Morgan, Ransom Advance in District Tennis Doubles

Dynamic Duo Qualify for State Tourney in Chocolate Town

by Jim Morgan

FARWELL – If you haven’t received a message from Twitter, Facebook, e-mail or telephoned by now and are just finding out: Juniors Maria Morgan and Abby Ransom are going to be one of sixteen doubles teams fighting for the PIAA State Championship in Hershey this Friday and Saturday.

First up for the dynamic Lady Buck duo will be seniors Amy Cheng and Jappman Monga of Sewickley Academy, winners of District 7, match time 10:30 AM Friday.

Coaches Dan and Alison Heiser cannot believe how hard these girls fight for every volley. Dan Heiser just steps back and says “WOW; they are unbelievable. They just amaze me on each match. They both are hard-working girls at the game and for them to take it to this level of competition. It is all them. We just try to keep them within the lines and focus on what’s on hand at the

time of the matches.”

Last Wednesday in the District 4 semi-finals. Bucktail’s #4 seed Morgan/Ransom took on Bloomsburg’s #1 seed Ivy-Rose Kramer and Emily Wawroski. Bloom took the first game then the Lady Bucks settled right in by taking the next four games as Morgan/Ransom won the first set 6-2. In the second set, Morgan/Ransom jumped out to a 4-0 lead before giving up the next two games. Ransom finished the match with a slam at the net to send the Lady Bucks (6-2, 6-2) into the District Four finals against Loyalsock’s Kim Levy and Sarah Malone, the three seeds.

In the championship match, Levy/Malone jumped on Morgan/Ransom 3-0 before they could get a game finishing the first set 6-3 Loyalsock. But Morgan/Ransom was going to let them know that they are going to earn this victory. With more than enough unforced errors, the Lady Bucks fought to the very end as they lose the second set 7-5. Morgan/Ransom became the first Lady Bucks doubles team to ever place this far in district play for tennis.

This makes Morgan/Ransom the fourth and fifth athletes in Bucktail’s 46 years of sports to play at the PIAA State Championship brackets. The first was Rick Peterson (wrestling), second Tim Eberhard (wrestling) and third Leigh Kerstetter (tennis).

It’s funny how you sit back and look at what’s happening around you in your lives? Here are two girls, both of them having dads who coach boys sports at Bucktail, Bruce Ransom football and wrestling, Jim Morgan basketball and baseball. Both of them having dreams of getting teams to that state level of play. Now the both of them are sitting back and riding the shirt-tails of their daughters to Hershey. Don’t worry, because the both of them will be coaching on the side of the courts to each other and pacing back and forth.

Coach Dan Heiser was asked to give Morgan and Ransom an envelope on the way down to the semi-finals. There were four categories on the paper and this person hit it right on the head about the both of them with this category.

Some things never change: Today started with the sun coming up. Four individuals, two players and two coaches in our community, are going to compete in a sport they have given blood, sweat, and tears for. They have made their family, friends and community proud of their character not their wins and losses. The win that really counts is the character they display and how they overcome adversity. As the sun sets today and you return home, your family, your friends, and your community will be proud because the results of the match will not change your character. Thank you for the character you display.

Now Morgan and Ransom with coaches Dan and Alison cherish and enjoy the atmosphere you are about to feel at Hershey. Hold your heads high and GOOD LUCK LADY BUCKS!! GO FOR IT!!