412 wins AMD junior tennis 18U league
The Allegheny Mountain District (AMD) 18U Junior Tennis Team won the league playoff held at Glen Creek Tennis Club and advanced to the Middle State Section Championships held June 25 at the Legacy Tennis Center in Philadelphia.
At the sectional, the team, nicknamed 412 Tennis, played each of the five district teams from Delaware, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia area.
The 18U squad won its match, 3-1, against the Dover Nightmare, which went on to win the sectional championship. The champion was determined by total games won throughout the day’s competition.
The Dover Nightmare won 89 games while 412 Tennis had 71 victories. 412 Tennis also defeated Cheltenham Youth Tennis while also battling the Brookside Country Club, Hempfield Cross Court and BROWN 18.
Against the Nightmare, Noah Klaber of Mt. Lebanon and Lily Sierka from Bethel Park won their singles matches, 4-2. John Jasek of South Park and Brandon Frameli-Metz from Mt. Lebanon combined for a 4-2 win at No. 1 male doubles. In mixed doubles, the Bethel Park pairing of Luka Maracic and Emma Smith combined for a 3-3 tie in a timed final. Jackie Tang from Mt. Lebanon and MacKenzie Smock from Bethel Park teamed up and competed at No. 1 female doubles for 412 Tennis.
In addition to the eight team members, Mt. Lebanon’s Michelle Yang and Evan McGill helped 412 Tennis win the league playoff to qualify for the sectional.
All members of the team, which was coached by Tracy Smith, compete scholastically for their respective high school teams.
Deb Hazlett served as the USTA JTT coordinator for the 14U and 18U divisions that competed at the Bethel Park High School tennis courts during the fall and spring.
Individually, Maracic was selected for the 18U boys’ sportsmanship award.
Ella Sundh earned the distinction in the 14U girls’ division.
AMD’s 14U team, Three Rivers Topspin’, included the following players: Carlin Bukovac, Darren Lee, Soham Maiti, Luca Mendes, Paige Patsy, Collin Stalnaker, and Sasha Van Norman.