For Rocky Mountain’s Casey MacMaster, repeating as Class 5A’s top singles player was a virtual copy of last year’s victory against Loveland’s Alex Clinkenbeard. But for Cherry Creek’s team, another state championship was anything but easy.
Far from it, as Creek won 72-69.
MacMaster landed 25-of-29 first-serve winners and never lost his serve in a 6-2, 6-4 repeat Saturday at the 5A boys state tennis championship at the Gates Tennis Center. It marked his third state championship in four years and second straight at No. 1 singles. The Rocky Mountain senior jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set en route to becoming 5A’s first repeat champion at No. 1 singles since Richard Johnson of Fruita Monument did it in 2002 and 2003.
MacMaster, who wasn’t on his game in the tournament’s first two days despite earning three straight- set victories, forced Clinkenbeard into short points, taking away the Loveland senior’s baseline game.
“I had to make a big change for Alex. He played some extremely tough players coming in, and he beat them all pretty bad,” MacMaster said. “Coming in, I knew I had to play well.”
Clinkenbeard didn’t play poorly. He just couldn’t solve MacMaster’s powerful serve or net game.
“I’m still pleased with my result,” Clinkenbeard said. “Obviously, I would’ve liked to have won, but he played well. He served really well. It’s tough for me when he’s making those first serves.”
While MacMaster was cruising, Cherry Creek was on the brink. Entering the day with a nine-point lead over Regis, the Bruins needed just three victories overall or two in their four head-to-head championship matches with the Raiders to win a 36th title in 38 years. But Regis didn’t make it easy.
The Raiders had already gained three championships and a pair of Cherry Creek losses in playback with just the No. 2 doubles finals left to be decided and the 5A team title hanging in the balance.
But thankfully for the Bruins, Ian Kelly was where he wanted to be, serving out the No. 2 doubles match as he and playing partner Phil McNitt clung to a 6-5 lead in the final match of the tournament.
Regis’ Luke Kiniry and Dominic D’Costa had built a 5-4 lead in the third set and were two points from ending the Bruins’ eight-year stranglehold. But Cherry Creek managed to hold serve, then broke Regis on the next service break to set up Kelly’s heroics. He and McNitt scored the final three points of the match to preserve Cherry Creek’s streak for another year.
But it didn’t come without some tense moments.
“I saw the pressure, definitely,” Kelly said. “There were probably, like, hundreds of people watching the court. I just had to focus on the ball, keep my concentration and play smart tennis.”
Regis, the last team to win a 5A team title besides Cherry Creek, in 2000, earned titles from freshman Matt Sayre (No. 2 singles), Mark Miller and Alex Gnaegy (No. 1 doubles) and Dylan Gust and Matt Colapinto (No. 3 doubles).
“It was bittersweet today,” Regis coach Nate Clarke said. “The guys fought valiantly. We really had some incredible matches on both sides of the net. This is one of those days it could’ve gone either way.”
Cherry Creek’s other title came at No. 4 doubles from Spencer Anderson and Keith Podgorski.
