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The past 10 years have witnessed some truly remarkable players in Montgomery County high school sports.

The names here are the best of the best. They are, in the opinion of The Gazette's sports staff, the best representatives of their sports in the past decade.

There were a lot of variables in selecting these teams: statistics, team accomplishments and big-game performances, to name a few, with some subjective opinion thrown in.

There were also guidelines. Future achievement was an advantage, but high school performance was preeminent. To be eligible, a player must have been named to at least one All-Gazette team since 2000.

Without further ado, but with two further Adus, here is The Gazette's 10-year high school reunion, fall edition:

Cross Country

Boys Athlete of the Decade: Solomon Haile, Sherwood '09

When Solomon Haile wanted to train, he would forego rubberized tracks and asphalt roads. Instead, he would drive 30 minutes to the more favorable dirt paths of Rock Creek Park or Wheaton Regional Park.

That training, along with running at altitude in his native country of Ethiopia, allowed Haile to dominate all comers during his one season of prep competition in the United States.

"When he came to practice, I was surprised to see just how fit he was," Warriors head coach Dan Reeks said. "He was very self-motivated to train on his own and was probably the first athlete who understood Rock Creek's training trails."

Haile blew away the competition while setting several course records along the way. He swept counties (15:11), regions (15:56), states (15:43) before winning the Foot Locker National Championships (15:15) and setting the course record (12:06.7) at the famed Manhattan Invitational in New York.

Haile's efforts earned him a scholarship to the University of Arkansas.

Girls Athlete of the Decade: Karen Pulliam, Quince Orchard '02

Selecting Karen Pulliam as The Gazette's Athlete of the Decade was a no-brainer. She was the Athlete of the Year three consecutive times (1999, 2000, 2001) and holds the state's all-time girls record of 18 minutes, 52 seconds (2000) on Hereford High's three-mile state-championship course.

Pulliam repeated the feat the following year despite off-season heel surgery.

"She was tremendous," Quince Orchard head coach Seann Pelkey said. "Only a handful of girls ever run under 19 minutes."

After running track as a freshman, Pulliam joined the cross country team the following year. She took over as the Cougars' No. 1 runner midway through the season and finished second at states.

"The first time I realized she was special was when I saw her win the County Championship at Blake in 1999," Pelkey said. "Walter Johnson had a phenomenal team and sent everyone at Karen. But she just ran away from the field. From then on she ran away from everybody by 30 seconds to a minute."

Pulliam continued running at the College of William and Mary.

Steve Duplinsky, Georgetown Prep '06

Dominant senior season, capturing IAC (15:08), Private Schools (15:40) Championships; ran at Stanford.

Morgane Gay, Whitman '08

Steady performer was always frontrunner, twice winning counties (2006-07); runs at Virginia.

Marcus Hershberger, Gaithersburg '01

Two-time Gazette Athlete of the Year won two individual state titles, helping Trojans to 2000 state crown.

Andrew Jesien, Walter Johnson '05

Won county and regional championships as senior, placed second at states (2003-04); ran at Virginia.

Andrew Palmer, Whitman '10

Syracuse commit captured Class 4A state titles (2007, '09), earned spots at Nike Cross Nationals (2008-09).

Jessie Rubin, Wootton '10

2009 Athlete of the Year swept county, regional, state meets; will run at Duke.

Ashley St. Denis, Walter Johnson '04

Two-time state champion (2001-02) was the Wildcats' best on several strong teams.

Halsey Sinclair, Blair '07

Two-time Athlete of the Year (2003-04) swept county, region, state meets in 2004; now runs at Maryland.

Field hockey

Player of the Decade: M Emily Beach, B-CC '01

When Emily Beach was a freshman, the Montgomery County girls soccer season was still a spring sport.

Field hockey was not, thankfully for the Barons. Beach was able to play both, and the rest is history

"The first time she came out, she really hadn't picked up a field hockey stick," said B-CC field hockey coach Amy Wood. "But when I saw her play, I was like, ‘Oh, my God. She's going to be good.'"

It took just one varsity game for Beach to prove it.

