It is a classic conflict of opinion, yet the result of this disagreement means one thing: Erin Gebes, one of the top singles players in the state, will not be in the field when the Class 4A state tournament begins Thursday in Pueblo.
Gebes, a junior from D’Evelyn, instead will be in Arizona, competing in a doubles draw at a United States Tennis Association National Open Level 2 tournament.
Gebes, expected to make a run toward a state final rematch against her good friend, 2010 state champion Jessika Mozia of Colorado Academy, had been under the impression that the Colorado High School Activities Association might be willing to reschedule Saturday’s championship match for Friday evening, allowing Gebes to travel to Saturday’s tournament in Arizona.
This belief stemmed from a conversation Gebes’ mother, Denise Gebes, had in February with Bethany Schott, a CHSAA assistant commissioner and the organization’s tennis director, after which the Gebes family believed rescheduling the state final was an option.
However, Schott and CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico maintain no such assurances were made.
“I listened to that (conversation), and Bethany never told them they could reschedule the match,” Angelico said. “We never, ever make those kinds of allowances.”
Gebes had debated whether to compete during the high school season because of the potential conflict at this weekend’s Level 2 tournament, one of four such events that are crucial showcases on the college recruiting circuit.
After speaking with CHSAA officials in February, the Gebes family believed if they got permission from Erin Gebes’ potential finals opponent that the finals schedule could be adjusted. The ruling affected not only Gebes, but another prominent player scheduled to compete in a similar national tournament this weekend, Colorado Academy’s Mira Ruder-Hook.
Ruder-Hook is expected to compete for the Class 4A No. 2 singles crown and, as a freshman, she has much more time in which to make a splash nationally than Gebes, so Ruder-Hook opted to compete at state.
“I have to say I’m even more disappointed now than before,” Gebes said. “I feel bad for my team. We qualified everyone for the first time ever and had a great chance of doing well at state. Plus, I don’t get to go down there with my team, which is the best part because I’m really close with my team. I guess what they say is that it was a miscommunication, but I really don’t feel like that. And I really believe (CHSAA) should have told us about this earlier than less than a week before the state tournament.”
Because D’Evelyn would have faced postseason sanctions if Gebes had begun the state tournament, but ultimately withdrew to compete at a national event, she opted to head to Arizona. The situation has left a bitter taste with the Gebes and Ruder-Hook families, but the outcome is consistent with CHSAA’s stance of not rescheduling events simply to appease one or two athletes.
“We, as an association, cannot accommodate these types of conflicts,” Schott said. “It is unfortunate that kids have to make these decisions, but we’re here to serve the majority of participants and not just a few individuals.”
