While Cherry Creek did its usual number in winning the Class 5A state tennis tournament last season, there was something interesting about the rest of the field.

Instead of there being only one or two challengers, there were five teams that scored more than 22 points.

But that didn't compare with Cherry Creek's 84 points as the Bruins won their 24th title overall and 10th in a row by sweeping every individual title except No. 1 singles.

Now, there's even more competition in 5A. Pine Creek, which won the top two singles spots in 4A last season, moves up to the top classification. Eagles coach Dave Lehman has known about the move to 5A for a while but believes it will have an effect only in the postseason.

"We're going to play a lot of the same teams we usually play," he said. "Where we're going to see a difference is at regionals and state. After seeing the competition in 5A a few years ago, I think we can handle it."

Pine Creek senior Simone Kalhorn, who had been training in Las Vegas, played her first year of high school competition last season and went undefeated in No. 1 singles. Kalhorn, who recently signed with Syracuse, also won the Cherry Creek Invitational, so she has 5A cred.

Ryann Warner, a junior, took the No. 2 singles title in Pueblo, avenging her only loss last season (in a dual meet) by beating Cheyenne Mountain's Alana Humpal in the state final.

Pine Creek finished third in the 4A team race, behind Mullen and Cheyenne Mountain. That's quite good, considering one year, Pine Creek had the No. 1 singles champion (Nicole Leimbach) but no other state qualifiers.

This year is a bigger challenge, but Pine Creek has championship experience. "I think the girls are excited," Lehman said. "I think we're going to have an eventful year."

With Kalhorn in the 5A mix, there might be an all-Colorado Springs final of state champions at the top spot. Last year, Palmer's Veronika Wojakowska won the No. 1 singles title in 5A, beating Ponderosa ace Erin Sanders.

"The competition is definitely going to be tougher," Wojakowska said. "I've just been trying to improve my (junior) ranking and do the best I can do."

Wojakowska is more concerned about the cold weather that has kept her from playing and practicing.

"It has (worried me) a little, just because it's been harder to get (courts) indoors)," she said. "We have some indoor courts, but it's pretty busy in the winter."

Sanders' advancing to the final came as something of a surprise, partly because she was a freshman playing state for the first time. But her victories against Cherry Creek's Elizabeth Marsico and Fairview's Carolyn Warren were proof she deserved to play for the title.

Sanders said she has been pleased with her performance on the juniors circuit these past few months. She is joined by another Ponderosa state runner-up, Morgan Forsyth, now a junior, who placed at No. 2 singles.

NOTEBOOK

Class 5A has some big changes this season, starting with a move of the state tournament. Gates Tennis Center is undergoing an extensive renovation, so the tournament is moving to the courts on the University of Colorado's South Campus and nearby Fairview High School.

Some coaches already have expressed dismay about the arrangement, saying they don't have the staff to properly cover both sites. Paul Angelico, assistant commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association, runs the state tournaments. He acknowledged the problem coaching staffs will face at state but expressed hope that the proximity of the two sites would ease the situation.

• Cherry Creek has a new look this season. The Bruins are coached by Christin Jacob, who won a No. 1 singles title at Creek when she was known as Chris Bowers. Jacob, previously the Bruins assistant coach, takes over from longtime boss John Gibas, who retired. Cherry Creek also will not have the huge numbers of returning state champions it has enjoyed. Jacob said only five varsity players are back this season.

That doesn't mean Cherry Creek lacks talent, though. Rachel Loeb, who played No. 2 singles for the Bruins last season, is shooting for her fourth state championship, along with teammate Stacey Berlinger, who played No. 1 doubles. Elizabeth Marsico, a junior baseliner who played No. 1 singles last season, had a strong summer in juniors competition.

• Cherry Creek and Grand Junction have had the best invitational tournaments for a few years, but the Mullen Invitational is getting a big upgrade this season. The Mustangs, who won the Class 4A title last season, have added Pine Creek, which has the Nos. 1 and 2 singles champions from 4A.

Perennial power Cheyenne Mountain also is a new entry at the Mustangs' event, and Steamboat Springs is returning. The Mullen tournament runs April 13-14 and will be split between the Mullen courts and Pinehurst Country Club.

Grand Junction runs the Western Slope Invitational, which attracts a lot of 4A teams. The field for that event still has to be finalized, but it will be staged April 6-7 at Mesa State and other sites.

• Cheyenne Mountain senior Casey Wetzig, a fourth-place finisher at No. 1 last season, has signed with Azusa Pacific, an NAIA school in Los Angeles. Wetzig won state titles at No. 3 singles as a freshman and sophomore, losing only five matches during her career.

• Amanda Bartz, who did an excellent job last season coaching Fort Collins to a second-place finish in 5A, has resigned, saying she needed a break from tennis. She is being replaced by Ben Smith, who also coaches the Lambkins' boys team.

Cheyenne Mountain also is getting help from the boys side, as Dave Adams is taking the reins of the girls team.

• Mullen won the 4A team title last season, and the Mustangs look good for a repeat. Coach Brett Shirley returns all three singles players (Jodi Ciarvella, Cari Hudson and Kimber Robbins), all of whom finished third at the state tournament.

A late development has resulted in Kelly Sweeney regaining her spot as a singles player, as she beat Robbins in challenge matches. Sweeney played No. 4 doubles last season (Shirley said she wasn't used to playing doubles) and won the state championship with partner Kelly Nightingale.

Shirley said Robbins is a good doubles player and should strengthen the Mustangs in that area.

pearcea@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5352

Back to Top