Norwin boys tennis team won’t settle

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, March 12, 2018 | 11:00 PM

The Norwin boys tennis team expects to be among top finishers again in Section 1-AAA, but the Knights long for more.

“In order to advance in the WPIAL playoffs, we need to defeat a few teams in our section that have given us trouble over the years,” Knights coach Ryan Hornick said.

Norwin placed fourth in the section last season with a 5-3 record, earning the final qualifying spot.

The Knights lost to Fox Chapel in the first round, the second consecutive season they failed to advance. The Foxes went on to repeat as champions.

Norwin senior Chad Sanderson said by doing better in the section, the Knights can get a better seed and avoid powerhouses such as Fox Chapel and Shady Side Academy.

Shady Side Academy eliminated the Knights in 2016.

Seniors Aaron Kuhn and Evan Morgan are among top players. Both represented the Knights at the section singles championship last year, with Morgan making it to the quarterfinals.

Also playing will be Sanderson, senior John Piekut, junior Nathan Dietrich, senior Alec George, junior Daimon Kato and sophomore Jadon Hooke.

“We have a lot of depth and experience,” Hornick said. “We do not have a dominant player, but anyone (among our top players) is capable of playing a solid match against most of the competition we will face.”

Sanderson said Penn-Trafford, the defending section champion, is the team to beat.

The Knights kicked off the campaign March 13 with a nonsection match against Woodland Hills. Results were unavailable for this edition.

Their section opener will be Monday versus Gateway.

Sanderson said he and his teammates have a lot of fun together.

“We enjoy playing (and) want to get better,” he said.

Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.

Tags: Norwin