"The first time I put her in, it was an overtime game," Wood said. "There were five passes and it took her 15 seconds to score the winning goal."

Beach fulfilled her promise during the rest of her high school tenure, producing 26 goals and 29 assists in her final two seasons. The Barons went 37-1 during that period, winning back-to-back state titles.

Years later, Beach went on to capture a national championship at the University of Maryland.

M Jessie Dorney, Quince Orchard '01

Set single-season school record with 31 points (17 goals, 14 assists) her senior season.

F Emily Ellenberger, Quince Orchard '07

Two-time Player of the Year; 2006 state champion produced 43 goals, 17 assists in last two years.

D Natalie Ellenberger, Quince Orchard '08

Knee injury cut short stellar career, but still produced 21 goals, 19 assists. Now at American.

M Kate Gannon, Whitman '01

Amazingly skilled player with scoring touch led Vikings to pair of 4A state final appearances.

M Katie Lee, B-CC '03

Followed in Beach's footsteps, supplying B-CC with adept passing and prolific scoring from center midfield.

D Lucy Hayes, Holton-Arms '08

Anchored defense as junior and senior, while also seeing time in midfield.

F Maya Herm, Whitman '09

Intense play, big hits produced 29 goals, 13 assists, two regional finals to end career.

F Tyler Leachman, Holton-Arms '02

Hard-hitting forward exploited opponents for 40 goals, 22 assists in final two campaigns.

F Eleanor Morgan, B-CC '01

Explosive scorer (28 goals, 21 assists in final two years) left school after 34 straight victories.

F Kajee Murangi, Springbrook '04

Transferred in from Arizona in time to lead Blue Devils to 2003 state crown with 12 goals, 13 assists.

D Julie Nagel, Wootton '04

Not only had ability to stop tough opponents, but was good at starting offense from back.

D Meg Palisoul, Whitman '02

Key defender for Vikings in her final two seasons, routinely shutting down opponents' top scorers.

G Elizabeth Schlossberg, B-CC '03

Allowed just 7 goals during senior campaign, contributing to B-CC's run of nine straight state titles.

F Rachel Stream, Poolesville '08

Three-sport star blasted in 45 goals, 17 assists in final two seasons; now at Old Dominion.

Boys soccer

Player of the Decade: F Freddy Adu, The Heights '01

He was a legend before he was in high school; a man among boys and a boy among men.

National youth team wunderkind at 13. Professional at 14. And, for those prone to hyperbole, the great hope for American soccer.

"He's represented the U.S. in five different world championships — U-17, U-20 three times and the Olympics — and he was their shining light in every instance," said Arnold Tarzy, an Adu confidant since the prodigy was 8.

Adu neither hails from Montgomery County (he emigrated from Ghana at age 7) nor stayed long. His legend grew in Bradenton, Fla., at the U.S. Soccer Residency Program beginning in the winter of 2001.

But it began here. In July of 2001, at age 11, he helped the Potomac Cougars win a national championship in the U-14 age group. That fall, as a 12-year-old eighth grader, he scored 25 goals for The Heights School and was named first-team All-Gazette.

"He scored in every single high school game he played, except against us," said Sandy Spring Friends coach Eduardo Polon. "It was all we could do, strategically and tactically, to keep him off the board. That's a proud little thing we still hang our hats on."

D Fro Adu, Georgetown Prep '07

Freddy's younger brother more than his name: anchored Little Hoyas defense for four seasons.

F Chris Agorsor, Sandy Spring '04

Only with Wildebeest as eighth grader, but certainly foreshadowed future: 33 goals, 21 assists in 2004.

D Julio Arjona, Clarksburg '10

Started at Bullis, led Clarksburg to region final, spent year in Bradenton, finally led Coyotes to state title.

G Billy Chiles, Springbrook '03

Five shutouts as senior, named second-team All-American at Towson and drafted by MLS's Columbus Crew.

F Kevin Dansky, Churchill '09

Remarkable speed, finishing left foot; 2008 Player of the Year scored 26 goals in unbeaten regular season.

