Tennis is about having the right players in the right positions.

For high school coaches, sometimes you get the players and sometimes you don’t.

Right now, Aspen High School has the players.

The Skiers are led by freshmen at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, Brian Mehall and Taylor Lambert.

Both were competitive in Friday’s opening day of the Western Slope Invitational at the Elliott Tennis Center at Mesa State College. Lambert defeated Central’s Tyler Zimmerman in his first match 6-0, 6-1. Mehall played well but lost in the first round to Air Academy’s Ben Swain, 6-1, 7-5.

“We are looking for four strong years from both of them,” Aspen assistant coach Torre said. “We have high hopes for them as players and people.”

The freshmen had played solid competition leading up to the tournament, earning wins against both Fruita Monument and Grand Junction. Lambert is 5-0 and prepared for his freshman season by playing in Intermountain tournaments the past four years.

“It was good preparation because when I was 10, I was playing in the 12s and when I was 12, I played 14s,” Lambert said. “I have always been playing people older than me so I have no trouble handling power.”

It didn’t take long for Lambert to be tested with power when he faced Cherry Creek’s Taylor Sargent in the second round. Lambert lost 6-1, 6-1.

“Seniors from Denver are really good because they play year-round as well and have four years on me,” Lambert said. “I am trying to get as much practice as I can before regionals and get a chance to play as many older players because No. 1 and No. 2 players are usually older and are really tall and powerful.”

Torre said Lambert seeing a player of Sargent’s quality was just what the Skiers were hoping to get out of the tournament, win or lose.

“Our region is not necessarily the toughest region in Colorado so our hopes are that we get to see what the next level of tennis is all about,” Torre said. “So when we get to the state tournament, which we are hoping to do with some of these players, they are ready because this is that type of atmosphere.”

The atmosphere was felt by Grand Valley players as well. No local singles players were able to stay in the winner’s bracket through day one. Fruita Monument’s No. 1 singles player Tristan Beck lost in the first round to Fairview’s Dave Warren 6-1, 6-0.

“We have gotten to see some real good competition out of Denver,” Beck said. “These kids are really good players.”

Central’s No. 1 man, Isaac Brown, lost in the first round to Ralston Valley’s Eric Honert 6-0, 6-0 and Grand Junction’s No. 1 player, Owen Gartner, fell in the second round to Cherry Creek’s Harry Jewett 6-1, 6-0.

“This is definitely a strong group of boys players,” Central coach Steve Tyler said. “Look at Fairview’s No. 3, he could easily be a No. 1 player at a lot of schools.”

Cherry Creek’s singles lived up to expectations as Sargent at No. 2 and Connor Macey No. 3 joined Jewett in today’s finals. The Bruins’ No. 1 doubles team also reached the championship match. The No. 2 and No. 3 doubles semifinals were postponed until today. Cherry Creek has a team in both semifinals.

Grand Junction does have one team in the championship today. Jake Frankhouser and Greg Coleman will take on Fairview’s Cass Krughoff and Blake Wetherbee at No. 2 doubles.

“The boys got to see where they are at,” Grand Junction coach Carol Elliott said. “There are a lot of good teams here and I am happy because we are competing well.”

Championship matches begin today at 9 a.m.

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