Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)
DENVER — Finally. Finally. After three years, after seemingly always being second, Ignatius Castelino is a state champion.
The Fairview senior, appearing in his fourth-consecutive state championship match at the Class 5A boys tennis tournament, beat Cherry Creek’s Ethan Hillis, 1-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5 in a title bout that will long be remembered. For many reasons.
For starters, Castelino entered the match having been a runner-up each of the past three seasons. He was second in No. 3 singles as a freshman, second at No. 2 as a sophomore and second at No. 1 last season.
Then, on Saturday, again in the No. 1 singles final, Castelino dropped the first set, 6-1.
It was enough to where at the break between sets, “I was thinking, ‘Might as well pack up my bags and go home.’ I thought I was done,” Castelino said afterward. “I told my mom, ‘Second place for the fourth year in a row.'”
Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)
Said Chad Tsuda, Fairview’s coach, “I told him, ‘Ethan just pretty much outplayed you that set.’ The nice thing about tennis is you always get another chance.”
But Hillis nearly put Castelino away. Ever so nearly. Twice, the Cherry Creek sophomore had match point, leading 5-4 in the second set. Castelino staved both off, then went on to win the set in a tiebreaker.
“He came as close (to losing) as you could,” Tsuda said. “The thing Ignatius maintained was that he didn’t really cave. He’s been in so many situations where it may have just been easier to say, ‘Ah, it’s not my day again.’ But he kept fighting.”
By the time the third set opened, every other court at the state championships was done playing. So the duo on center court took center stage in front of a big crowd.
Castelino jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the set, though Hillis battled back to knot it at 5-5. In the next game, they went back and fourth, and back and forth, and again, with Castelino finally emerging to take a 6-5 lead.
Then, knotted 30-30 in what proved to be the final game of the final set, Hillis made an unforced error to give Castelino a 40-30 lead. The sophomore then slammed his racket on the ground, and was given a point violation. He had been warned in the first set. The violation meant Castelino won the game, and the set, and the match.
Castelino was a champion. Finally. Perhaps no other player has deserved it more.
“He’s had a very good career which any one would be happy with,” Tsuda said. “I think just getting so close so many times, this has to feel so special for him, especially being a senior — kind of knowing this was his last chance. It added, definitely, more pressure to him, but pressure that he handled well.”
Ultimately, Castelino also drew energy from the crowd — including his teammates, who were courtside.
“I fed off my team, for sure,” he said. “I loved it, it was great.”
After all the near misses, after seemingly always leaving the state tournament with a lingering taste of defeat, Castelino has his championship.
“This feels amazing,” he said. “It’s something that could’ve happened the last three years, but finally happened. I’m happy it happened finally. It’s the best way to go out, senior year, as a state champ.”