M Chris Gormley, Whitman '01

Arguably had best season of anyone on this team. Did it all in 2000, leading unbeaten state-title run.

M Ryan Gracia, Wootton '08

After one year in Bradenton, gifted midfielder scored 11 goals in senior season. Now at George Mason.

M Malcolm Harris, Good Counsel '12

Golden Boot winner last summer; 33 assists with Falcons, international experience. Oh yeah, only sophomore.

F Levi Houapeu, Watkins Mill '07

Two-time first teamer even better at UMBC; led all of Division I in scoring with 43 points this fall.

F Alex Lee, Magruder '08

Starting back at Maryland, but was one of county's best-ever goal-scorers; school-record 52 total.

G Nick Noble, Georgetown Prep '03

Four-year starter for Little Hoyas was first-team All-American at West Virginia, now with MLS's Chicago Fire.

F Michael Rollings, Sherwood '05

Small, but one of decade's deadliest; scored 22 goals in 2004, resulting in 4A state championship.

M Rodney Wallace, Bullis '07

Best three-level career on this list. Two first-team nods, college national champion, starts for D.C. United.

M Ethan White, B-CC '09

Led Barons to 3A state title as junior, and started at Maryland as freshman; has promising future.

Girls soccer

Player of the Decade: F Noelle Keselica, Watkins Mill '02

As grounded as Noelle Keselica was, the 5-foot-5 dynamo knew how to flip a switch once she stepped onto the soccer field.

"She was a scary player to play against," said Clarksburg girls soccer coach Troy Bowers, who coached at Watkins Mill during Keselica's career. "If she was a boxer, she was going to knock you out. She pissed off a lot of coaches."

Watkins Mill scored just 4 goals in the spring of 1998. Then Keselica arrived that fall.

She scored an otherworldly 35 goals as a freshman and holds the Wolverines' record for most career goals (85) and assists (39). Watkins Mill went 48-15-1 in her four years, reaching the state semifinals in 2001.

Keselica, who later enjoyed an accomplished four-year tenure at the University of Virginia, is now a forward for the Atlanta Beat in the Women's Professional Soccer league.

"I remember the first time I saw Noelle," Good Counsel coach Jim Bruno said. "She was in fourth grade playing up at the old Corner Kick indoor place. She was playing against boys and she was the most dominant player. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this kid is untouchable.'"

F Vicki Anagnostopoulos, Good Counsel '06

Playmaker is program's all-time assists leader and is tied for sixth on Falcons' all-time scoring list.

F Kim Bunting, Bullis '05

Even two knee surgeries could not hold down one of Soccer Buzz Magazine's top 50 recruits of 2005.

F Kelly Campbell, Gaithersburg '02

Thrived when opponents overlooked her 5-foot-1 frame; holds school's scoring and assists records.

M Kayla Clarke, Quince Orchard '10

Cougars' all-time assists leader was pivotal in team's three consecutive runs to state final from 2006-08.

M Alex Doll, B-CC '11

Barons have won two state titles and are undefeated in league play with her in center of midfield.

D Liz Friedman, Wootton '01

Unassuming in stature, not strength; helmed defense that recorded 13 shutouts in 2000.

D Mary Hearin, Watkins Mill '02

Anchored back while Keselica pushed forward; still tallied 9 goals, 28 assists.

F Danielle Malagari, Good Counsel '02

Racked up 69 goals, 44 assists, four straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference titles.

F Caroline Miller, Walter Johnson '09

Pure scorer led county from 2006-08 and finished with school-record 91 goals.

G Kelly Paolucci, Good Counsel '02

Set state record for scoreless minutes (1,188) en route to school-record 37 shutouts.

G Carly Rosin, Wootton '03

One of county's most dynamic goalkeepers had monstrous range, allowing only 15 goals from 2000-02.

F Laney Rosin, Wootton '01

Scored 61 goals in three years; led Patriots to county's first-ever state title in 1998.

F Pam Vranis, Churchill '10

Set her teammates up almost as much as she scored; finished with 55 goals in three years.

