It started as a way to make their mom’s schedule easier but ended in a storybook finish for Lower Moreland High School twins Ava and Gabriel Shapiro, writes Isabella DiAmore for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Forced onto the court at age 7, the Montgomery County siblings eventually fell in love with tennis and, this year, made school history.
Lower Moreland seniors, the twins capped their final seasons with matching state championships. Ava was a team captain and helped lead the girls’ squad to its first-ever PIAA title in the fall.
Last month, Gabriel followed suit. He guided the boys to victory over Conrad Weiser of Berks County for their third state championship in school history.
The twins never played on the same team, but they practiced together, supported each other’s matches, and developed a healthy sibling rivalry.
Ava even managed the boys’ team and credits Gabriel with helping her manage her emotions on the court.
Gabriel says his sister helped his game as well. “Watching her made me a better player,” he said.
Next fall, they will head in different directions. Ava will attend the University of Central Florida and Gabriel is headed to Indiana University.
Read more about Ava and Gabriel Shapiro’s tennis accolades at Lower Moreland High School in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on MONTCO Today in June 2025.
