Fort Collins – There are moments during the regular season that seem innocuous, but in the grand scheme of things speak volumes.
Last Saturday provided just such a moment for Rocky Mountain senior Will Vasos.
In the finals of the Cherry Creek Invitational, Vasos outlasted the Bruins’ Andy Benson in a three-set thriller, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5), and placed his name at the top of the list of No. 1 singles contenders at next month’s state tournament in Boulder.
“I hadn’t been playing that well, or that much, and to come in there and win that tournament against Andy was very uplifting,” Vasos said.
In a deep field of contenders that include Benson, Durango’s Geoff Lewis, Lewis-Palmer’s Aiden Reid and Fairview’s Calix van Lier, any momentum you have on your side goes a long way.
“I approach (state) as not so much an underdog, but that I should be there and in the top four,” Vasos said. “But there are a lot of really good players.”
Said Cherry Creek coach Kirk Price: “That was a great win for Will, especially since Andy was playing such great tennis. He has to be the favorite going in.”
A win at state would also be a great gift for Will’s sister, Rocky Mountain coach Bobbe Vasos-Bennett.
Bennett is expecting her third child, a daughter to be named Anna, on Oct. 15, just three days after the state tournament.
“The plan no matter what is to be there,” Bobbe said. “But if I can’t, there is plenty of help and support to go around.”
With every match a Vasos family reunion, Will will not be alone if Anna decides to pay a visit a little early. His father Joe, who doubles as a babysitter to Luke 2 1/2 and Ellie 1 1/2, mother Becky and sister Carmen (who played at Rocky from 2000-03) will all be on hand to offer guidance.
“It’s the mommy-dearest role here … I’ve never played tennis in my life,” said Joe, whose three sisters-in-law were all tennis pros. “I married into a tennis dynasty.”
One aunt, Rose Quirk, one of those tennis pros, and even grandmother Carm Quirk (known in Vasos circles as Nana), plan on flying in from Iowa for more support.
On the court, Will Vasos’ greatest support comes from Lobos No. 2 singles player Casey MacMaster. As a freshman, MacMaster beat Boulder’s Blake Howard to become Rocky’s first boys tennis champion. He was joined by brother T.J. MacMaster, who won a title at No. 3 singles.
“It’s so good to go to practice and have somebody you can really hit with and even our No. 3 singles, Greg Wilson, is great to play with,” Will said.
Casey MacMaster, who stands a towering 6-foot-4, has yet to lose a match this season. But like all freshmen who win a state title, MacMaster has become accustomed to answering the inevitable question: So, can you win four?
“We are going one at a time right now, and the plan is to just get better,” said MacMaster, who avenged a loss to Cherry Creek’s Chris Cooprider in the finals last season on Saturday. “People grow and change, I grew early, but as people mature, they are going to get better.”
Speaking of growing, little Luke already has a racket in his hand. Give him 10 to 12 years, and it will be him we’re writing about continuing the Vasos tennis tradition.
By the numbers
A look at the Vasos family and Rocky Mountain tennis:
0 Times Joe Vasos has considered picking up a tennis racket and taking up the game.
2 Individual boys tennis champions at Rocky, both coming last year from brothers T.J. and Casey MacMaster.
3 Days after the state tournament Lobos coach Bobbe Vasos-Bennett is due with daughter Anna.
9-10 Members of the Vasos family who will be in Boulder to watch Will in his quest for a state title. Ten if Anna makes an early appearance.
12 Years we will have to wait for the next Vasos to make waves on the Colorado high school tennis scene. Bobbe’s son Luke is 2 1/2.
Staff writer Jon E. Yunt can be reached at 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com.
