Bethel Park’s Gorman takes third in PIAA tennis
Bethel Park senior Mia Gorman took third in the PIAA singles tennis tournament held Nov. 5-6 at the Hershey Racquet Club.
Gorman defeated Dasha Chichkina from Council Rock South, 6-4, 6-3, in the consolation match.
Gorman’s bid for the gold vanished in the semifinals when she lost a three-set mtach, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, to Grace Li from Unionville.
Li lost to North Penn’s Esha Velaga, 6-3, 6-3, in the championship match.
Gorman opened competition with a three-set win, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3, against Kyle Kochis from West Chester Henderson. She then swept into the semifinals with a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Central’s Mia Jeftic in the quarterfinals.
The bronze medal capped a decorated scholastic career for Gorman.
She was a two-time WPIAL champion and two-time section winner after finishing runner-up twice. She also was the PIAA runner-up as a junior.
Gorman, who trains at Glenn Creek Tennis Club in South Park where her father, Tom, is a tennis pro, will continue her career at Southern Illinois next fall. She will play tennis while pursuing studies in the sciences. She is leaning toward a major in biology.
Other action
Peters Township’s Kat Wang and Upper St. Clair’s Maggie Stief also competed in the PIAA singles tournament. Both were eliminated in the first round of competition.
Wang dropped a 6-3, 6-4 decision to Bella Peters from Abington Heights, wrapping up a sensational scholastic career. Wang was a two-time PIAA doubles champion and a WPIAL singles runner-up. She also helped the Indians win a WPIAL team title.
Stief succumbed to Catherine Rabatin of Penn Manor, 6-4, 6-4. A junior, Stief was the third-place finisher in the WPIAL. She also led the Panthers to the WPIAL team title and a PIAA berth.