When thinking curb appeal, adding a few dozen rolls of toilet paper to the landscaping doesn’t top any list of ideas.
But the Pine Creek girls tennis team turned to the time-honored teenage tradition anyway, covering coach Dave Lehman’s front yard in layers of Charmin.
“They drew a nice little picture in my driveway, too,” Lehman said.
It was just a way for the Eagles to stay loose before the three-day girls Class 5A and 4A state tennis tournaments kick off today. The 5A tournament is being staged at two sites in Boulder: the University of Colorado tennis facility and the courts at Fairview High School. The 4A meet is at Pueblo City Park.
Pine Creek established itself as a 4A power last season, claiming titles at Nos. 1 and 2 singles and finishing third in the team race. But the Eagles moved up to 5A, where the Cherry Creek Bruins have been wiping up the courts with everybody for decades.
Cherry Creek has won the past 10 team titles, and 24 since 1976. The Bruins have a new but familiar coach in Christin Jacob, a former state champion for the school.
“We’re making the move up knowing that Cherry Creek is the perennial favorite,” Lehman said. “Those doubles teams are tough to beat.”
Cherry Creek’s dominance at the four doubles positions make it the favorite to win the team title, but there is plenty of room for speculation at No. 1 singles.
The top three finishers from 2006 are back, including Palmer junior Veronika Wojakowska, the school’s first state tennis champion. Erin Sanders of Ponderosa and Cherry Creek’s Elizabeth Marsico return, and Sim- one Kalhorn of Pine Creek, No. 1 singles champ at 4A last season, moved into the bracket. Fairview junior Carolyn Warren is another contender.
Class 4A No. 2 singles champion Ryann Warner of Pine Creek will enter a crowded 5A field. Sindhya Shoptaugh of Air Academy, Cherry Creek freshman Caroline Schnell, last season’s state runner-up Morgan Forsyth of Ponderosa, Samantha Hess of Lewis-Palmer and Madeline Sprowell of Fort Collins round out a loaded bracket.
Rachael Loeb of Cherry Creek will be tough to beat at No. 3 singles after winning it all at the No. 2 position last season.
In 4A, Jodi Ciarvella of Mullen and Cheyenne Mountain senior Casey Wetzig are favored at No. 1 singles, which would make for a fitting showdown in the final since the Mustangs and Indians will be battling for the team title.
Mullen ended Kent Denver’s four-year run as the top 4A team with a championship in 2006, but Cheyenne Mountain was right on the Mustangs’ heels.
