AOY 2012: Male finalists

Bios for the finalists for 2012 Gazette Male Athlete of the Year:

MARK ATWATER, Linn-Mar

A key member in Linn-Mar's football renaissance as a two-way starter (quarterback and linebacker). Set school career records in touchdown passes (45) and tackles (249), as well as TD passes in a season (25) and a game (4). Named 2011 Gazette-KCRG football player of the year after earning first-team all-state honors. Compiled a 99-32 career record in wrestling, and was the Class 3A 182-pound state runner-up as a senior. Will play football at Coe College.

JORDAN HAY, North Cedar

Earned 17 varsity letters, but made the most noise in basketball. He scored 1,970 career points and led the Knights to the state tournament twice -- they placed fourth in 2011, then returned to Des Moines in 2012. A two-time first-team all-stater, averaged 23.1 points per game as a senior. In football, he passed for about 2,000 yards in the past two seasons. Varsity golfer for four years and will be a five-year baseball letterman. Will play basketball at Upper Iowa University.

BEN KNAKE, Lisbon

Quarterbacked the Lions to the first state football championship in school history. Rushed for 583 yards and passed for 1,084 for a combined 17 touchdowns. Also returned an interception for a TD and brought back five kicks for scores. A third-team all-stater in basketball, he led the Lions to the state tournament and scored 1,331 points. Ran on state-champion medley relay and placed sixth in the high jump. Will play basketball and football at Cornell College.

MARCUS PAIGE, Linn-Mar

One of the most decorated basketball players in state history. Named Mr. Iowa Basketball after a career in which he scored a Metro-record 1,700 points and earned McDonald's All-American honors. Played in four state tournaments at Linn-Mar, leading the Lions to the Class 4A state championship as a junior. Torched Cedar Rapids Kennedy for 49 points, including seven in the final 10 seconds of regulation, in a substate game the Lions ultimately won in double-overtime. Will play basketball at the University of North Carolina.

CHARLES ROGERS, Iowa City West

A career defined mostly by football, Rogers probably had his most success in track, sweeping titles in the hurdles events at the state meet last month. He ran the 400 lows in 53.43 and the 110 highs in 14.59. West was the 4A team champion. In football, he led the Trojans to the 4A quarterfinals. Passed for 2,128 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 1,191 yards and 23 TDs. Will play football at Iowa State University, where he is expected to be a defensive back.