Sewickley Academy senior takes section tennis title

By: Sunday, September 22, 2024 | 11:01 AM

As the No. 2 seed, Sewickley Academy's Rayna Thakkar was one of the favorites at the Section 5-2A girls singles tennis tournament.

And she didn't disappoint.

The senior netter took first place at the event, defeating Our Lady of the Sacred Heart senior and Therese Bernas, 6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-2, in the championship round hosted by Quaker Valley at Nichols Courts.

Thakkar didn't lose a game prior to her match with Bernas, the tournament's top seed.

Thakkar blanked Hopewell sophomore Alana Covalt and Aquinas Academy freshman Alexandra Swift by 10-0 scores in the first two rounds. Covalt was the No. 15 seed; Swift was seeded seventh.

Thakkar warmed up for her match with Bernas by rolling past Carlynton senior and No. 3 seed Grace Prepelka, 6-0, 6-0, in the semifinal round.

Bernas, meanwhile, received a first-round bye then defeated Quaker Valley junior Livia Jobbins, 10-1, and Aquinas Academy junior Maggie McBride, 6-0, 6-0, before meeting Thakkar. Jobbins was the No. 9 seed; McBride was seeded fourth.

Jobbins clashed with Sewickley Academy sophomore Isabela Zuluaga in the first round where she won a 10-2 decision. Zuluaga was the eighth seed.

Prepelka captured third place in the section by defeating McBride, 6-3, 6-2, in the consolation round.

Quaker Valley's Jane Lenhard also qualified for the tournament and defeated Keystone Oaks senior Mackenzie Stewart, 10-1, in the first round. Lenhard was seeded 11th; Stewart was the No. 6 seed.

Other section champions in Class 2A were Greensburg Central Catholic senior Sasha Hoffman, Belle Vernon junior Gabriella Dusi, Hampton senior Grace Stitt and Beaver junior Anna Mrkonja.

The WPIAL Class 2A girls tennis singles tournament took place Sept. 18-19 at Bethel Park.

Dusi landed the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. Stitt, Hoffman, Thakkar and Mrkonja were seeded second through fifth.

Thakkar, who has taken classic Indian and Bollywood dance classes since the age of 5, led Sewickley Academy to a WPIAL runner-up finish in 2023.

Thakkar helped organize a program called Steel City Codes at Sewickley Academy, which will be looking to win its ninth WPIAL championship in girls tennis this season.