With the Colorado high school girls tennis season upon us once again, here’s a look at notable individuals and storylines to watch in all three classifications this spring.
Class 5A
Defending team champion: Cherry Creek (won 20 of the last 21; 34 total)
State championships: May 10-12, Gates Tennis Center
Returning champions: Poudre Sr. Ky Ecton (No. 1 Singles), Heritage Sr. Lauren Thomas (No. 3 Singles), Mountain Vista Jr. Ashlen Grote
and Jr. Amanda Pruitt (No. 1 Doubles), Denver East Jr. Maddie Darre and Jr. Kelly Wulf (No. 2 Doubles)
Storyline to watch: Ecton outlasted Smoky Hill’s Anshika Singh in making her the second Impala to win at No. 1 Singles. But Singh’s a senior as well, and to add to her No. 2 Singles crown earned as a freshman at Cherry Creek.
Class 4A
Defending team champion: Cheyenne Mountain (nine straight, 22 total)
State championships: May 10-12, Pueblo City Park
Returning champions: Kent Denver Jr. Josie Schaffer (No. 1 Singles), Cheyenne Mountain Sr. Cory Patton Lossner (No. 2 Singles), Cheyenne Mountain Jr. Taylor Heinicke and Jr. Ariana Arenson (No. 2 Doubles), Cheyenne Mountain Soph. Jensen Enterman and Soph. Katie Nelson (No. 3 Doubles), Cheyenne Mountain Jr. Brooke Dashiell and Jr. Tiana Stepleton (No. 4 Doubles)
Storyline to watch: It’s clear the Indians have the inside track to while it will take the entire field’s best effort to dethrone Schaffer, who is halfway to a No. 1 Singles four-peat and beat Durango sophomore Mavis Edwards in a straight sets final last spring.
Class 3A
Defending team champion: D’Evelyn
State championships: May 10-12, Centennial Park (Greeley)
Returning champions: Colorado Academy Soph. Sammy Moore-Thomson (No. 1 Singles), Dawson Soph. Bridget Bell (No. 2 Singles), D’Evelyn Sr. Cammy Lee and Sr. Elisa Dean (No. 2 Doubles), D’Evelyn Sr. Charity Perks and Sr. Keri Jennings (No. 4 Doubles)
Storyline to watch: In last year’s D’Evelyn’s score of 57 bested runner-ups Colorado Academy and Dawson by just three points. More drama could be in store in 2018, especially considering the firepower returning for all three programs.
