The Fox Chapel boys tennis team had a number of spots to fill in their lineup this season. Foxes coach Alex Slezak didn’t have too wild of a motto to show confidence in the group.
“Our motto all year was, ‘Why not us?’” Slezak said. “And that motto allowed us to get the most out of everyone’s abilities.”
Fox Chapel, which won the section title, knocked off Pine-Richland and Shady Side Academy before bowing out to North Allegheny in the WPIAL semifinals. The Tigers went on to win the district championship over Upper St. Clair.
The Tigers swept Fox Chapel, 5-0, in the playoffs, but there were several competitive matches. Andrew Larsen and Chase Walters lost 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2 doubles. Grant Fenton lost 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 singles.
Harrison Soose and Rocco DiDomenico lost 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles, while Frank Siegel and Brady Haberman lost their matches at No. 1 and No. 3 singles in straight sets.
Slezak wasn’t discouraged by the loss to North Allegheny.
“Making the semifinals was a great accomplishment, and it shows we squeezed all the juice and nothing was left untapped,” Slezak said.
Throughout the season, Slezak felt that Fox Chapel demonstrated major improvements with their decision making.
“We got better at shot selections in singles, running plays in doubles and momentum management during the flow of a tennis match,” Slezak said.
Strong students
Fox Chapel senior Sophia Tai and junior Drew Moyer were named 2026 High School All-American Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Tai competes in girls wrestling and rowing, while Moyer was picked for baseball. The two athletes were nominated by interscholastic strength and conditioning head coach Brandon Peifer.
Playoff-bound
The Fox Chapel baseball team was tripped up in its final two Section 3-5A matchups by second-place West Allegheny but found a way into the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs. Fox Chapel wound up in fourth place, one game ahead of New Castle for the final postseason spot.