May 8, 2017 By Eleanor Bailey 5 min read

Nothing motivates Connor Bruce more than the fear of failure. That aversion propelled the Peters Township freshman to his first WPIAL championship in tennis. Bruce fended off three match points and defeated Robby Shymansky, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), for the Class AAA title. The Fox Chapel sophomore was the reigning champion and 2016 PIAA runner-up.

”Connor hates to lose more than he likes to win,” Peters Township tennis coach Brand Bowman said. “He’s a fighter and doesn’t lack for confidence. He has an unbelievable will to win that you need to be top notch.”

“I hate to lose. That is true,” Bruce agreed. “I’m very competitive at everything I do.”

Bruce comes by his competitive nature honestly. His mother excelled on the courts. Before marrying Allan Bruce, a 5.0 tennis player himself, Marcie Cenkovich excelled at Mt. Lebanon, winning a PIAA doubles title. She played Division I tennis at the College of Charleston and later coached the Upper St. Clair girls’ teams to championship after championship.

Bowman agreed Bruce gets his competitive edge from his mother. “It’s innate,” he said.

“She was a real good player at Lebo and when I coached the Peters girls’ she was coaching USC to title after title and doubles teams to states. She’s obviously a good coach and Connor obviously is a great player that has a great work ethic.”

“My mom has always been my instructor. No one but her,” said Bruce. “It’s probably a different relationship than most kids have with their mothers. She’s been there through the good times and the hard times. She’s definitely the best.”

Mom’s always best at giving helpful hints and advice. Her texts enabled Bruce to fend off doubt when he found himself trailing Shymansky after splitting sets.

“She texts me inspirational quotes from players like Agassi, if I can’t see her,” he said. “Things like ‘Focus’ and ‘you can do it’ but I know whatever happens, I’ll have her.”

What Bruce possessed against Shymansky was mental toughness. He reeled off five consecutive points to clinch the championship.

“I was fearless out there,” he said. “There’s definitely pressure but you have to look like there’s not. Be confident. Try to get in their heads and make them scared of you. You respect your opponent but you keep it business out there.”

Bruce had the highest regard for Shymansky after all he easily defeated him in a two-setter, 6-4, 6-2, during the WPIAL Class AAA team championships a week prior.

“After losing to him in the team tournament, I was more hungry,” Bruce said. “He’s a great player. He beat me pretty well there that first time but I came in focused. I wanted to do the best I could.”

Bruce’s best makes him the top seed out of District 7 for the PIAA championships to be held May 26-27 at the Hershey Racquet Club. The fourth-ranked freshman in the state will find himself in a similar situation as the WPIAL finals were moved from the outdoor courts at North Allegheny to the Monroeville Racquet Club because of inclement weather.

“The courts are faster on an indoor surface and they favor the big guy with the serve,” Bowman said.

For a freshman, Bruce is a big guy at 5-10, 160 pounds. He likes the indoor surface and admits to having an advantage but he anticipates stiff opposition from upper classmen, including possibly Shymansky, who has also qualified for the state tournament.

“The goal was to win the WPIAL title and it feel great to have done that. No words can explain the feeling but now the goal is to win a state title. I know some of the players my age out East but I am unsure of the older seniors. The objective is to state laser-focused, confident and fearless and never give up. Fight to the end for every point.”

After his exhibition against Shymansky, Bowman is certain Bruce will battle to the bitter end.

“When you look at him you would not guess that he’s a freshman,” Bowman said. “He’s strong and tall but most of all he’s mentally tough. He’ll know all the kids and he’ll have a shot. Rob finished second last year and when you finish first in the WPIAL, you get a better draw in the PIAA so Connor should do well.”

Bruce should do well long into the future.

Noting his size 13 shoes, Bowman said, “Connor will be a beast by the time he is a senior.”

Bruce blushed, adding there are “always things” for him to work on and that everything about his game can “get better,” he admitted that he has big plans for the future. He wants to win a few more WPIAL titles and grab a state championship or two. After that he hopes to earn a Division I scholarship to a top-ranked college.

“Being a professional is a dream of mine,” he concluded. “I’ll take it one step at a time though and see where tennis takes me.”

Already, Bruce’s will has taken him far.