BOULDER, Colo.-
Cherry Creek has forged closer to another state tennis championship. And the perennial power did it in its traditional way—winning all but two matches in the semifinal round of the girls Class 5A state tennis championships on Friday.
When the dust cleared at the University of Colorado tennis courts, Cherry Creek had tallied 54 points. Chatfield was a distant second at 31 points. With 29 points, Ponderosa was third and Pine Creek at 24 was fourth.
The only thing unconventional about this year’s team was that the Bruins dropped two matches in the semifinals of the tournament. Elizabeth Marsico at No. 1 Singles and the No. 4 Doubles team of Stephanie Pepper and Bridgid Collins failed to advance to the finals.
Marsico lost 6-2, 7-6(7) to Syracuse University-bound Simone Kalhorn. Kalhorn, a senior, won the No. 1 Singles crown a year ago at the 4A classification.
That set up a title match between Kalhorn and Ponderosa’s Erin Sanders. Sanders, Ponderosa shocked Veronia Wajakowska of Palmer, 7-6(3), 6-0.
Pepper and Collins were defeated 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-2 to Pine Creek’s Gina D’Silva and Jamie Pledger.
The rest of the day went according to script for Cherry Creek. At No. 2 Singles, Caroline Schnell defeated Lindsey Sanders of Chatfield, 6-1, 6-0. Two-time defending champion Rachel Loeb beat Lewis-Palmer’s Kelsie Hiester, 6-2, 6-0.
Cherry Creek’s Nos. 2 and 3 doubles teams were very efficient. Caitlain Schnell and Yasmin Fotovat at No. 2 disposed of Pine Creek’s Christine Pack and Julia Hubbard, 6-0, 6-2 and in 45 minutes.
Its No. 3 doubles team of Caitlyn Shafner-Corinne Hill was slightly slower. They beat Fort Collins’ Jessica Gasparian and Erica Garfinkel, 6-0, 6-1, in 50 minutes.
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