Best friends since they were youngsters, Pennsbury sophomores Megan Walsh and Kyra Workman joined forces on the tennis court this fall, and they turned out to be a perfect match, finishing fourth in the PIAA 3A State Tournament.
“They’ve been playing together, drilling and lessons, and they both do tournaments,” Pennsbury coach Tenaz Purdy said. “They’ve been doing this together since they were very little, and their mothers are very committed to their sport.”
Both served notice when they burst on the scene as freshmen that they were impact players.
“Megan beat out all the other singles players that were trying out for singles, so this is the second year she was first singles,” Purdy said. “We had two seniors at second and third singles who graduated, and Kyra was playing first doubles last year.”
While Walsh maintained her number one singles spot this year, Workman moved up to second singles. The duo joined forces for the first time for the SOL Doubles Tournament.
“They’re really singles players playing doubles, and it was incredible getting as far as they did,” Purdy said.
The pair experienced immediate success, finishing first at the SOL Doubles Tournament. They entered the District One 3A Tournament as the number five seed. A hard fought 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 win over the fourth-seeded team from West Chester Henderson in the quarterfinals vaulted Walsh and Workman into the district semifinals where they fell in three sets to the eventual district champions from Radnor but ensured themselves a coveted berth in the state tournament.
Walsh and Workman entered the state tournament as the number four seed from District One. Their first match against District 11’s top seed from Southern Lehigh was riveting, and the duo eked out a 6-2, 7-6(5) win. In the quarterfinals, Walsh and Workman defeated the team from Greater Latrobe, the second-seeded team from District 7, 6-2, 7-5.
The state semifinals featured Walsh and Workman in a rematch with the district champions from Radnor. They fell in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-2), and in the third place match, they were defeated in three sets (5-7, 6-1, 6-3) by the District 3 champions from Manheim Township.
“It’s pretty incredible because everyone is like, ‘They’re seniors, right?’” Purdy said. “Well, no actually, they’re sophomores, so they’re very young, and they have nowhere to go but get better.”
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