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Athletes earn medals at USTA Middle States sectionals

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 2 min read
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For the fourth year, the 412 Racketeers advanced out of the Allegheny Mountain District and competed in the USTA Junior Tennis Team Middle States Sectional. From left, are Connor Dalgaard, Drew Dimidjian, Ethan Estatico, Anthony Lounder, Maria Lounder, Maddie Rimbey, Roshni Thakkar and Milla Ivanova. The team took third in the 18U co-ed division.

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The Backhand Burghers won the 14U division in the Allegheny Mountain District and advanced to the USTA Middle States Junior Tennis Team sectional where they claimed a silver medal in the competition. Front, from left, are Cassie Sierka, Caden Smith, Mackenzie Smock; standing, Devin Collier, Madeline Bradshaw, Samaira Narula, Noah Klaber and Ryan Moore.

Allegheny Mountain District Junior Team Tennis teams placed at the USTA Middle States Section Championships held in Berwyn with South Hills area players on its rosters.

Matches were played against teams representing other districts from New Jersey, Delaware, Philadelphia Area, Eastern and Central Pennsylvania.

The Backhand Burghers secured the silver medal in the 14U Intermediate Division.

Among the area players on the team are Devin Collier, Cassie Sierka, Caden Smith and Mackenzie Smock, who are all from Bethel Park, as well as Mt. Lebanon’s Noah Klaber.

In the 18U single boys division, the Allegheny Mountaineers also claimed second-place honors.

The team features Drew Dimidjian, who trains at Glen Creek Tennis Club in South Park and Ethan Estatico. A Chartiers Valley High School senior, Estatico was the USTA Middle States Section junior volunteer of the year.

“Ethan along with Connor (Dalgaard) and Maddie (Rimbey) have put in hundreds of hours since they were young as ball persons during pro circuit tournaments at Mt. Lebanon,” said Deb Hazlett, who is the local USTA coordinator for Junior Team Tennis. “They have continued to volunteer for Pittsburgh College Day and Middle States Section Training Center as they became older and more experienced players. They are truly amazing and deserve recognition for their many volunteer hours.”

Dimidjian and Ecstatic also helped the 412 Racketeers take third in the co-ed intermediate division. This was the fourth year that the team represent AMD at the sectional event.

The Pittsburgh Triangles claimed the bronze in the 18U single gender girls division. The team highlighted the skills of Lily Sierka and Emma Smith, both from Bethel Park.

Additionally, Rimbey won the Sportsmanship Award. She played on both the Pittsburgh Triangles and 412 Racketeer teams. A Montour High School player, Rimbey trains at Mt. Lebanon Tennis Center.

USTA Junior Team Tennis sponsors local fall and spring leagues that play at the Bethel Park High School outdoor courts. 14U and 18U divisions are offered.

The Backhand Burghers as well as the 412 Racketeers won both the fall and spring leagues in the 14U and 18U intermediate divisions to qualify for the USTA Middle States sectional.

For more information, email drhazlett@verizon.net.

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