paulus, the nation's top high school football player, and volleyball phenom Cynthia Barboza were named Gatorade national high school players of the year Wednesday.

Paulus received his trophy from former Gatorade players of the year Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic at an under-21 nightclub in Hollywood, Fla.

"I felt small," said Paulus, a senior quarterback from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y. "It's so much fun to be here. You just dream of being like that, making it to that status."

Paulus led his school to its first state football championship, and was named MVP of the title game.

Barboza, a senior from Woodrow Wilson Classical High in Long Beach, was an alternate on the U.S. volleyball team for the Athens Olympics. She is a two-time Gatorade national volleyball player of the year.

The other boys' nominees were: soccer player Lee Nguyen of Richardson, Texas; basketball player Greg Oden of Indianapolis; baseball player Justin Upton of Chesapeake, Va.; and shot putter-discus thrower Ryan Whiting of Harrisburg, Pa.

The other girls' nominees were: soccer player Amy Rodriguez of Lake Forest, Calif.; basketball player Abby Waner of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; softball player Dani Hofer of Safety Harbor, Fla.; and jumper Brittany Daniels of Tracy, Calif.

Rockies deal Wilson

The Colorado Rockies traded outfielder Preston Wilson and picked up outfielder Eric Byrnes in trades with Washington and Oakland.

The Rockies sent Wilson and cash to the Nationals for right-hander Zach Day, outfielder J.J. Davis and a player to be named later or cash. Colorado also sent left-hander Joe Kennedy and right-handed reliever Jay Witasick to the Athletics for Byrnes and minor league prospect Omar Quintanilla.

Earlier, the A's acquired outfielder Jay Payton and cash from Boston for right-handed reliever Chad Bradford.

U.S. Open won't beep

Electronic line calls won't be used at this year's U.S. Open as planned unless final tests are error-free, the USTA said.

-- Sun wire services