(Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)
Success breeds success. That’s definitely the case for Cheyenne Mountain’s girls tennis team.
The Indians won their seventh-consecutive Class 4A state championship last May, and they are going to be make a run at No. 8 in a row this spring.
That, however, is the main thing, on veteran Cheyenne Mountain coach Dave Adams’ mind.
“We’re not even going down that road at this point,” said Adams about winning another state crown. “We have a lot of changes. Last year we were so spoiled because we had all four doubles teams intact from the year before.”
Cheyenne Mountain lost No. 1 singles player Peyton Fielding (to graduation), and as of press time, Jessica Metz, who lost in the state finals at No. 3 singles a year ago, was not on the team.
The Indians do return juniors Casey Ahrendsen and Ally Arenson, who won state at No. 1 doubles last year, and junior Claire Dibble also returns. She and Tory Louis were state champs at No. 2 doubles in 2015. Senior Chelsey Geisz, who teamed with Megan Dibble to win No. 3 doubles, also is back.
Tatum Mika also returns. She and Rachel Perry (No. 4 doubles) took third last season.
“I know the girls who have been there before, they don’t want to give up the state championship,” Adams said.
Adams added he also has freshman Morgan Hall in Cheyenne’s fold, and she will be playing singles. Hall is the younger sister of Kalyssa Hall, a former No. 1 singles state champion as a freshman and sophomore for Cheyenne Mountain. Kalyssa, a senior at Cherry Creek, lost in the 5A No. 1 singles state finals to Fairview freshman Amber Shen last year.
“Morgan is a strong player,” Adams said.
The Indians have captured 20 state girls tennis crowns in school history. Their school record for consecutive state titles in a row is eight from 1991-98. The Cheyenne Mountain boys tennis program has won 17 state titles.
“I try to telescope our focus a little bit,” Adams said. “We need to focus on the next match and get as good as we can be by the time the state tournament rolls around and we will let the chips fall where they may. I do think it is exciting to try and repeat. I’m intrigued to see how things work out.
“We have different girls this year at different combinations and people playing at different places. To me as a coach, to be the architect of getting everybody where they need to be mentally and getting a sense of playing for the team, that’s where a lot of the fun comes into it for me because you feel like you can have some impact there.”
Last year, Cheyenne Mountain won state with 73 points followed by Kent Denver with 46 points. Kent is expected to return No. 2 singles player Caroline Kawula and No. 3 singles player Maeve Kearny, both who were state champions. Kawula is a senior and Kearny is a junior.
“Kent Denver is going to be tough and so should Steamboat Springs, they won at No. 1 singles last year with (freshman Tatum Burger),” Adams said. “Colorado Academy also is going to be good and Niwot is always good.”
Kent Denver’s Kawula defeated the Indians’ Adamczyk 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 in a near-three-hour match for the No. 2 singles championship.
Kent Denver has won five girls state tennis crowns, the last coming in 2005.
In 5A, powerhouse Cherry Creek is the team favorite again. The Bruins have win 33 girls state tennis titles.
Girls Tennis preview
- Regular season began: March 3
- Regular season ends: 5A regionals are April 28-May 1; 4A regionals April 29-May 2
- Championships: 5AMay 12-14, Gates Tennis Center, Pueblo; 4A, Pueblo City Park
Defending champions:
- 5A: Cherry Creek
- 4A: Cheyenne Mountain
- 5A: Kalyssa Hall, Cherry Creek, Sr.; Mariela Hollines, Cherry Creek, So.; Allison Murphy, Cherry Creek, Jr.; Amber Shen, Fairview, So.; Anshika Singh, Cherry Creek, So.; Gloria Son, Cherry Creek, Sr.
- 4A: Casey Ahrendsen, Cheyenne Mountain, Jr.; Ally Arenson, Cheyenne Mountain, Jr.; Tatum Burger, Steamboat Springs, So.; Claire Dibble, Cheyenne Mountain, Jr.; Chelsey Geisz, Cheyenne Mountain, Sr.; Caroline Kawula, Kent Denver, Sr.; Maeve Kearney, Kent Denver, Jr.; Cammy Lee, D’Evelyn, So.; Trinity Payne, D’Evelyn, Sr.