Peters freshman wins

He did more than fight. Somehow the No. 2 seed clawed all the way out of the hole and reeled off five consecutive points to win his first WPIAL Class 3A title, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), against the top-seeded Shymansky at The Club Sport & Health in Monroeville. The match was originally slated to be played at North Allegheny but was moved inside due to the threat of inclement weather.

“I think I had the advantage indoors because I like these courts a lot,” Bruce said. “They’re really fast and the ball really skids, so you can take time away from your opponent, and I think I came into this match more hungry because he beat me last time and it was a chance to get back at him.”

In the first meeting between the two, Shymansky took a 6-4, 6-2, decision in the No. 1 singles spot of the WPIAL Class 3A team finals to help Fox Chapel to a 4-1 victory and its second consecutive title. This time it was Bruce, who became the first freshman to win the Class 3A title since Pine-Richland’s Casey Watt in 2005 and the first Indians singles player since Brad Wade in 1993 to win the crown.

It was only the third time since the sport was split into two classifications in 1999 that the Class 3A final went three sets. The previous time was in 2011 when Butler’s Will Nesbitt beat Pine-Richland’s Bas Van Lent. It was also the first time a second seed won since Central Catholic’s Adam Blasinsky took the 2014 crown.

“Coming into the tournament, I just had to stay focused and stay lasered in on every shot and just play my game,” Bruce said.

Like Bruce, Sewickley Academy senior Luke Ross was coming off a loss to his finals opponent, Carlynton’s Luke Phillips. He was also dropped down to the No. 2 seed overall following that defeat, a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 loss in the Section 4 finals.

Like Bruce, Ross made a comeback for a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 victory to win his second consecutive WPIAL Class 2A title and third of his career. It was a rematch of the 2016 WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A title matches, both won by Ross.

“I was struggling with my serve the whole match for sure and I just sat down, took and break and tried to regroup,” Ross said.

In the consolation match, Sam Sauter of Sewickley Academy defeated John Monroe of California, 6-4, 6-4.