Aspen boys tennis brings home state hardware
The Aspen Times
The Aspen High School boys tennis team returned home from the State Tennis Championships in Pueblo with state hardware, state medals and the best finish in the history of the program.
“I was proud of the team’s mental toughness during the state tournament, winning numerous three-set matches,” said Aspen head coach Gary Quandt. “They showed great character under tough conditions.”
He said the Skiers scored more points than any Aspen boys team had scored at the state championships (17). The Skiers finished seventh as a team, the highest finish ever.
“Another first for us was having two teams finish in the top three,” Quandt said.
The Skiers were led by the No. 4 doubles team of Keegan Mehall and Andy Vernier, who finished second in the state championships at Pueblo City Park.
At No. 3 doubles, Aspen’s Grant Goodman and Alexander Reagan finished in third place.
In yet another first for the AHS boys, Quandt said the team won all four first-round doubles matches at state.
Vernier and Mehall opened the state championships with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Pueblo Centennial. The Skiers then beat Niwot in three sets — 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.
Once in the semifinals, Vernier and Mehall defeated Mullen in another three-setter — 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
In the finals, Aspen’s No. 4 doubles team lost 6-3, 6-1 to Kent Denver, still winning silver medals.
At No. 3 doubles, Aspen’s Reagan and Goodman defeated a team from Pueblo Centennial 6-2, 6-2 before losing to Kent Denver 6-1, 6-1.
Aspen then came through the playback bracket, defeating Evergreen, 6-1, 6-1, and Mullen, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
In the playback for third place, Reagan and Goodman dispatched Cheyenne Mountain in two sets — 6-0, 6-4.
At No. 2 doubles, the Aspen duo of Victor Robinson and Matt Lambert defeated a team from D’Evelyn, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, in the first roind at state. The Skiers lost in the second round to before losing to Broomfield, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
Aspen’s No. 1 doubles team of Rocky Tschappat and Gordon Carr also won in the first round, defeating Lewis-Palmer, 7-6, 6-2.
The Skiers lost in the second round to Kent Denver. But they beat a team from Mesa Ridge, 6-2, 6-4, in playbacks before losing to Cheyenne Mountain, 6-0, 6-4.
In singles play at state, Brad Broeking lost his first round match at No. 2 to a player from Mulle, 6-3, 6-2, and did not qualify for a playback spot.
And at No. 3 singles, Aspen’s Henry Godfrey lost to Longmont, 7-6, 6-3, and did not qualify for a playback opportunity.
Aspen head coach Gary Quandt also is the director of tennis at the Aspen Golf and Tennis Club.
Aspen girls golf ties for second at 3A championship; Persson, O’Sullivan in top 10
Playing in the final group of the Class 3A girls golf state championship on Wednesday, Lenna Persson finally discovered the nerves that had been absent two days earlier in her practice round at Aspen Golf Club.
