(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)
PUEBLO — When Discovery Canyon freshman Nick Lorenz saw his brother, Luke, win the Class 4A state tennis tournament at No. 1 singles, he knew right away that he wanted to follow in Luke’s footsteps.
And after his 6-2, 6-1 win over freshman Brett Finan in Friday’s semifinals, he’s on the verge of matching his brother’s accomplishment.
Lorenz will meet Kent Denver’s Casey Ross on Saturday for the No. 1 singles title, adding to his family’s trophy case and giving him something to hold over Luke’s head.
“Immediately I thought I had to be better than him,” Lorenz said. “I have to win more state titles just to one-up him.”
But it’s all just in good fun. Lorenz said coming into Friday’s semifinals, he was getting nothing but encouragement and support from Luke who would love nothing more than having his brother join him in the record books.
It’s been quite a journey for Lorenz this season. Coming in, he and Thunder coach Mike Humphrey knew that the ability to win state was there, it was just a matter of putting everything together. The two decided that just reaching finals was the goal they would aim for this season. Now that he’s there, Lorenz is playing with house money at this point.
“He made the finals and he’s hit all of his other goals throughout the season,” Humphrey said. “We’re just hoping that he plays as well tomorrow as he did today.”
That task could prove to be difficult as Lorenz is slated to meet Kent Denver junior Casey Ross who came away with a win over Lorenz at regionals last week. Ross beat Niwot’s Max Petrak 6-1, 6-1 to advance.
The Sun Devils have representatives in the finals of every bracket, which should make Saturday fun as they try and battle it out with Colorado Academy for the team title.
“That was kind of the forecast,” Kent Denver coach Randy Ross said. “It’s going to be an interesting match tomorrow.”
Colorado Academy was left stunned Thursday when their No. 1 singles player Mac Mease fell to Finan which hurt the Mustangs in their hunt for the team title. They were able to bounce back and reach the finals in the remaining six brackets.
Now the Mustangs maintain a shot at winning the team title, but will need to win all of their final matches to clinch it.
“We are excited to be there,” Colorado Academy coach Brian Singer said. “We’ve got six positions, the most we’ve ever done in the finals. Last year we had five. It’s going to come down to a lot of fun tennis.”
Adding to the excitement is the fact that the Colorado Academy and Kent Denver kids play each other year round and not just in high school competition.
“Our kids know their kids; their kids know ours,” Singer said. “It’s a matter of getting out there and seeing who’s going to control their emotions and hit the big shots at the time.”
Saturday’s final matches at Pueblo City Park are scheduled for a 9 a.m. start.