Bethel Park’s Gorman wins second WPIAL tennis title
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bethel Park’s Mia Gorman stretches to hit a forehand winner during the WPIAL Class AAA singles tennis championship match.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bethel Park’s Mia Gorman returns a shot during the WPIAL Class AAA tennis singles championship match.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Kat Wang is a championship tennis player at Peters Township and a recipient of one of this year’s WPIAL Scholar/Athlete awards.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Upper St. Clair’s Maggie Stief returns a forehand against Latrobe’s Jenna Bell during the WPIAL Class AAA consolation match at North Allegheny. Stief topped Bell to claim the final qualifying spot in the PIAA tournament set for Nov. 5-6 in Hershey.
For the second time in eight days, a tennis title was on the line for Mia Gorman of Bethel Park and Kat Wang from Peters Township.
Again, Gorman triumphed in straight sets.
Gorman swept past Wang, 6-2, 6-1, in the WPIAL Class AAA championship match played Sept. 24 on the North Allegheny High School tennis courts. She defeated Wang, 6-4, 6-3, on Sept. 16 on her home court at BP for the Section 4 crown.
“We have known each other since we were little,” said Gorman. “So there are no surprises when we play each other. Our matches are always good and it’s fun to play her.”
Gorman used a strong serve and consistency to defeat her friendly rival.
“This match, I did not give away as many free points,” she said. “I got my serves deeper and made more returns than I did the last time I played Kat. I was more consistent and hit the strike zone.”
Gorman broke Wang’s serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead she never relinquished. After taking the first set by winning the next four games, Gorman bolted to a 4-1 lead on her way to grabbing the WPIAL gold for the second time in her career. Last year, Gorman outlasted Pine-Richland’s Elaine Qian, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5, for the title.
“It’s two in a row and it’s my senior year so that’s exciting in a different way. I am playing better now this year,” Gorman said.
“I played more solid throughout the tournament than I did last year. So I was relieved with the way I was playing. I didn’t feel like I was getting tight.”
Gorman breezed into the finals.
After winning back-to-back pro sets, 10-2, against Lauren Miko from Mars and Carolina Walters from Latrobe, Gorman dispatched Upper St. Clair’s Maggie Stief, 6-2, 6-0, in the semifinals. Wang outlasted Jenna Bell of Latrobe, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 in the other semifinal.
Gorman is now qualified for the PIAA tournament to be held Nov. 5-6 at the Hershey Racquet Club.
Gorman was the state runner-up last season, falling to then-senior Amelia Honer from Council Rock North, 7-6 (3), 6-2, in the PIAA finals.
“The state title would be the goal,” Gorman said. “I’ve moved on from last year and it’s like starting over.”
With a month to prepare for the state competition, Gorman said she is focused on the service aspect of her game.
“More than anything,” she said, “I have to work on having more faith in it especially on big points. That and consistency always.”
Gorman has the ideal place and coach to help. She trains at Glenn Creek Tennis Club in South Park where her father, Tom, is a tennis pro.
Gorman will matriculate to Southern Illinois next fall. She will play tennis while pursuing studies in the sciences. She is leaning toward a major in biology.
“When I took an official visit at the end of August, I just loved it,” Gorman said. “I had nothing bad to say about anything. The people. The area. None of it. They have been good to me and they have been in contact with me throughout the process.”
As the WPIAL runner-up, Wang also qualified for the PIAA tournament.
For the past two years, Wang has been a state champion in doubles competition. She is also a two-time district doubles winner with Peters Township’s Marra Bruce, who is not playing high school tennis this fall.