4A boys tennis: Niwot’s Liao on track for title defense, Kent Denver has seven semifinalists

PUEBLO – Niwot’s Lichen Liao made a name for himself when he won the Class 4A No. 2 singles state championship as a sophomore last season.

But when yours in a name people know, that often makes you a target for our opponents to focus on.

On the first day of his would-be title defense, however, Liao didn’t show any signs of the pressure getting to him. The Cougars junior deftly navigated his first two matches of the 4A individual state tournament at Pueblo City Park without dropping a set to reach Friday’s semifinals.

“I was pretty nervous heading in,” Liao said. “I feel like there’s a lot more expectation this year than last year. But I’m happy I was able to get through the first match pretty smoothly. In my second match, it was a really physical first set and I was able to keep it together and have a smooth second set.”

In his opening match, Liao won 6-0, 6-2 over Grand Junction senior Matthew Silzell. In his second match, he won 7-5, 6-1 in a battle with George Washington freshman Andrew Rettig. On Friday, he will face Kent Denver sophomore Will Moldenhauer in the semifinals.

Liao has already faced Moldenhauer this postseason, and recently at that. On Oct. 1, the two squared off in the quarterfinals of the new dual-style team championship tournament, a head-to-head team affair that went 4-3 in favor of Kent Denver. But now without any responsibility to score for the team, Liao said he expects to play a bit more worry-free in the rematch.

“It’s definitely different without the team points being a factor,” Liao said. “I guess it kind of allows you to play a little more relaxed knowing that your result doesn’t have an impact on your teammates.”

In the No. 1 singles bracket, reigning champion Nathan Gold of Kent Denver also reached the semifinals and will face Discovery Canyon’s Sean Bratkowsky. Both players should be well-rested after their quarterfinals opponents each retired with injuries in the first set on Thursday.

At No. 3 singles, George Washington’s Ryan Hajeck, who lost in the semifinals of the No. 1 doubles bracket last fall and is currently 15-3 in his first season playing singles, also won his first two matches in straight sets and will face D’Evelyn’s Xalen Mitchell in the semifinals on Friday.

“The first match was good. He’s a nice guy,” Hajeck said. “My second match, he serves and volleys a lot, so the first set was super tough. Then I brought it back in the second set and took it in two, so I’m pretty happy about that. I’m pretty happy to be in the semifinals and I’m playing pretty solid.”

Kent Denver advanced all seven ladder spots to the semifinals. Colorado Academy will play in five semifinals. Cheyenne Mountain has four positions in the semifinals.

The state tournament will resume with semifinals at 9 a.m. on Friday.