LITTLETON — Spring break is always worth a story or two. Steph McCauley’s story began with a trip to Mexico and ended with a trip to the hospital after she got stung by a stingray.
“I just stepped on it,” said McCauley, who plays No. 1 doubles for Cherry Creek, along with friend Caitlyn Shafner, who was on the trip to Puerto Vallarta and got to push McCauley around in her wheelchair.
Did it hurt?
“A little bit,” McCauley said.
“She screamed,” Shafner said.
The duo was put to the test again Wednesday as they had to rally several times to defeat Chatfield’s tandem of Sara Layman and Sarah Palmer in a Class 5A nonleague dual meet at the Ranch House. McCauley and Shafner lost the first set 6-4 but came back to take the next two 6-4, 6-2.
It was one of only two matches that were close as the Bruins, who have won the past 12 state titles and 18 of the last 20, swept the meet 7-0. The Chargers defeated the Bruins in their dual meet last year, only to finish third at state.
The day’s other close match was at No. 2 doubles, where Cherry Creek’s Lindsey Pond and Sam Henry nodded off after taking the first set 6-0 against Molly Reynolds and Kimberly Arfsten. Pond and Henry lost 6-2 in the second set but took the third 6-3.
Another subplot was at No. 1 singles, where defending champion Caroline Schnell of Cherry Creek faced Kelsey Brading. The two grew up playing against each other until they joined forces as doubles partners around 11 and rarely lost.
“It started out as a rivalry,” Brading said. “Like, we didn’t get along; we wouldn’t talk because it was always hard matches. Then it turned into a friendship.”
Behind a solid serve and a steady all-around game, Schnell had few problems with Brading and cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory. After Brading cut the deficit to 5-2 in the first set, Schnell went on to win the next five games to go up 4-0 in the second set.
“It’s always good to play a good friend,” Schnell said. “It was fun. We got in trouble for talking too much.”
Brittany Warly won at No. 2 singles against alternate Rachael Friz, who was filling in for the injured Madison Wiebe (stress fracture). Keiko Kasho took care of freshman Katherine Ross in straight sets at No. 3 singles.
CHERRY CREEK 7, CHATFIELD 0
No. 1 singles — Schnell def. Brading, 6-2, 6-1. No. 2 singles — B. Warly def. Friz, 6-0, 6-1. No. 3 singles — Kasho def. Ross, 6-0, 6-1.
No. 1 doubles — McCauley-Shafner def. Layman-Palmer, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. No. 2 doubles — Pond-Henry def. Reynolds-Arfsten, 6-0, 2-6, 6-3. No. 3 doubles — A. Warly-C. Warly def. Campbell-Hay, 6-1, 6-3. No. 4 doubles — Broyhill-Zayac def. Esmilie-Ford, 6-1, 6-3.
