Arapahoe’s Schroeder playing for Claire Davis in girls tennis final

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

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DENVER — The Arapahoe girls tennis team has been on a mission this spring.

The Warriors qualified all three singles players and all four doubles teams for this year’s Class 5A girls state championships.

The season took on a different meaning in December, with the death of a schoolmate in a shooting at the school.

From that point, “I think everyone’s goal was to play for Claire Davis,” Arapahoe No. 1 singles player Tate Schroeder said of dedicating the season to their fallen classmate.

Schroeder, a sophomore who placed fourth in No. 1 singles last year, said a state title for her would put a positive note on a tough school year.

“I really want to win state,” Schroeder said. “I want to represent Arapahoe because of everything that happened.”

She’s got a tall order to win the state title, however. Schroeder faces defending state champion Rebecca Weissmann of Loveland in Saturday morning’s championship match.

Arapahoe lost one quarterfinal match, then hit a bigger roadblock in the semis, losing three doubles matches. Only the Warriors’ No. 3 team of Bridget O’Brien and Laura Wilms will join Schroeder in championship matches.

Fossil Ridge, meanwhile, has one singles player, Emma Jo Wiley at No. 3, playing for a state title along with its No. 1 and No. 2 doubles teams. All three entries will go against Cherry Creek in the title match.

By the time playbacks ended on Saturday, Cherry Creek had already wrapped up the team title, giving the Bruins their 18th-straight championship. Cherry Creek has 69 points through the first two days. Second-place Fossil Ridge has 45, Arapahoe is third with 40 and Denver East sits in fourth with 39.

Fossil Ridge advanced two of its three singles qualifiers and its three qualifying doubles teams. Arapahoe did the same but still has one doubles match in progress..

The SaberCats faced the Bruins in four state championship matches last year, winning just one.

“Last year we came in a little bit nervous and played a little apprehensive,” Fossil Ridge coach Mike Scimeca said. “What you hope is when there’s pressure, you play like you practice, and I think we’re getting better at that.”

State title matches should begin around 9 a.m. Saturday at Gates Tennis Center.

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