Council Rock South junior Alyssa Skulsky seems to have her feet firmly fixed to the ground.
And, maybe, that’s why she has been named the Courier Times Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year.
In a season that saw some very good singles players in this area, Skulsky emerged as the best.
Again.
“I don’t think I’m the best player,” Skulsky said. “There are a lot of good players. I’m just so fortunate to have won it this year.”
Skulsky beat Council Rock North junior Sophia Fischer in a three-set thriller to capture her third consecutive Suburban One League National girls singles championship.
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“Our match was so good,” Skulsky said of the battle with Fischer. “She is so amazing.”
And with all of the top players around being underclassmen — like Fischer and her CR North classmate Joanna Kwon, as well as freshman Vicky Lushnikov, Skulsky’s CR South teammate — Skulsky should be plenty tested in 2017 as she chases a league title and Player of the Year honors for a fourth consecutive season.
Skulsky said that she is surprised she has been this successful so far.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d be Player of the Year for the last three years,” Skulsky said. “I am so grateful.
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“I was happy to win it as a freshman and sophomore and ecstatic this year. I would like to do it all four years.”
“Alyssa is a coach’s dream,” CR South coach Eric Scholl said. “She is so mentally strong and determined to win.
“The match with Sophia (Fischer in the SOL National singles tournament) was epic. Alyssa, down 5-2 (in the third set), played perfect tennis to win the match.”
Skulsky, who has a 33-4 career record, said winning the District One Class 3A singles tournament and reaching the PIAA state singles tournament are also goals she has set for herself in 2017.
“I would like to go to states and go far,” Skulsky said. “That would be my main goals next year, because I didn’t get to go to states this year.”
Skulsky opted to play in a United States Tennis Association junior tournament over the district tournament this year. The top four from districts go to states in Class 3A singles.
Council Rock High School South’s Alyssa Skulsky
Kim Weimer / Photojournalist
She did reach the state Class 3A doubles tournament with Lushnikov.
And Skulsky has some team goals for 2017, too. The Golden Hawks shared the SOL National title with Council Rock North and Pennsbury in 2015, reaching the District One Class 3A playoffs. That did not happen this season.
“I want to help take my high school team to another level,” Skulsky said.
Skulsky said she plans on playing collegiate tennis, and listed the University of Miami, University of Massachusetts, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania as some schools that have shown interest.
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