WATERLOO - Those closest to Jon Tink tried to remain tight-lipped. But the secret slipped out.

One day before the June 29 edition of Sports Illustrated hit newsstands, Tink learned that he would be in the publication. The leak can be traced to a friend of Tink's who plays basketball with his brother in Chicago.

Tink, a standout golfer at Waterloo Christian, received a text message from his friend congratulating him on making Sports Illustrated's, "Faces in the Crowd" section.

"Mostly, I was just surprised," said Tink, who was recognized for winning his third consecutive Class 1A state golf title.

"People tried to keep it a secret from me, but I found out a little too early. It's just cool to open up the magazine and see that I'm in there."

Dike-New Hartford phenom Hannah Willms can relate. One week earlier, she appeared as the nation's lone high school athlete in "Faces in the Crowd."

Willms was recognized for her effort at last spring's state track and field meet in which she set all-class records in the high jump and 400 along with Class 2A records in the 200 and sprint medley.

"Obviously, it's quite an honor for her to be recognized nationally," Dike-New Hartford track and field coach Jann Miller said. "It certainly shows that people are watching her, and it's great for Dike-New Hartford to be recognized, as well.

"I'm sure she will now be inundated with more phone calls and letters now focusing maybe a little bit more on track and field, but I think it's quite an honor for her as well as her school, her family and her teammates."

Willms, a junior, committed to Iowa State for volleyball last fall. Her success in track and field has caused her to re-evaluate whether or not she'll be a one-sport collegiate athlete.

"It would be really sad just to end it all after everything that's happened," Willms told The Courier May 23 after completing her final event at the state track and field meet. "But right now it's just volleyball. High jumping is still in my head and I'll see what happens next year."

During the summer, volleyball remains Willms' main focus as she competes on the Nike Six Pack club team coached by Jay Grassley.

For Tink, this summer has been relatively laid-back. He plans to return to tournament play next week at the Iowa Masters on the Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames.

The Iowa Masters will be the first in a full slate of tournaments that Tink plans to enter in July. His focus this summer is preparing for a freshman season of collegiate golf at Wheaton College in Illinois.

"Normally at the end of the summer I kind of stop playing golf tournaments," Tink said. "(This year) I'll actually have stuff to prepare for at the end of the fall and late into the season, which will be different and, hopefully, good."