PUEBLO — Kelly Donaldson has a lot of experience playing in big tennis matches. He has traveled all over the country playing in prestigious tournaments, but this year is a little different.
In the Class 4A state tennis tournament at Pueblo’s City Park, Donaldson has more of a vested interest. He’s got more responsibility. He has more at stake. For the first time, he is part of a high school team. Donaldson is a junior at Broomfield High School.
Donaldson was born in Colorado, but moved to Tampa, Fla., when he was 12 years old. He’s always done his schooling online, taking classes from the comfort of his own home.
Every summer, his family would visit Colorado, where they still have a house. This year Donaldson was able to convince them to stay, and let him attend a public high school.
“I kind of got sick of doing school online,” Donaldson said. “I wanted to have a teacher teach the stuff to me.”
His talent propelled him to the No. 1 singles slot of a competitive Broomfield squad.
After winning two matches the first day Thursday, he made quick work of Fossil Ridge’s Joseph Aragon, 6-1, 6-1 on Friday in the semifinals.
Donaldson will compete in the championship match today at 9 a.m. He will face Wheat Ridge’s Jelmer Vriesema, who beat Cheyenne Mountain’s John Adams 6-4, 7-5.
In the team race, Cheyenne Mountain has a 13-point lead over Kent Denver coming into the final day of the tournament.
The No. 3 singles championship match will feature Frazier Cavness of Kent Denver taking on Michael Cutter of Cheyenne Mountain.
All matches start at 9 a.m.
TEAM SCORES
Team scores: Cheyenne Mountain 66, Kent Denver 53, Broomfield 44, Mullen 23, Steamboat 15, Wheat Ridge 13, Niwot 11, Fossil Ridge 10, Pueblo County 9, Colorado Academy 5, Pueblo Central 5, Greeley West 4, Longmont 2, Greeley Central 1, Pueblo West 1, Pueblo Centennial 1, Evergreen 1, Aspen 1.
SEMIFINALS
No. 1 singles: Jelmer Vriesema, Wheat Ridge, def. John Adams, Cheyenne Mountain, 6-4, 7-5; Kelly Donaldson, Broomfield, def. Joseph Aragon, Fossil Ridge, 6-1, 6-1.
No. 2 singles: Jonathan Moore, Cheyenne Mountain, def. J.J. Shpall, Kent Denver, 6-2, 6-2; Connor Buchanan, Broomfield, def. Jeffrey Hudson, Mullen, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.
No. 3 singles: Frazier Cavness, Kent Denver, def. Stephen Lammers, Niwot, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1; Michael Cutter, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Connor Hudson, Mullen, 6-3, 6-2.
No. 1 doubles: Matt Carroll-James Martinez, Kent Denver, def. Charlie Smith-Jack Burger, Steamboat Springs, 6-1, 6-3; Kevin Lynch-Matt Bowser, Cheyenne Mountain, def. V.J. Clasgens-Tyler Goutermout, Mullen, 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 doubles: Ari Halling-Parker Curry, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Matt DePinto-Michael Midanier, Broomfield, 7-6 (2), 6-2; Ross Mower-Graham Baker, Kent Denver, def. Patrick Anderson-Richard Martinez, Mullen, 6-1, 6-2.
No. 3 doubles: Max Maulitz-Matt Brittan, Kent Denver, def. David Hietala-Chris Lopez, Mullen, 6-2, 6-2; Matt Shoemaker-Jay Hendren, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Adam Gang-T.J. Ross, Niwot, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 4 doubles: Chase Procknow-James Kreidle, Kent Denver, def. Vladan Chase-Eric Sortland, Steamboat Springs, 6-2, 6-1; Spencer Heintz-Chris Stuller, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Greg Dery-Mitch Kusick, Broomfield, 6-4, 6-4.
