McGowan emerges as top player

CANFIELD — Taking practice swings with her mother’s tennis racquet when she was five years old launched Rachel McGowan of Canfield on a 13-year adventure through the sport, and eventually to Duquesne University where she recently completed her freshman season with the most wins on the women’s tennis team.

“My mom started taking tennis lessons when I was in pre-school, and then after her lessons I would take her racquet and the teacher would feed me tennis balls and I would try to hit them then,” recalled McGowan, the daughter of Richard and Melinda McGowan, who had 36 wins this season — 26 in the spring season and 10 last fall.

“I started tennis lessons at about that time, and I still take them. My dad has been involved in sports, and both of my parents have encouraged me.”

McGowan also is an academic standout with a 3.5 grade-point average majoring in political science. She plans to enter law school and become an attorney. She has been selected to the Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and made the Dean’s List and was inducted into Phi Eta Sigma, a national honors society for freshman.

As McGowan grew older she joined the United States Tennis Association and played in tournaments across the country.

“I played in the USTA in different age groups from ages 12-18,” said McGowan, noting the experience she received was invaluable in preparing her for the high quality of Division I tennis.

“What helped me is all of the experience I had playing different girls all over the world,” she said.

Personal coach helps,
leads way to Dukes

McGowan, who was a standout for the Canfield High tennis team for coach Pat Pavlansky and a 2004 state doubles champion, has had personal coaches throughout her career, including her current mentor, Rashid Hassan, owner of Club of Life in Monroeville, Pa.

“I started going down there when I was a sophomore in high school,” said McGowan.

Hassan led her to Duquesne coach Joe Camillo — who also teaches at Club of Life — and an eventual scholarship.

“I would see [Camillo] there and talk to him, and I knew that he coached at Duquesne,” said McGowan. “So I knew that Rashid would be involved in Duquesne tennis and I felt comfortable.”

McGowan launched her Duquesne career in 2006 with the most wins on the team in the fall with 10 (5-4 in singles and 5-3 in doubles with junior partner Johanna Bezjak). Then this spring, McGowan was 26-7 overall (12-5 in singles and 14-2 in doubles) to become the winningest player on the team for the year.

McGowan helped Duquesne (16-6) to one of its best seasons ever, which included its first win over West Virginia in 23 tries. She won both her singles and doubles matches against WVU.

McGowan also helped Duquesne beat Xavier for the first time in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament, which she considers the highlight of her season. She won her singles match to help the Dukes beat the Musketeers, 4-3, for fifth place.

“The girl I played, I had lost in three sets to in the regular season, but then I beat her in the tournament,” she said.

McGowan plans to teach tennis for the first time this summer, at the Nike Camp in Maryland, and play in a couple of tournaments for college players.

Tennis, academics give
her free tuition ride

Because of her excellence in tennis and academics, McGowan’s tuition is paid for. She encourages youths who are looking for a sport to consider tennis.

“I would just say to play as much as possible. It is a sport for life that you can play forever,” said McGowan. “It’s a great chance for competition and to meet tennis people. I have met some of my best friends through tennis. And you can travel the country.”

XJohn Kovach covers college athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at kovach@vindy.com.