(Tracy Renck)
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PUEBLO — Mother Nature halted the Class 4A state tennis tournament Thursday afternoon. But not before the perennially powerful Cheyenne Mountain girls tennis team could make a statement at the City Park Tennis Complex.
The Indians Kalyssa Hall (No. 1 singles), Daniella Adamczyk (No. 2 singles), Jessica Metz (No. 3), Casey Ahrendsen and Ally Arenson (No. 1 doubles) and Tory Lewis and Claire Dibble (No. 2 doubles) all won a pair of matches to advance into the semifinals at 9 a.m. Friday.
“I’m real pleased to get everybody through so far,” said veteran Cheyenne Mountain coach Dave Adams, whose team has won the last five state championships in a row. “We haven’t talked about our past (state championships). We are just focused on this one. Our next focus is Friday. We are really being careful not to think too far ahead. I never thought that was a good idea.”
Cheyenne’s Megan Dibble and Chelsey Geisz (No. 3 doubles) and Tatum Mika and Rachel Perry (No. 4 doubles) have to complete their quarterfinal matches at 8 a.m. Friday.
There are 10 total quarterfinal matches that were halted by the rain and will be completed today. The tourney is scheduled to finish Saturday with the finals in all brackets beginning at 9 a.m.
Since the quarterfinal matches were not finished Thursday, no team scores were announced.
Hall, a sophomore, is the reigning state champ at No. 1 singles, and Metz was a state champion at No. 1 doubles a year ago.
Adams did point out the play of Adamczyk who outlasted Valor Christian Meghan Beer 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
“Daniella really stepped up and played well,” Adams said. “Hopefully she can keep up her momentum (Friday).”
That win by Adamczyk set up a semifinal match with senior Suzy Xiao of St. Mary’s Academy. The same Xiao who beat Adamczyk in the No. 3 singles state finals in two sets last year. Earlier this season, Adamczyk beat Xiao 6-3, 6-3, and she also defeated her once in 2013 before losing to her for the state title.
“I played really well Thursday and (Friday) I have to try and keep it up,” Adamczyk said. “She just hits really hard and I’m going to have to move her around a lot. I’m pretty excited to play her again. It helps that I have played her before because I know her game a little better. We also know how important (Friday) is for the team race.”
The 5-foot-5 Adamczyk started playing tennis in sixth grade and has never stopped.
“I really enjoy this sport and it’s something that seemed to come pretty easy for me,” Adamczyk said.
When Adamczyk isn’t on the court, she finds pleasure in writing.
“I’ve written a book, I just have to edit it a few times before I do anything with it,” Adamczyk said. “I started writing the book in seventh grade. It’s a fantasy book called The Four Seasons about kids who have super powers. I would like to get it publish it one day.”
Now, she has another chance to write her own reality state championship ending.