After claiming WPIAL singles title, Severin Harmon, Sewickley Academy tennis turn attention to team success

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, April 14, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Severin Harmon has been the top singles player for the Sewickley Academy boys tennis team for three seasons.

Now, he reigns as the WPIAL’s No. 1 player in Class 2A.

Harmon defeated Aquinas Academy senior Jackson Gillespie, 6-3, 6-3, in the WPIAL singles championship match April 10, at Glen Creek Tennis Club in South Park.

“It’s really exciting,” said Harmon, a junior. “I knew that this was what I wanted to accomplish this year, and I’m really grateful I was able to get it done. It was one of the things I was working hard on over the winter, to try and get back here and get this opportunity. I was able to capitalize on it. It is really nice to be a part of that list (of champions at (Sewickley Academy).

“Jack is such a talented player, so I knew this match was going to be really tough and that he would make me earn every point. The match took over two hours, which was my longest of the tournament, and Jack just refuses to give up. He’s so frustrating to play against because he never seems to lose any energy. I never trailed during the match, but I knew that any lead I had could be gone in an instant, because he keeps fighting no matter what.”

Harmon received the tournament’s top seed then ran the table at the two-day WPIAL event. The first day of action took place at North Allegheny.

“I had a tough draw,” Harmon said. “Every match, I had to fight. It was not easy at all. It was really rewarding (to win the title).”

After landing a first-round bye, the Sewickley netter beat North Catholic’s No. 8 seed, sophomore Justin Garvey, 10-4 in the quarterfinals.

Harmon then cruised past No. 4 Jason Jasek, a South Park sophomore, 6-2, 6-0, in the semifinal round before winning the WPIAL title in straight sets against the second-seeded Gillespie.

“As soon as the last point ended, I just felt relieved,” Harmon said of the championship match. “It was such a physical match, and I was so glad that it went my way. It was incredibly rewarding.”

Harmon, the WPIAL runner-up in 2023, was familiar with Gillespie’s style of play. The 2024 final was a rematch of last year’s semifinal won by Harmon.

“We used to train together, actually, a few years ago, so we knew each other pretty well,” Harmon said. “He gets to everything. He is just so athletic. He’s really hard to play against.”

Harmon, Gillespie, Jasek and Hampton senior Vitaliy Pikalo qualified for the PIAA tournament to be held May 24-25 in Hershey. Harmon placed fourth last season.

“It’s just about continuing to play my game and trusting it,” Harmon said.

Sewickley is looking to make it two in a row in the WPIAL team competition as the Panthers are the defending champions in 2A.

Last year, the Panthers defeated Winchester Thurston, 4-1, in the finals at Washington & Jefferson’s Janet L. Swanson Tennis Center. It was an awe-inspiring experience for both the players and SA’s veteran coach Whitney Snyder.

“I’m extra proud of them because they had not been in that (playoff) situation in the past,” Snyder said afterwards. “They got better and better as the season went on. I’m proud of their passion, their commitment. I think with this group it was all about relationships.”

Pride and passion indeed are key elements of Sewickley Academy tennis.

Snyder welcomed four returning starters back from the 2023 squad, including two of the team’s anchors, Harmon and junior Sebastian Tan, who competed at No. 3 singles a year ago.

“My expectation is that our team will go far this year,” Harmon said. “We won WPIALs last year and are expecting a much better result in the state tournament. I think we’re all pretty happy with the 2023 season. We improved a lot throughout the season and making it to the (PIAA) semifinals was a blast. But this year we are putting in the work and hoping to go even further.

“We have a really great group of guys. We have some great seniors that help out some of the younger guys on the team. Everyone is excited to play at a high level in the next few months.”

Harmon was the No. 1 seed in the recent Section 4-2A singles tournament where he beat his sophomore teammate and No. 2 seed Finn Wentz, 6-1, 6-1, in the finals. Wentz advanced past No. 3 Ben Crefeld of Blackhawk, 6-2, 6-1, in the semifinal round.

Harmon lost only one game in the semifinals, thrashing No. 4 Zack Masters of Beaver, 6-1, 6-0.

“Now, it’s time to focus on WPIAL teams and get to Hershey as a group,” Harmon said. “I’m excited for the rest of the season and I know the team is, as well. Our goals of winning championships and competing for WPIAL and state titles are still present.

“Personally, the goal is always to make it to Hershey and hopefully improve on last year’s finish.”

Tan also believes another championship run is in the cards for the talented Panthers squad.

“I think the team did very well (last) year. We all played very close to our best tennis,” Tan said. “It looks like we have a good shot at winning WPIALs again, and maybe even states. We have some strong doubles players moving up.”

Senior Jackson Quigley and junior Jason Chen are back as two of the leading doubles players for Sewickley.

“There were a lot of unknowns (last) year,” Snyder said. “Our doubles teams hadn’t played together; those kids didn’t know who their partners would be. Both doubles teams developed good chemistry and won a lot of big matches for us.

“We’ve had to replace three starters, but with the success they’ve experienced, I think they’re excited and look to build on that.”

Harmon, Wentz, Tan and senior Tejas Mitra hold onto four of the top spots in the lineup for the Panthers.

“Personally, I hope to become a better leader this season,” Tan said. “Along with my co-captains Severin and Tejas, I think the grind has been ambitious and a lot of fun.”

Freshmen Max Kopf and Ben Terrell also are being counted on heavily in 2024, as is senior Logan Carlson, the team’s leading reserve in 2023.

Sewickley was 7-1 in Section 4-2A last season before advancing to the WPIAL and PIAA tournaments. The Panthers ended up 13-4 overall.

Snyder is in his 33rd season at Sewickley and has built one of the great dynasties in WPIAL history. Last year’s WPIAL title was the 24th for the Panthers in boys tennis and the first since 2018.

The Panthers reeled in 16 consecutive section crowns from 2003-18 and were WPIAL titlists 15 years in a row from 2004-18. The run of consecutive team championships is the second-longest streak in any sport in WPIAL history.

A Sewickley graduate, Snyder also has led the Panthers to the state finals eight times, winning titles 2006, 2016 and 2017.

This year, the WPIAL team championships are set for May 8 at W&J.

Staff writer Michael Love contributed.

Tags: Sewickley Academy