Kent Denver won last season’s 4A boys tennis title. (CHSAANow.com file photo)
When Randy Ross took over the Kent Denver boys tennis program 20 years ago, he didn’t have to look far to measure greatness.
Ross just focused his attention on the perennial powerful Cheyenne Mountain team.
“I knew they were the best program in (Class 4A) and you model what successful programs do, and you give them respect and learn from them,” Ross said. “I’ve known coach (Dave) Adams for a lot of years and I have a lot of respect for him and the job he does.”
The Indians, under Adams, have won 17 state championships – 1992, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
“I think the rivalry with Kent Denver is great,” Adams said. “I’m a huge fan of Randy’s. I like the way he coaches his team. I like how fired up his team gets and how competitive they are. I think what has made it such a good rivalry is that both Randy and I are really competitive individuals and hopefully we pass that along to our players.
“I think this rivalry with Kent Denver and Cheyenne Mountain defines what high school tennis is all about. Kids get fired up and circle that date on their calendar when they are going to face that (rival).”
The Ross-led Sun Devils have not only become an established prep program, but one of the best.
“The rivalry is friendly and we’ve had great dual matches and had great matches at state and there’s been years when we have been soft and they came through and now there is a time where they are a little soft and we’ve come through,” Ross said. “It is a very good rivalry.”
The Sun Devils have won six boys state tennis titles in school history — all coming since 1999. The Sun Devils tied Cheyenne Mountain for the crown in 1999 and won it outright in 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, and the past two seasons.
The two schools are the only programs to ever win a 4A championship since the classification began in 1994.
Kent Denver returns a loaded lineup with Willie Gould (No. 1 singles), Casey Ross (No. 2 singles), the coach’s son, Jack Moldenhauer (No. 3 singles) and Kevin Adams and Nico Hereford (No. 1 doubles), and brothers, Blake and Drew Parsons (No. 2 doubles).
“They are head and shoulders above us,” Adams said about the Sun Devils. “They have one of the strongest teams this year that I’ve seen. I think they have the strongest 1-2 (singles, Gould and Ross) that I think this state has seen in a long time. In my mind, this is one of the best Kent Denver teams that I can recall, period. There’s no doubt in my mind, they are the best team in 4A and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are the best team in the state (4A or 5A).”
A year ago, the Sun Devils ended up with 86 points and edged Colorado Academy, which finished with 78 points. Colorado Academy has been the state runner-up two years in a row and is expected to be a top team in 2015.
In 5A, Cherry Creek’s powerhouse boys tennis program is under new leadership. Art Quinn, the lead assistant for the Bruins the past few seasons is now the head coach for Creek.
Quinn takes over for longtime coach Kirk Price, who led the Bruins to an incredible 40 of the last 45 Class 5A team titles, including last year. In 2014, Creek’s players won titles at No. 2 singles and Nos. 1-3 doubles.
Boys tennis preview
Class 4A
- Defending state champion: Kent Denver
- Regular season begins: Aug. 21
- Regional tournaments: Oct. 8-10
- State tournament: Oct. 15-17, Pueblo City Park Tennis Complex
- Returning all-state players: Kevin Adams, Sr., Kent Denver (1st); John Baron, Sr., Colorado Academy; Tyler Fairbain, Sr., Colorado Academy (1st); Noah Forman, Sr., Colorado Academy (1st); Willie Gold, Sr., Kent Denver (1st); Niko Hereford, Jr., Kent Denver (1st); Blake Parsons, Sr., Kent Denver (1st); Drew Parsons, Sr., Kent Denver (1st); Travis Rase, Sr., Kent Denver (1st)
Class 5A
- Defending state champion: Cherry Creek
- Regular season begins: Aug. 21
- Regional tournaments: Oct. 8-10
- State tournament: Oct. 15-17, Gates Tennis Center in Denver
- Returning all-state players: Luca Abbott, Jr., Regis Jesuit (1st); Jacob Bendalin, Jr., Cherry Creek (1st); Wyatt Dale, Jr., Cherry Creek (1st); Ethan Hillis, Jr., Cherry Creek (1st); Ryan James, Jr., Cherry Creek (1st); Mitchell Johnson, So., Cherry Creek (1st); Max Koszowski, Regis Jesuit (1st); Alec Leddon, Sr., Fairview (1st); Erin Norwood, Sr., Cherry Creek (1st)