WRESTLER JUSTIN RUIZ NAMED AS A 1997 DIAL AWARD FINALIST, RECOGNIZING THE TOP HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLAR/ATHLETES IN NATION 
   High School wrestling star Justin Ruiz of Salt Lake City, Utah, was named as a finalist for the 1997 Dial Award, which is presented annually to the national high school scholar/athlete of the year. 
   Established in 1979, the Dial Award is considered the nation's most prestigious achievement for high school seniors. A total of 10 high school seniors (5 men and 5 women) have been named as finalists. 
   Ruiz was a 1997 USA Wrestling Junior National champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling at 191.5 pounds. He also placed sixth in the 1997 Junior World Greco-Roman Championships (17-20 years old) at 198 pounds, the top finish on the U.S. Greco-Roman team. 
   Ruiz also won a gold medal in Greco-Roman at the 1997 Espoir National Championships/Junior World Team Trials. He claimed double titles at the West Junior Regionals and was the Rocky Mountain Junior Regional freestyle champion. 
   He is currently a senior at Taylorsville High School in Taylorsville, Utah. He has won two Utah state high school titles at 189 pounds, and placed fourth in the state as a freshman. 
   Ruiz was the 1997 USA Wrestling Championship Belt Series winner on the Junior level, recognizing the most successful high school athlete in USA Wrestling's national event programs. 
   His academic achievements are equally impressive. Ruiz has a 3.91 GPA, and is ranked #50 in a class of 718 students. He is on the high honor roll, and is a member of the National Honor Society. 
   In addition, he holds a Life ranking with his Boy Scout Troup and is active with his church's youth group. He has done a number of community service projects through the Scouts and church organization. 
   The other male finalists for the award are Donald Curry of Hampton, Va. (football/basketball), Troy Dumais of Ventura, Calif. (diving), Matthew Holliday of Stillwater, Okla. (baseball, football) and Taylor Twellman of St. Louis, Mo. (soccer, baseball). 
   The female finalists for the award are Krista Kier of Westerville, Ohio (track and field), Michelle Kwan of Lake Arrowhead, Calif. (figure skating), Lauren McFall of Los Altos, Calif. (sychronized swimming), Mandy Nightingale of Sapulpa, Okla. (water skiing, basketball) and Lindsay Yamasaki of Oregon City, Ore. (basketball, volleyball). 
   This year's two Dial Award winners will be chosen by a panel of high school athletic administrators, sports journalists, academicians and athletic federation members, who base their vote on three areas: athletic, academic and civic. The winners will be announced in December. On behalf of the two winners, a $5,000 grant will be presented by Dial to each of their high schools. 
   Thirty-five athletes have been honored by Dial so far, including golf champion Tiger Woods, NFL stars Herschel Walker and Chris Spielman, Olympic champion gymnast Shannon Miller and basketball greats Cheryl Miller and Lisa Leslie. No wrestler has received the Dial Award, but a number have been named finalists.