Pueblo – Like a thumbprint on the classification, Brandon Lupo’s unsightly snap of a service looks like no other in the state. But the serve that begins with a genuflect down and ends with a cannonball of a shot netted him a Class 4A state championship Saturday at City Park.
“It’s still a work in progress,” Lupo said of his flat-footed serve that explodes into the toughest shot to return in the class. His 10 aces kept Cheyenne Mountain’s Daniel Moore at bay through much of the match, save for two service breaks that nearly swung the momentum, and the Broomfield junior won a 6-2, 6-3 No. 1 singles victory.
It was Lupo’s first state title after twice being eliminated by the eventual state champion. As a sophomore, he lost to Ralston Valley’s Vinny Fallico in the state semifinals, and as a freshman he lost to Alexander Dawson’s Jeff List in a regional championship.
“I should have done this last year and the year before,” Lupo said. “Today I just wanted to show everyone I was the best.”
Lupo’s power game – he seemed content to play strong shots from the baseline – was in contrast to Moore’s exacting style. Lupo blasted through the first set, giving up one service break. But Moore stayed close.
The Cheyenne Mountain junior was down 2-0 in the second set when he began to move Lupo from side to side with accurate placement near the lines. Moore cut the lead to 2-1, then broke Lupo’s serve again with deep shots to the baseline to go 2-2.
“I was trying to keep it high to his backhand and make him hit winners, which he did,” Moore, a junior, said. “I guess he just got it together and put it away.”
Moore served to go up 3-2, but once Lupo got back to keeping shots in court, the points came quickly. He hit a rifle of a forehand winner on the way to a 45-15 point to draw the set to 3-3, then cruised the rest of the way.
“I’m not used to losing my serve, because people are usually intimidated by its power, Lupo said. “They usually stay 10 feet behind he baseline. So I just tried to power him where he’s pressured back and can’t handle it anymore.”
Lupo (17-2) and Moore (14-4) beat Cherry Creek’s Doug Mayeda, the Class 5A state champion, during the season. It was Moore’s first trip to the state finals after moving from Japan three months ago.
Lupo and Moore return next year along with third-place finisher Chris Peck, a Mullen junior, and Pine Creek’s Ashton Kalhorn, a freshman. Peck beat Kalhorn, 6-2, 6-1 in the consolation championship.
Cheyenne Mountain, which clinched the team title Friday, won six state titles Saturday for 88 points. It was the Indians’ 12th state title since 1990, including a co-championship with Kent Denver in 1999.
The Indians’ Dan Colten beat Kent Denver’s Graham Ely 6-3, 6-3 for the No. 2 singles title, while Cody Gordon beat Steamboat Springs’ Ryan McNamara at No. 3 singles, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Kent Denver finished second with 44. Mullen was third at 42, Steamboat Springs had 38 and Broomfield had 34.
CLASS 4A STATE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
At City Park, Pueblo
Team scores – Cheyenne Mountain 88, Kent Denver 44, Mullen 42, Steamboat Springs 38, Broomfield 34, Pine Creek 13, Golden 9, Pueblo East 9, Greeley West 7, Niwot 4, Alexander Dawson 2, Fossil Ridge 2, Montrose 2, Pueblo County 2, D’Evelyn 1, Fountain Valley 1, Liberty 1, Pueblo South 1, Ralston Valley 1.
Championship matches
No. 1 singles – Brandon Lupo, Broomfield, def. Daniel Moore, Cheyenne Mountain, 6-2, 6-3.
No. 2 singles – Dan Colten, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Graham Ely, Kent Denver, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 3 singles – Cody Gordon, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Ryan McNamara, Steamboat Springs, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 1 doubles – Alex Brooke-Brad Young, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Eric Hane-Collin Wayne, Mullen, 6-1, 6-2.
No. 2 doubles – Dennis An-Justin Hermes, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Dillon Karras-Paul Mershon, Mullen, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 3 doubles – Jay Patel-R.J. Blanco, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Keven Barron-Alex Lundy, Mullen, 6-4, 6-3.
No. 4 doubles – David Silver-John Adams, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Preston Reeves-Zach Sorenson, Broomfield, 6-0, 6-0.
Third-place matches
No. 1 singles – Chris Peck, Mullen, def. Ashton Kalhorn, Pine Creek, 6-2, 6-1; No. 2 singles – Ramsey Bernard, Steamboat Springs, def. Royce Cappis, Pueblo East, 6-3, 6-4; No. 3 singles – Charlie Sayre, Kent Denver, def. Matt Gallagher, Golden, 6-4, 6-1.
No. 1 doubles – Brad Morse-Moses Taylor, Kent Denver, def. Taylor Reed-Nick Ludolph, Steamboat Springs, 7-5, 6-4; No. 2 doubles – Alex Barkoff-Matt Tullman, Kent Denver, def. James Farver-John Lindbeck, Broomfield, 6-2, 6-4; No. 3 doubles – Dylan Roberts-Jesse Schaller, Steamboat Springs, def. Eric Babuska-Josh Baer, Niwot, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1; No. 4 doubles – Chase Procknow-Marshall Hickey, Kent Denver, def. Scott Peterson-Brian Behrman, Steamboat Springs, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Nick Groke can be reached at 303-820-1960 or a ngroke@denverpost.com.
