Tyler Quinn played a lot of tennis last spring.
At No. 2 singles, he helped Valley win the Section 1-2A title, earn a WPIAL runner-up finish and earn a spot in the state playoffs.
He also teamed with graduate Landon Harclerode to finish second at the WPIAL doubles tournament and take part in the PIAA tournament in Hershey.
Quinn rested in the offseason. He didn’t play a lot of tennis until he picked up his racquet in February to prepare for this spring season.
He said his game picked up right where he left it in late May last year.
“Last season was somewhat stressful with a lot of pressure matches,” Quinn said. “It was so amazing for all of us to accomplish what we did. I put my racquet down for a while, but I did instruct at a youth summer camp and also went to some girls team practices in the fall.
“It felt good to get back playing. I didn’t have to readjust anything. I feel I am playing my best tennis right now.”
Now, the Vikings veteran, the team leader at No. 1 singles, is hoping to continue his rise and will put his talents on display Wednesday, and, if all goes well, Thursday at the WPIAL Class A singles tournament at North Allegheny.
Wednesday’s first round at NA begins at 1 p.m., and play will continue through the semifinals.
The championship and consolation matches will be Thursday, back at NA, at 1 p.m.
Quinn enters the tournament as the No. 14 seed after placing fourth at Section 1 singles last week on the courts at Valley and Alpha Tennis Club in Harmar.
He drew Quaker Valley junior Will Meagher in the first round.
“(The 14th seed) is just a number,” Quinn said. “It’s going to be good for me because it is really good competition. Quaker Valley is a good team overall, so I know (Meagher) will be a great challenge.”
Quinn and Meagher missed sharing a court together last year as their respective doubles teams didn’t cross paths in the WPIAL bracket. While Quinn and Harclerode played in the finals, Meagher and Quakers graduate Matthew Henry punched their tickets to states with a victory in the consolation final.
“I just want to stick to my game and see how it all plays out,” Quinn said.
Quinn beat Burrell senior Nathan Bigenho in the first round and Greensburg Salem junior Tommy Shrum in the quarterfinals of the section tournament.
He experienced arm soreness as his semifinal match with Winchester Thurston sophomore Ravi Stanger progressed. Quinn won the first set 6-4, but Stanger came back to win the second set 6-1 and closed out the match 6-0 in the third.
“I won the first set, and I wanted to continue all the way through,” Quinn said. “I was playing a whole lot of good competition, and that is important for me. I am not going to give up in a match. I will keep going.”
Mt. Pleasant sophomore Austyn Gross got the better of Quinn in the third-place match.
Valley coach Rachael Link said Quinn’s leadership qualities are evident in how he carries himself on and off the court.
“Tyler played a lot of tennis that day (at sections), and in his grit and stubbornness, he just didn’t want to default. He wanted to play through the pain,” Link said.
“Section singles was important to Tyler because it is an example of how he came back and reclaimed his love of the sport after resting and recharging in the offseason. The beginning of the season has been a journey for him to get his game to a level that he wants it to be. Making it out of our section to WPIALs is big with how good it is. He has really elevated his game.”
In addition to this week’s WPIAL singles tournament, Quinn and Valley’s No. 2 singles player, senior Baxter Diehm, are looking forward to joining forces at next week’s section doubles tournament.
Quinn, Diehm and the rest of the Vikings are 4-1 with a 2-1 record in Section 1-2A.
The Vikings edged Class 3A North Hills, 3-2, and added a nonsection victory over Springdale coupled with 5-0 section wins over Burrell and West Mifflin.
The lone blemish on the slate was a 3-2 loss to Greensburg Salem on March 25.
“Greensburg Salem is a very good team. All the respect in the world to them,” Link said. “Losing is hard, but they learned so much from that match. It could’ve gone either way. It gave the guys a lot of motivation to keep on going. They didn’t fold under the loss. They are ready to charge forward and really battle through the rest of the section matches with a lot of energy.”
The Vikings are scheduled to face Southmoreland on Thursday with additional section matches remaining with Mt. Pleasant and Winchester Thurston.
“I like how things are going so far,” Quinn said.
Quinn and Diehm moved up from No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively, last year.
Fellow senior Jackson Dameron is at No. 3 singles after playing at No. 2 doubles a year ago.
The rest of the lineup is new.
Sophomore Graysen Mator and freshman Jude Hicinbothem are at No. 1 doubles, while senior Trent Hicinbothem and junior Brady Watson are the No. 2 doubles tandem.
While there is a new look to the Vikings lineup, Link feels that it is improving and is hungry to return to the WPIAL playoffs.
The top four teams from the section qualify for the WPIAL team tournament starting April 27.
“It is a rebuilding season for us with every guy playing on a new court,” Link said. “It’s been incredible to watch their growth. Everyone’s court has elevated. Now, at 4-1 with where we are in the section, the goal has changed from where we want to be competitive on every court to where we want to get back to WPIALs out of what is a very competitive section.
“These guys play with humility and respect for every team, but they also have a confidence to build wins and make their goals a reality.”