It starts with a slap of their hands, followed by a slight crossing motion across their chest. That’s the handshake celebration that doubles partners Zach Chernow and Joel Lowinger created this season as a means to fire themselves up.
They use it, mostly, after winning points. But sometimes it comes into play when they’ve lost a point, as well. It’s their way of communicating.
“We were trying to be creative one day. There’s no story behind it. We just thought it was cool and we stayed with it,” Chernow said.
Whatever it is, it’s been a source of motivation for Cherry Creek’s No. 1 doubles team. Not that they really need it. Their game is plenty enough, as proven by Friday’s 6-2, 6-3 win over Boulder’s Ian Ron and Carl Rosengren at the state 5A boys tennis championship at the Gates Tennis Center.
The win, combined with that of the Bruins’ other three doubles teams, signified the dominance Cherry Creek has enjoyed the past three decades. As a result of Friday’s play — six wins in six chances — Cherry Creek, with 57 points, has secured its 35th team championship in 37 years. Second-place Regis Jesuit has 39 points, but can only win a maximum of 12 points in Saturday’s championship and consolation finals.
That fact isn’t so surprising. But no matter the year or the players, Bruins coach Kirk Price continues to find the right combination. Not bad considering Chernow and Lowinger are the only Cherry Creek doubles players in this year’s tournament with state experience, though not with each other.
“It’s exciting, but it’s also scary,” Price said. “Every kid that walks on the court, they know what they’ve got to do. If they’re afraid they won’t be able to pull it off, they have to overcome that fear. And when they do, they know it’s one of the best feelings they’ll feel in their life.”
Joining the Bruins’ top doubles team in Saturday’s finals are the No. 2 team of Brian Maierhofer and Reid Spitz, the No. 3 duo of Scott Robarth and Jack Robinson and the No. 4 team of Ben Halvorson and Jordan Beberfeld.
In Saturday’s No. 1 singles finals, Rocky Mountain’s Casey MacMaster will play Loveland’s Alex Clinkenbeard.
MacMaster advanced with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Heritage’s Zach Pendleton, while Clinkenbeard upset George Washington’s Mads Hegelund 7-5, 7-6 (2).
TEAM SCORES
Cherry Creek 57, Regis Jesuit 39, George Washington 28, Fairview 28, Denver East 17, Loveland 15, Heritage 14, Boulder 13, Rocky Mountain 13, Chatfield 9, Arapahoe 8, Chaparral 8, Grand Junction 6, Arvada West 3, Ponderosa 2, Fort Collins 2, Pine Creek 2, Mountain Vista 1.
SEMIFINALS
No. 1 singles: Alex Clinkenbeard, Loveland, Jr., def. Mads Hegelund, George Washington, Jr., 7-5, 7-6 (2); Casey MacMaster, Rocky Mountain, Jr., def. Zach Pendleton, Sr., Heritage, 6-0, 6-2.
No. 2 singles: Simon Hegelund, George Washington, Jr., def. Yohei Uema, Chaparral, Sr., 6-4, 6-1; Taylor Sargent, Cherry Creek, Jr., def. Colin Haas, Regis Jesuit, Soph., 6-2, 6-3.
No. 3 singles: Connor Macey, Cherry Creek, Sr., def. Calvin Ward, George Washington, Jr., 6-4, 6-0; Mark Miller, Regis Jesuit, Soph., def. Scott Holmes, Chatfield, Jr., 6-4, 6-1.
No. 1 doubles: Cass Krughoff-Blake Wetherbee, Fairview, def. Dominic D’Costa-Dylan Gust, Regis Jesuit, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Zach Chernow-Joel Lowinger, Cherry Creek, def. Ian Ron-Carl Rosengren, 6-2, 6-3.
No. 2 doubles: Brian Maierhofer-Reid Spitz, Cherry Creek, def. Jake Frankhouser-Greg Coleman, Grand Junction, 6-1, 6-4; Christopher Cartwright-Will Lindsay, Fairview, def. Logan Cerkovnik-Jacob Spreyer, Regis Jesuit, 4-, 6-1, 6-1.
No. 3 doubles: Scott Rotherbarth-Jack Robinson, Cherry Creek, def. Tyler Harman-Johnny Combs, Fairview, 6-2, 6-1; Alex Gnaegy-Luke Kiniry, Regis Jesuit, def. Darius Fugere-Matt Friesen, Grand Junction, 6-2, 6-1.
No. 4 doubles: Ben Halvorson-Jordan Beberfeld, Cherry Creek, def. Daniel Wiener-Nate Bartell, Denver East, 6-2, 6-3; Jordan Brisch-Will Woodward, Regis Jesuit, def. Evan Rush-Will Kuelthau, Fairview, 6-1, 6-4.
