An influx of younger talent could throw the so-called veterans for a loop come girls tennis state tournament time.
One freshman to keep an eye on is Colorado Academy’s Jessika Mozia.
“She’s just a pure athlete,” CA coach Guy Garcia said. “She’s the best athlete I’ve seen in my 15 years of coaching and will be the best to go through Colorado Academy.”
Mozia, 14, is ranked No. 2 in the state’s 16-and-under group behind reigning Class 5A champion Caroline Schnell of Cherry Creek and already has a summertime victory over last year’s 4A runner-up, Clarke Tatje of Fountain Valley.
Mozia has an all-around game with power and control, said Garcia, who added, “If you leave a ball waist high, she can put it away from anywhere on the court.”
Sammie Watson, the defending No. 1 singles champion in 4A, is just a sophomore, and the rivalry between her and Mozia should last for three years. Watson and Mozia are set to meet April 10 in a team dual and perhaps again the next day at East’s Phil Krouse Invitational.
Cherry Creek again is favored to win the Class 5A team title. The Bruins have won 12 in a row and 18 of the past 20, but last year’s victory wasn’t easy, with Ponderosa in the rearview mirror.
“This is a Creek tradition. There’s a lot of pressure on the girls to continue that,” Cherry Creek coach Chris Jacob said after last year’s tournament.
Schnell will have to defend her No. 1 singles title against the likes of Ponderosa’s Erin Sanders, Poudre’s Natalie Dunn and Palmer’s Adriana Wojakowska.
CLASS 5A TOP 3
1. Cherry Creek
2. Ponderosa
3. Chatfield
CLASS 4A TOP 3
1. Kent Denver
2. Cheyenne Mountain
3. Fossil Ridge
PLAYERS TO WATCH
(both classifications; returning all-state singles selections)
Kristina Barber, Cheyenne Mountain, Jr.; Lindsay Barlow, Kent Denver, So.; Natalie Dunn, Poudre, Jr.; Sophie Guerra, Heritage, Sr.; Amanda Lee, Niwot, Sr.; Allison O’Callaghan, Mullen, Sr.; Brooke Plumley, Fort Collins, Jr.; Shelby Reed, Steamboat Springs, Sr.; Erin Sanders, Ponderosa, Sr.; Caroline Schnell, Cherry Creek, Jr.; Clarke Tatje, Fountain Valley, Sr.; Sammie Watson, Kent Denver, So.; Adriana Wojakowska, Palmer, So.; Brittney Ricci, Ponderosa, So.
