Cherry Creek apparently is no fan of suspense.
The Bruins on Friday advanced all but their No. 4 doubles team to today’s championship matches at the Class 5A boys state tennis tournament at Gates Tennis Center, securing the school’s 32nd team state title in 34 years.
Dating back to 1972, only Wheat Ridge (1991) and Regis (2000) have interrupted the streak.
After a long rain delay, Cherry Creek newcomer and No. 1 singles player Doug Mayeda continued his romp through the bracket with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jordan Bridge of Grand Junction.
Born in Monument, Mayeda moved back to Colorado from Texas and took his place atop the the vaunted Bruins’ ranks. He has not disappointed.
“This is a great team and I’ve adjusted pretty good. I think I’ve played really well so far,” Mayeda said.
Mayeda will face Boulder sophomore Calix van Lier in the final. The two have faced each other twice this season, with van Lier taking the first match after Mayeda retired with leg cramps, and Mayeda winning the rematch 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Van Lier knocked off Green Mountain’s Slavi Fildish, who won a title at No. 2 singles as a junior and a No. 3 singles title as a sophomore. After splitting the first two sets, van Lier handled Fildish’s big hits for a 6-2 win.
At No. 2 singles, Durango’s Geoff Lewis dispatched Boulder’s Blake Howard 6-3, 6-2. He will meet Cherry Creek’s Alan Oakes, who needed three sets to beat Regis’ Landon Hilker.
Bruins co-captain Matt Kranich knocked off Boulder’s Amha Assefa 7-5, 7-5. He will take on Grand Junction’s Nick Provenza in the final.
Also for Cherry Creek, Jake Schneiders and Chris Cooprider advanced to the title round at No. 1 doubles, Andy Benson and Jake Goldberg did the same at No. 2 doubles, and John Posada and Harry Jewett eased through at No. 3 doubles. Cherry Creek coach Kirk Price, who was named the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s 2005 tennis coach of the year, said “Cherry Creek’s No. 1 and No. 2 doubles are the top doubles teams in the state.”
At No. 4 doubles, Chatfield’s Will Gleave and Parker Lewis rallied from a 6-0 first-set loss to beat Cherry Creek’s Jon Stout and Adam Swanson. Gleave and Lewis will challenge Heritage’s Tucker Baer and J.B. Britten.