Chen comes full circle, ready to lead Shady Side Academy girls team
Derek Chen made a name for himself on the court in 2013 when he won the WPIAL Class 2A boys singles title as a sophomore at Vincentian.
Now he’s back in the district and looking to establish himself on the sideline in some very familiar surroundings.
Chen has returned to the WPIAL this season at the helm of the Shady Side Academy girls program, replacing longtime coach Jeff Miller, who stepped aside last season after 40 years.
“He’s definitely been here for a while and was here when I played,” Chen said. “It’s definitely a legacy that I want to continue and build upon the culture that he had and continue the tradition.”
Chen has a history with the program. He transferred to Shady Side Academy for his junior and senior seasons and played in the WPIAL singles tournament in 2015 before committing to play at Dickinson.
Prior to coming to Shady Side Academy, Chen coached at The Brearley School, an all- girls prep school in Manhattan.
“I’ve worked there and I’ve worked at multiple clubs,” Chen said. “But as far as working in a school setting, with kids this age, this is my second gig.”
Though he has worked with high school girls tennis programs in the past, it’s a little different stepping into that role at your alma mater.
“It’s funny because there are a lot of familiar faces and some of the players I played against are people I’m now coaching against,” Chen said. “It’s come full circle. Tennis around here is very, very small and it’s a lot of the same faces.”
Chen, though, is taking over a program that lost a 3-2 quarterfinal match to eventual champion Upper St. Clair in last year’s playoffs. And the Bulldogs have a solid group back to potentially challenge for the title this year.
Shady Side Academy is led by senior Nichole Poltinnikov at No. 1 singles, with the WPIAL doubles runnersup — juniors Rachel Nath and Elena Sobol — occupying the No. 2 and No. 3 slots, respectively.
“They’re all returning from last year and it’s a great core that we have here,”
Chen said. “Nichole, we know that she’s a senior this year, but we’re hoping to get every last little bit out of her before she leaves.”
Knoch
If she wanted to, Knoch coach Nance Conlon could very easily hand in a lineup from 2021 for her matches this season.
That’s what happens when, in the rare occasion, you have all seven of your starters back.
“We’re in a pretty good position, I’d have to say,” Conlon said. “I think every year, they come in with a little more confidence, especially this year having all of the starters back and in the same positions.”
Knoch is starting sophomore Emily Greb at No. 1 singles with senior Ally Bauer at No. 2 and Emily’s twin sister Lindsey at No. 3 to open the season the same as it did last year. But after the WPIAL Class 2A singles tournament last year, when Bauer beat Emily in the semifinals, the two switched spots.
That could also happen again this year.
“Ally and Emily, they are very similar players. They play together in the offseason and it’s any given day who’s going to win between them,” Conlon said. “This year, they battled it out to three sets [in tryouts] and it was close.”
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see where the two end up when the sectional tournaments open on Sept. 14. They faced each other in the semifinals last year and could do so again with defending champion Ashley Close and South Park’s Nicole Kempton, the third-place finisher from last year, all returning.
There is also the question of whether Emily could eschew singles for doubles as she and Lindsey are the reigning state doubles champions.
Still, having an entire team back bodes well for Knoch as it attempts to once again face Sewickley Academy for the title. The two have met in the WPIAL Class 2A team finals each of the past five years with the Panthers holding a 4-1 edge.
“I think back, five or six years ago, when we first met them, we were a little ‘deerin-headlights’ because we had not faced anyone of that caliber in quite some time,” Conlon said. “I think we were very green in experience, but I think we’ve proven each and every year since that we are in the same playing field as them.”