A summer of intense training in Florida soured Calix van Lier on tennis, and last season’s runner-up at Class 5A No. 1 singles contemplated skipping his junior season at Boulder.
Had burnout claimed van Lier, the Panthers would have suffered. But after opting to return, he faces a significant challenge in holding onto that No. 1 position.
Senior Blake Howard may take that spot from van Lier.
“It’s a tossup. Our best two players are back, and we are very deep behind them, but Calix and Blake will decide who is (No.) 1,” said Boulder coach Gale Howard, Blake’s father.
Blake Howard is bigger and stronger than the diminutive van Lier (5-feet-6, 125 pounds), but van Lier has proved himself at the state level. He reached the quarterfinals as a freshman before taking second as a sophomore.
“Losing Calix would have been very hard on this team. You can’t replace him. You just can’t,” Gale Howard said.
The first matches of the season begin today.
Van Lier’s decision to return makes the already crowded race for the 5A No. 1 singles title even more exciting. But the competition still has to go through sitting champion Doug Mayeda, a senior at Cherry Creek.
Mayeda, who beat van Lier 6-2, 6-2 for the championship last season, and the Bruins are powerful as always. Cherry Creek has won 32 of the past 34 boys tennis championships.
“No position is ever secure here. (Mayeda) will have to win the No. 1 spot again, but he is coming in as one of the favorites. He is a step above the others at No. 1,” Cherry Creek coach Kirk Price said.
Alan Oakes and a handful of doubles players, including Andy Benson, Chris Cooprider and Jake Schneiders, will compete for the remaining two singles positions. The best of the other 100-plus athletes on Cherry Creek’s team will fill at doubles and, if history is a guide, win at least three of the four titles.
Others in the chase include Boulder, Chatfield (with its top-notch doubles teams), Fort Collins and Grand Junction. Teams such as Fairview, Rocky Mountain and Poudre are poised to make statements.
Individuals in the hunt for No. 1 singles ring familiar.
Grand Junction’s Jordan Bridge finished third at No. 1 last season, and Durango’s Geoff Lewis will move up after winning a title at No. 2, the first singles title in his school’s history.
“Jordan Bridge is a big, strong kid and he could make a run. But it is pretty wide open,” said Chatfield coach Carey Brading, who has six experienced seniors at the top of his roster.
In 4A, Broomfield senior Brandon Lupo is the undisputed favorite to repeat as No. 1 singles champion. After that, it is all Cheyenne Mountain.
The Indians, winners of 12 state titles in 14 seasons, won six of seven positions last season and blew away the field.
Runner-up Kent Denver has everybody back and will try to close the gap on Cheyenne Mountain. Four seniors – Vincent Heguy, Graham Ely, Charlie Sayre and Matt Tullman – will compete for the singles spots.
“We were second in state last year but a long way behind Cheyenne Mountain,” said Kent Denver coach Randy Ross, in his 11th season. “Everyone is returning for us, in addition to three or four new faces. It will be fun.”