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Aspen boys tennis aces Vail Mountain School

Dale Strode
The Aspen Times

Hello homecoming.

The Aspen High School boys tennis team celebrated homecoming 2013 with a sun-soaked 6-1 victory over visiting Vail Mountain School on Thursday afternoon.

The Skiers, playing on their home courts at the Aspen Golf Club, swept the doubles matches and won two of the three singles matches.



“It’s a blast out there playing with (doubles partner Gordon Carr),” said Aspen senior Rocky Tschappat. He and Carr teamed to beat Chase Michoski and Riley Kilgore, of Vail Mountain School, by a 6-2, 6-2 score in No. 1 doubles. “We go out there and have a bunch of fun. We try to win … but it’s fun every time.”

“All of us are really good friends, even the seniors with the freshmen.”
Rocky Tschappat, Aspen tennis player


Tschappat used his powerful forehand to help keep the Gore Rangers on the defensive.



He was quick to credit the support of his doubles partner for their success.

“It’s always nice to have your partner there to keep your head in it,” Tschappat said. “It’s a lot better than when you are out there on your own.”

Doubles, he said, is fun and fast.

“It’s a lot more fun, in my opinion,” said Tschappat, the son of Rocky (senior) and Kelli Tschappat. “It’s faster … more net action. Good rallies at the net.”

Carr and Tschappat set the doubles tone for the Skiers on Tuesday.

At No. 2 doubles, Victor Robinson and Matt Lambert teamed for Aspen in a 6-3, 6-4 straight-sets victory over Ty Michonski and Tahylor Peterson, of Vail Mountain.

Aspen also won at No. 3 doubles when Grant Goodman and Alex Reagan defeated Patrick Johnson and Zac Wirth, of Vail Mountain, 6-0, 6-0.

The Skiers swept No. 4 doubles by an identical love-love margin. Will Reagan and Andy Vernier, of Aspen, swept Kelby Denneson and Jonathon Cano.

In singles play Tuesday, Henry Godfrey of Aspen won at No. 3 over Nick Boyne, 6-0, 6-1.

And at No. 2 singles, Aspen’s Brad Broeking defeated Stefan Sertland in one of the highlight matches of the day.

The two dueled through the first set with Broeking breaking serve and winning 6-4.

He blitzed through the second set, 6-0, against the tough-serving Sertland.

“His serve was pretty touigh,” Broeking said. “It was a kick serve to my backhand every time.”

The strong serve kicked up high, adding to the difficulty of return.

“But coach (Doug Quandt) gave me some good advice and helped me out,” said Broeking, the son of Geri and Mike Broeking.

Vail Mountain’s lone victory Tuesday came at No. 1 singles when Colin Green, a nationally ranked age-class player, beat Aspen’s Dylan Behr, 6-1, 6-2.

Green played singles for Steamboat Springs last year when Vail Mountain School did not field a tennis team. Teammate Sertland also played for the Sailors last year.

But with more than a full varsity roster and a partial JV roster, the Gore Rangers fielded the own boys tennis team this year for the first time in school history.

The Skiers, who have won every dual match except one against Class 5A powerhouse Grand Junction, celebrated each victory Tuesday with teammates courtside, cheering on teammates.

“All of us are really good friends, even the seniors with the freshman, “ Tschappat said. “We’re a close-knit group of kids. That’s one of my favorite aspects of this.”

The Aspen High School boys tennis team will return to action on homecoming Saturday. The Skiers will host Hotchkiss at 10 a.m. at the city courts at the Aspen Golf Club.

Then, the Skiers will head to the Class 3A Regionals on Oct. 4-5 in Grand Junction.

The state tennis champinships will be played in Pueblo on Oct. 10-12.

dstrode@aspentimes.com