JEFFERSON TWP — Talk about making the most out of 11 years.

Coaching Knoch’s girls tennis team from 2012 through 2022, Nance Conlon guided the Knights to two team state and WPIAL championships, four WPIAL singles championships and three WPIAL doubles crowns.

“It’s been quite a ride,” Conlon said. “I miss it. I stepped down because of family obligations, but I enjoyed every minute of working with those girls.”

Nance Conlon10/20/23

Conlon guided Knoch to the Class 2A WPIAL and PIAA championships last fall. She was recently named PIAA Girls Tennis Coach of the Year through the National High School Federation.

This marks the first time she’s ever won the award.

“It’s so exciting, so humbling,” Conlon said. “We went undefeated in section play for six consecutive years. We had a couple of great tennis families leading the way in the Grebs and Bauers, but all of the other girls bought in, too.

“They were great leaders and this became a great program.”

Conlon coached all four of her daughters at Knoch — twins Katie and Abby, Molly and Libby. Molly played No. 1 singles for Knoch when the Knights were in Class 3A.

“We were in so far over our heads,” Conlon recalled of the team’s years in 3A. “We had to play North Allegheny and schools like that ... We just couldn’t compete with them.”

Libby Conlon wound up joining Ally Bauer in winning the WPIAL 2A doubles title in 2019.

“It was mind-boggling what our teams have been able to do in 2A,” Conlon said. “Last year, being able to beat Sewickley Academy twice (WPIAL and PIAA finals) was crazy. I have so much respect for that team and that program.

“Once you get deep into the state tournament, there is so much tennis talent out east ... incredible talent we were dealing with.”

Despite relinquishing ther head coaching job this season, Conlon continued to follow the team closely.

“I have a lot of time invested in this year’s seniors and other girls on the team I’ve worked with,” she said. “I was very interested in how they fared this year and rooted them on whenever I could.”

Cherry Bharati, a former assistant coach at Sewickley Academy, took over Knoch’s girls tennis program this year. She led the team to the WPIAL team championship and a doubles title, and now has the team competing in the state tournament again.

“Cherry was the perfect choice,” Conlon said. “She’s stepped in and kept things rolling, as I knew she would. I’m confident that program will continue competing at a high level.

“Last year, we had no special expectations. The success just happened. It was the strength of the program, really.”

A program Conlon built.

“We had incredibly talented young ladies,” she said. “That made my job so much easier.”