Bethel Park’s Fisher takes third in WPIAL singles
Cami Fisher wore her signature visor and was outfitted in her traditional Bethel Park uniform but something was missing when she stepped on the tennis courts to compete for a WPIAL championship.
Last year, Fisher combined with Lily Sierka to win the Class AAA doubles title. This year, she’s gone solo, competing in the singles competition.
“I was alone,” Fisher said. “I came here and thought, I don’t have Lily with me.
“It was very weird. Very different,” she continued. “Lily was my hype girl. Calming me down. It was so much fun to play with her.
“I feel though I’d done the doubles thing. While I miss doubles and it was fun, my goal was to do the singles thing this year.”
With only herself to settle her nerves, Fisher didn’t do too badly in her first foray on her own. She qualified for the PIAA tournament to be held Nov. 2-3 at the Hershey Racquet Club.
“I am very excited. This was my goal for the year. I wanted to go to states,” Fisher said.
Fisher earned her spot in the state tournament by taking third place in the WPIAL. She defeated Shady Side Academy’s Brooke Henderson, 6-2, 6-1, in the consolation match played Sept. 19 on the Bethel Park High School tennis courts.
Fisher started shaky, dropping her first service game, but recovered to easily dispatch her opponent.
“I had some nerves playing on my home court,” she said. “The media and all your friends and family are here so it was a little nerve-wrecking. Once I settled in, I played my game and did what I do. I was good after that.”
Fisher played well throughout the tournament until the semifinals. Seeded third, she breezed past Norwin’s Bayleigh Village, 10-1, and Cassandra Lapina from Pine-Richland, 10-2, in the opening rounds of play before squaring off against Amelia Williams from Penn-Trafford in the semifinals.
Williams, who won the title in 2022, beat Fisher, 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the finals. In a rematch of last year’s final, Williams lost to Meriwether McCargo from Shady Side Academy, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5). McCargo was also the 2023 WPIAL singles winner.
“Amelia was my toughest match,” Fisher said. “We had some good rallies and shots but I think her power and her movement just overtook me. It was a really good match. She played well.”
Fisher admitted that “winning the WPIAL would have been nice” but she was delighted to qualify for states. She will tap into her experience for the upcoming tournament.
“The composure part of it will help me at states,” she said. “The more rounds you are getting in, the more nerve-wrecking it can be. You just have to calm yourself and tame your nerves. Play free.”
Fisher noted that at states, she doesn’t have pressure on herself. She likely won’t earn a top seed due to being the third seed out of District VII.
“I just have to go out and play my game. Whatever happens, happens,” she said.
Tennis has been the happening sport for Fisher since she picked up a racket to play with her father, Tony, at the age of 3.
“Daddy-daughter time,” Fisher said with a laugh.. “Because he got into it, it was something for him and I to do together.
“He tries to play,” she added. “No one else in the family plays.”
So Fisher tapped into other avenues to improve her game. By age 6, she was training under Tom Gorman at the Glenn Creek Tennis Club in South Park.
“I have learned so much from him. Mostly be confident in myself” Fisher said. “I’m good enough to play anyone and beat anyone as long as I keep on my game.”
Fisher’s game was good enough to capture the Section 4 title. She became the fifth girl in Bethel Park school history to win a singles section banner. Nicole Reynolds (’99), Kellie Schmitt (’01 & ’02), Lizzy Yetiskul (’05 & ’08) and Mia Gorman (’20 & ’21) are the others.
“In sections, I feel like I played consistently. My mental game was great. I focused on each point instead of what if I win or lose. My serve was effective as well.”
A southpaw, Fisher’s serve throws opposing players off balance. “It’s such an advantage,” she admitted. “Girls don’t see it that often. The spin is different. A lefty serve can trip girls up.”
Good footwork and solid ground strokes enable Fisher to keep opponents at bay, too. Additionally, her doubles experience made her a more aggressive player because she says that she loves coming to the net and volleying when the opportunity presents itself.
Though she is just a 15-year-old sophomore, Fisher has no expectations of becoming a professional tennis player. Because of her extracurricular activities, which include many service organizations as well as political affiliations such as student government, not to mention her personality, Fisher prefers to pursue a career in marketing or sales.
“I do not aspire to play on the Pro Circuit. I feel like my goal is to make a big impact in high school and college. Maybe win a WPIAL title one of these years and play college tennis, but it’s not my whole career. I want to do things after tennis. I really enjoy tennis but there are other things I enjoy more. I never grew up with that (pro) dream, I have other goals I want to accomplish. But, I anticipate playing tennis until I am an old grandma.”
Cami Fisher
Bio Box
Who is she: Bethel Park sophomore that qualified for the PIAA singles tournament
Age: 15
Birthday: Jan. 8
Parents: Stacy and Tony
Siblings: Colton, 15; Cayson, 13
Sports: Tennis, lacrosse
Achievements: WPIAL doubles champion and WPIAL team tennis champion.
Activities: Ways and Means (secretary); Best Buddies; DECA, Student Government Association, Homeroom representative
GPA: 4.35
Career plans: Attain a job in marketing or sales.
Class: History.
Color: Purple. “I really love lavender.”
Food: Quesadilla. “Emiliano’s has the best.”
Restaurant: BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
Movie: It Ends With Us
Music: Kate McRae
Athlete: “There are so many of them but I will go with Coco Gauff since I play tennis.”
Dream destination: Italy or Greece
Person with whom you would like to have dinner: George Washington. “I think it’s cool he was the first president. So interesting.”
Cats or dogs: Both. “I have two cats named Nixon and Truman. Another cat passed. His name was Reagan. We had two dogs named Madison and Jackson.”
Why presidents: “Well, I love history and my dad’s a history teacher at the high school. Actually both of my parents teach. My mom’s a special education teacher. They met in college. She was a member of the dance team and he played baseball at Clarion.
Double trouble: Not only was Cami a doubles tennis champion with Lily Sierka last fall, she is also a twin. Her brother, Colton, is a wrestler. “I love being a twin. It’s so much fun. We are friends in school. We help each other with homework and other things but we have separate lives and friend groups. We are our own person but we have lots of things in common.”
People might be surprised to know this about you: I play lacrosse. “Playing midfield for the high school team helps with my endurance and keeps my fitness up for tennis but it also gives me a different perspective because of the team aspect of the game.”
Life lesson sports has taught you: “Never give up and that you can accomplish anything.”