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Cheyenne Mountain looks to add to tradition
5A, 4A state tennis tourneys kick off today
It was a relaxed atmosphere when Cheyenne Mountain and Pine Creek scrimmaged Tuesday. For most, it was a nice pressurefree break after last week's girls tennis regionals.
The break is over starting at 9 a.m. today.
The 5A state tournament continues through Saturday at the Gates Tennis Center in Denver. The 4A state tournament follows the same schedule at Pueblo City Park.
Cheyenne Mountain has the richest tennis tradition in the area. The Indians have either won the state 4A title, as they did last spring, or finished second for the past six years. All three singles players and doubles teams have qualified for the Indians, and coach Dave Adams thinks they each have an opportunity to win a state title.
"I expect them all to do it," Adams said. "I think it's tougher for the girls at singles because that's where the competition is, and once you get down there, everyone's going to challenge you."
Pine Creek is fresh off its fourth regional title in a row, and the Eagles are hoping to match the secondplace finish they had last year.
"We know it's going to be a lot harder this year, but we're up to the challenge and we just want to go out there and play our best because we know that it could be anyone's game," said No. 1 singles player Ryann Warner.
Eagles coach Dave Lehman is hoping a lack of experience in certain positions won't hurt their quest.
"We are hoping to place in the top five," he said. "They have all played doubles, with the exception of Ryann, so doubles isn't the problem, and it's worked out for us."
Some of the biggest challenges come from right here in the Springs. Palmer qualified all three singles players in sisters Veronika and Adriana Wojakowska at No. 1 and 2 singles and Kelly Anderson at No. 3. Veronika was the No. 1 singles state champion in 2006.
Lewis-Palmer has also surpassed expectations by qualifying its entire varsity team, including senior No. 1 singles player Deanna Thirkell. Air Academy has six entrants.
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