Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. (Courtesy of Marc Pasquariello-Williams)
By all accounts, Fairview’s boys tennis team had a state showing last fall that would make most programs envious.
The Knights sent each of their three singles players and four doubles teams to the Class 5A state tournament at Gates Tennis Center in Denver, pushing five through to the finals and having two more positions place third.
Still, Fairview couldn’t find a way to solve the Cherry Creek puzzle, finishing second to the Bruins for the third year in a row. Cherry Creek swept all seven individual state titles — the first time that has happened since 1998 — on its way to 98 points overall.
Even with Fairview returning five players this fall — including all three singles players — and the Bruins graduating their top two singles players, Knights coach Chad Tsuda understands that the advantage still belongs to Creek.
“Cherry Creek is still that dominant team,” Tsuda said. “I think that is what kind of fuels us. Every team Creek is going to put together is going to be the best, and that gives us a great sense of motivation.”
State experience is working in Fairview’s favor as the 2014 season approaches. Seniors Ignatius Castelino, Thomas Mason and Andrew Pollack have reached the finals in each of the previous three seasons. Junior Alec Leddon has been in one final, and sophomore Devin Harper placed third at No. 3 doubles last season.
“It’s exciting to have those top five guys coming back,” Tsuda said. “It’s pretty rare, usually it’s more spread out. It’s nice to have the kind of leadership of the singles players coming back.”
Leddon took third at No. 2 singles a year ago and Mason was runner-up at No. 3 singles. Pollack was runner-up at No. 2 doubles.
Fairview’s Ignatius Castelino. (Courtesy of Marc Pasquariello-Williams)
Castelino is seeking his first championship, having fallen to a Cherry Creek opponent in each of the previous three seasons. The Bruins’ Zach Fryer pulled out a 6-4, 6-4 triumph last October.
“Every season I’m always excited to start. It’s always been fun,” Castelino said. “It’s my senior year but that doesn’t really change anything. I’m just going to still be looking to try and win again this year and help the team win.”
Castelino said he didn’t spend as much this summer traveling on the junior circuit as he has in past years, but his focus is razor-sharp headed into the fall season.
“If anything I’ll be more intense,” he said. “I’m more driven to try and do it this year.”
Tsuda said switching gears from the junior circuit to high school competition isn’t easy, but Castelino handles it well.
“For players that competitive, when the high school season comes around it totally changes attitude-wise where it becomes a team concept,” he said. “He gets to join a team of which he is a very big part, a leader where people look up to him.
“It’s a very unique experience to be on a high school team and we are a team — everyone plays hard for each other.”
Class 5A boys tennis
Defending individual champions: Zach Fryer, Cherry Creek (No. 1 singles); Connor McPherson, Cherry Creek (No. 2 singles); Ethan Hillis, Cherry Creek (No. 3 singles); Harshil Dwivedi/Jake Miller, Cherry Creek (No. 1 doubles); Erin Norwood/Matt Gross, Cherry Creek (No. 2 doubles); Teller Hoskins/Ben Schlichting, Cherry Creek (No. 3 doubles); Jacob Bendalin/Wyatt Dale, Cherry Creek (No. 4 doubles).
Defending team champion: Cherry Creek
Returning All-State athletes: Jacob Bendalin, Soph., Cherry Creek; Ignatius Castelino, Sr., Fairview; Wyatt Dale, Soph., Cherry Creek; Harshil Dwivedi, Sr., Cherry Creek; Ethan Hillis, Soph., Cherry Creek; Teller Hoskins, Sr., Cherry Creek; Erin Norwood, Jr., Cherry Creek.
Regular Season begins: Aug. 14
Regionals: Completed by Oct. 4
State meet: Oct. 9-11 at Gates Tennis Center in Denver