Westmoreland County athletes of the week: Penn-Trafford’s Mia Williams, Greensburg Salem’s Luke Sikora

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, September 14, 2024 | 10:01 AM

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The Westmoreland County Athletes of the Week is presented by Smail Kia. Look for the tags and look for the savings at Smail Kia in Greensburg.

Mia Williams

School: Penn-Trafford

Class: Junior

Sport: Tennis

Claim to fame: Williams won her third straight section singles championship, defeating Michelle Yan of Franklin Regional, 6-1, 6-1, in the championship match. She advances to the WPIAL singles tournament, where she will try to win a second title in three years.

What was it like to win a third straight section singles title?

It’s a big deal to me. My section is filled with a lot of great competition like Michelle Yan, Carlin Bukovac and Bailey Vilage, so to come out and win for the third season in row, it definitely helps to boost my confidence in my overall game.

How would you classify your overall game right now?

I think my game right now is really solid. I have changed up some technique things over the summer, which I think helped along with my feel, as though I am putting less pressure on my results lately, which I feel has allowed me to just play my best tennis.

How motivated are you to get back to the WPIAL finals and try for another title?

I am excited to go back and play WPIALs for the third season in a row. That alone is a great opportunity. I am ready to go back and take another shot at the title. I know this year there is less expectation of me to win it compared to last year, but I think I have a great shot at possibly medaling at WPIALs and I believe in myself. Obviously, winning first like I did my freshman year would be fantastic, but I’m not going to put a bunch of expectation or pressure on myself to win it like I did last year.

What will it take to win WPIAL and PIAA titles?

It will take a lot of hard work. Both WPIAL and PIAA is filled with a lot of great competition, and to win a title is not easy, but I believe I have put in the hard work required, and I will keep putting in the hard work.

Do you play tennis year-round?

Yes, I do. The high school season is only a couple weeks, but, beyond that, I play in tournaments year around.

What do you enjoy most about the game?

Just hitting a ball, honestly. That is what I have always enjoyed about the game: Just hitting a ball, placing it where I want it, figuring out angles.

How is your internship going with PA Football News?

It is going very well. I started the internship over the summer, and since then I have worked on player profiles, conference previews, a few college commitments and I have covered P-T football games. It is a lot of fun. I am doing the internship with fellow tennis teammate, Annabelle Aquino, and we have a lot of fun on the sidelines of games, taking pictures and videoing plays.

Do you want to be a sports journalist?

Yes, I definitely want to study it in college and, hopefully, work in the sports journalism field one day.

Before a match I must ____?

Go through my pre-match warm-up and listen to my music.

Who inspires you in life?

Definitely my parents. Both of them are hard-working people who had great sports careers.

What is your favorite subject in school?

Probably history or English.

What is your favorite form of social media?

I do not really use social media much but maybe Instagram because I run the P-T girls tennis page, and I have fun posting bad pictures of everyone on there.

People who be surprised to know I _______?

Love writing, especially news writing. Between Pennsylvania Football News and the school newspaper I do a lot of news writing and taking pictures, and it is one of my favorite things to do.

Who is your favorite pro tennis player?

Right now on the tour I love Carlos Alcaraz, but I always loved Roger Federer when he played, especially his one-handed backhand.

How many racquets do you go through in a season?

Racquets themselves, not many. But all my racquets get restrung every two to three weeks or so.

In general, what makes you happy? And sad?

My friends and tennis are things that definitely make me extremely happy. There are not really many things that make me sad actually. Maybe just when I do not perform to what I feel like is my best, that might make me sad. But really that makes me more frustrated then sad.

Luke Sikora

School: Greensburg Salem

Class: Freshman

Sport: Golf

Claim to fame: Sikora was co-medalist with Kiski Area junior Max Mottura at the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association boys golf championship Thursday at Latrobe Elks. Sikora and Mottura each shot a 3-under-par 69. Sikora is the No. 1 golfer for the Golden Lions.

Can you describe your round and the final hole at the WCCA tournament?

If I had it all over again, I would hit driver off the tee. But I hit 3-wood, and I ended up going right behind a tree. But even after my second shot, after hitting 3-wood off the tee, I went over the green then mishit a chip and ended with a double-bogey six. For the most part, I played well. I played great. I was 5-under going into the last hole.

What was the best part of your game?

I putted well. I couldn’t have putted it any better. I probably made like, four or five putts outside 15 feet and just was hitting it well, too.

What was your best club in your bag?

My putter was easily the best thing in my bag. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have really been anywhere close.

You started on the ninth hole and made a birdie. Where were your other birdies?

I birdied 15, 17, 18, 4 and 5.

Where was your bogey?

I bogeyed No. 1. … Just chunked it.

What did your birdie do for your round?

I made maybe like a 10-footer for birdie, and that really helped my confidence with the putter. Then No. 10 I made like a 5-footer downhill for par, which are two good holes to start the round.

How’s the season going so far?

It hasn’t gone great. I haven’t really been playing that well. I played all right here. We had a match here (Wednesday) night, and I think I shot 1-under. I’m not familiar with the course, but I played really well.

What are your expectations and goals for the season?

I’d like to win states or, at least, place. I want to make it there and do well at the sectional qualifier on Monday, so, hopefully, that should be a breeze.

Your dad (Ryan) was a great golfer. How much has he taught you?

He’s taught me a lot. We don’t really work on swing too much. I kind of figure that out, but he’ll work with me on my mental game a lot.

How old were you when your dad got you started?

Probably, like 4 or 5, but I didn’t start playing competitively until two years ago.

Have you won any tournaments over the past couple years?

I’ve won a few Isaly’s and Hurricane events, but nothing big. This was my best tournament.

So is this one of your bigger wins?

This is a big, pretty big win for me. I was able to control my nerves.

What do you love about the game?

The competitiveness and just how hard it is.

What’s your favorite club in your bag?

I’d say probably my pitching wedge because every time I have that my hand, it’s usually close. My putter is probably one of my favorite clubs, too, because I’m a really good putter.

What kind of ball do you use?

Titleist Pro V1.

What cubs are in your bag?

I have a TaylorMade Qi 10 driver. I have a Callaway Rogue 4-wood, 16 half degrees. I have a TaylorMade stealth hybrid Ping. Ping glide wedges.

What do you average off the tee?

I probably hit it around like 265 on average.

Do you have any holes-in-one yet?

No.

What’s your best 18-hole round?

My round on Thursday. I’ve shot a couple under at other courses, too, but this is the definitely best I’ve played in a while.

What golf course is your favorite that you’ve played?

I played Oakmont a couple years ago with my dad. But I really like Hannastown. That’s where I play. I practice all the time there.

Is there a dream golf course you’d like to play someday?

I would like to get out to, like, St. Andrews one day. I think that would be a good course. I think Pebble Beach would be really fun.

Do you have a favorite vacation spot?

We go to the Outer Banks.

Where do you go for a snack after golf?

I’ll go to Sheetz for a bag of pretzels.

Do you have a favorite fast food restaurant?

Chick-fil-A.

If your mom was making your favorite meal tonight, what would it be?

Her inside-out raviolis. That’s probably my favorite thing she makes.

Do you have a favorite golfer?

I’ll say, Scottie Scheffler. I really like his game, and I like his attitude.

If you were to have dinner with someone special, who would it be, and what would you talk about?

It would be Scottie Scheffler again, and I’ll just talk to him about golf, and maybe you could teach me a few things.

You have a favorite subject in school.

I’d like to say gym, but I also like math.

How do you think the Steelers will do this year?

I don’t know if they’re going to do great. I think they’ll do all right.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford