The world is Veronika Wojakowska’s oyster.
Just five short years ago, the Palmer sophomore picked up a tennis racket for the first time. Now, she’s a state champion.
Wojakowska cruised to a straight-set victory Saturday over Ponderosa freshman Erin Sanders 6-1, 7-5 in the Class 5A No. 1 singles final at the Gates Tennis Center, and in the process became the first Terrors state tennis champion.
“It’s all very exciting,” said Woja- kowska, who capped an undefeated season (19-0) one year after failing to qualify for the state tournament.
“I’ve become a lot calmer and try to look forward to the point and not looking back and getting mad.”
Wojakowska, who was a state gymnastics champion by the age of 10, set the tone early. Her first serve kept Sanders off balance and enabled her to set up points.
“I knew she liked the pace game and if you hit it hard to her, she’d be able to hit it hard back,” Wojakowska said. “So I just tried to get her off her rhythm by throwing up some high balls.”
Wojakowska’s first-serve percentage in the first set was 82 percent (18-for-22), and that, combined with few unforced errors (seven), resulted in a 24-minute blitz.
“Nothing much surprised me. I knew a lot about her game going in,” Sanders said. “I didn’t expect everything that she did, and I just don’t think I was mentally ready.”
Sanders attacked more in the second set and was two points from forcing a third set, but Wojakowska’s serve bailed her out of the jam and got her even at 5-5.
Four straight unforced errors by Sanders in the next game gave Wojakowska the break she needed to go up 6-5, and she finished it off with just her fifth winner of the match, a forehand pass down the line.
Said Wojakowska of the lack of attention paid to her before the start of the tournament: “It just allowed me to play my game and focus on each of my matches when people aren’t coming up and constantly asking me questions.”
Cherry Creek wrapped up its 24th overall team title Friday, its 10th straight, and Saturday the Bruins claimed the remaining six championships.
Rachael Loeb won her second straight No. 2 singles title and third overall championship with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ponderosa’s Morgan Forsyth.
“The score didn’t exactly show it, but she played a really competitive match,” Loeb said. “Each year gets a little better and going into next year, it’s going to be pressure. But it’s still fun.”
Morganne Downing claimed the No. 3 singles title, making quick work of Air Academy’s Sindhya Shoptaugh, 6-2, 6-1.
All four of the Bruins’ doubles teams rolled, with seniors Christina Macey (No. 1 doubles) and Julie Swinehart (No. 3) each earning their fourth state titles.
“I’m really proud of the girls, but some of the pressure was taken off because the team thing was taken care of,” Cherry Creek coach John Gibas said. “The saying goes, ‘You don’t do anything for love or money,’ and you sure don’t do this for the money, so you have to do it for the love of the sport, the girls and the experience.”
Team scores
Cherry Creek 86, Fort Collins 42, Ponderosa 35, Chatfield 24, Grand Junction 23, Air Academy 22, Lewis-Palmer 22, Palmer 16, Poudre 7, Chaparral 5, Heritage 4, East 3, Fairview 3, Arapahoe 2, Littleton 2, Boulder 1, Fruita Monument 1, George Washington 1, Grandview 1, Monarch 1.
Championship matches
No. 1 singles – Veronika Wojakowska, Palmer, def. Erin Sanders, Ponderosa, 6-1, 7-5.
No. 2 singles – Rachael Loeb, Cherry Creek, def. Morgan Forsyth, Ponderosa, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 3 singles – Morganne Downing, Cherry Creek, def. Sindhya Shoptaugh, Air Academy, 6-2, 6-1.
No. 1 doubles – Stacey Berlinger-Christina Macey, Cherry Creek, def. Hillary Kramer-Roxie Phillips, Fort Collins, 6-4, 6-3.
No. 2 doubles – Brooke Shafner-Victoria Sargent, Cherry Creek, def. Rachael Barr-Melissa Skovira, Ponderosa, 6-2, 7-5.
No. 3 doubles – Julie Swinehart-Delaney Downing, Cherry Creek, def. Audrey Keenan-Jenny Jessup, Grand Junction, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
No. 4 doubles – Caitlain Schnell-Stephanie Pepper, Cherry Creek, def. Kelley Pickens-Anna Gleave, Chatfield, 6-7 (13), 6-4, 6-3.
Third-place matches
No. 1 singles – Elizabeth Marsico, Cherry Creek, def. Christin Thompson, Lewis-Palmer, 6-4, 6-2; No. 2 – Hillary Allen, Fort Collins, def. Ashley Camenson, Poudre, 6-3, 6-2; No. 3 – Madeline Sprowell, Fort Collins, def. Sam Hess, Lewis-Palmer, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
No. 1 doubles – Emily Orbanek-Cierra Hall, Grand Junction, def. Suzanne Iwata-Stephanie Todd, Air Academy, 7-5, 6-2; No. 2 – Ali Grush-Dani Lutes, Chatfield, def. Annie Olson-Nicole Petersen, Fort Collins, 7-6 (5), 6-3; No. 3 – Jessica Gasparian-Jenna Woodard, Fort Collins, def. Sarah Layman-Jesse Apted, Chatfield, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (2); No. 4 – Emily Smith-Katie Aust, Grand Junction, def. Melissa Karson-Katelyn Ortt, Chaparral, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.
Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-820-5446 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