D Karen Waskewich, Holy Cross '04

Tartans always had chance to win when speedy, savvy defender was in back.

Girls tennis

Player of the Decade: Maria Fuccillo, Good Counsel '09

No one likes losing.

But somehow, succumbing to Maria Fuccillo never seemed that bad.

"You knew she was going to win 6-0, 6-0 but it was always seemingly a pleasure," Good Counsel coach Lee Ingham said. "When my girls had to play her, I just told them to have fun. ... You can't give them any other strategy then to just go have fun and watch someone who is brilliant, play."

Fuccillo took the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference by storm in 2005, going 13-0 to win the No. 1 singles title at the season-ending WCAC tournament.

Fuccillo closed out her remarkable undefeated singles career in 2008 with her school-record fourth WCAC title.

Ranked No. 1 in the U.S. Tennis Association Mid-Atlantic Region last year, she was also ranked as high as 82nd in the USTA Girls 18s nationally.

Ronnie Brown, Magruder '02

Powerful baseliner was undefeated in 2000, 2001, including No. 1 singles county title.

Alice Chen, Quince Orchard '06

Half of decade's most lauded rivalry; consistent ground game landed her in two state finals.

Ariela Cohen, Churchill '05

Two-handed on both wings; booming serve earned three consecutive undefeated seasons.

Carmen Jackman, Blake '07

Won Blake's first county title in 2007, become first Bengal to receive Division I scholarship (UMBC).

Tiffany Lin, Walter Johnson '09

Twice No. 2 singles county winner, won four state girls doubles titles with three different partners.

Madeleine Long, Holy Cross '04

Smart player broke opponents' games down with consistency to win two WCAC titles; played at Georgetown.

Maggie MacKeever, Churchill '06

Won four No. 1 singles county titles and three state titles; now plays at University of Maryland.

Ali Piacente, Richard Montgomery '03

Hard hitter mixed shots up well to win the county, regional titles without dropping one set in 2001.

Lauren Wolman, Walter Johnson '08

State doubles champion used shot arsenal wisely to win county, regional titles.

Girls volleyball

Player of the Decade: OH Becky West, Good Counsel '09

When Becky West walked into Good Counsel's open gym volleyball practice a few weeks before her freshman year began, head coach Karen Kart hardly knew what to expect.

"I never dreamed she would turn into one of those players that only comes along once in awhile," Kart said. "I don't think I've ever had another player who was as exciting or would intimidate and scare opponents as much as she did with her swings."

West began to emerge towards the end of her freshman season. She also changed from a right-side hitter to her more natural home at outside hitter.

"After we won WCAC's [in 2006] she said, ‘I love this and we are never going to lose again,'" Kart said. "And we have not lost [a WCAC match] since."

By the time West graduated in May, the Falcons had won three consecutive WCAC titles. In her final season, West and Gazette Co-Player of the Year Brighid Casey led the Falcons to an undefeated season.

OH Rachel Dougherty, Magruder '04

Naval Academy graduate played just two years at Magruder, yet holds several school records.

S Maureen DuVall, Poolesville '05

2004 Player of the Year led Falcons to three consecutive regional crowns; starred at Shippensburg.

S Arielle Goldberg, Damascus '08

Helped establish Damascus as perennial county power; plays at Division I Pacific.

OH Claire Kodan, Sherwood '07

Averaged 14 kills per match during 2006 state-title run; earned All-CAC honors at St. Mary's.

S Amanda Krampf, Gaithersburg '06

Hub of Trojans' 2005 state title; four-time All-Centennial conference selection at Gettysburg.

OH Kailee May, Damascus '07

Utah transfer paid dividends in only season, leading Hornets to first-ever state-title match.

L Paige Sekerak, Poolesville '11

Incredible controller of ball has been position's measuring stick practically since it was established in 2005.

OH Sherryta Stokes, Springbrook '04

Undersized, but incredible leaper, recorded 218 kills during senior season, finishing with 569.

OH/S Tara Withers, Quince Orchard '02

2001 Player of the Year had power and finesse; led the Cougars in kills and aces during senior campaign.