5A boys tennis: Cherry Creeks fends off Valor Christian for team title

DENVER – New format, same result.

With a 5-2 dual victory, the Cherry Creek boys tennis team clinched the 2022 5A boys tennis championship over Valor Christian, Tuesday evening, at Denver’s City Park. It was the 45th team title for the Bruins, and third in a row, but the first with the new format.

Despite the team score, Valor gave Creek everything it had after the Bruins won 7-0 the previous three rounds. The Eagles had the match tied, 2-2, with three lines remaining, and took three of the seven lines to three sets.

“It was a wonderful ride with the new format, which I applaud the CHSAA team for the innovation to give programs and players the opportunity to shine twice,” Cherry Creek head coach Art Quinn stated “I was proud of all my guys, all my coaches, all my parents for holding firm and just keeping the energy headed in a positive direction so that we could have the opportunity to prevail.”

At No. 3 singles, junior Kris Kostadinov followed up his individual singles title with a dominating 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Mitchell Perez to get the first points on the board.

Valor tied the match next, as the No. 1 doubles duo of Graham Beukelman and Drew Schell got revenge from the weekend, defeating Jack Eikelberner and Charlie Stern, 6-1, 6-3, dealing Creek their first line loss of the tournament.

Revenge came on the other side at No. 2 singles, as Kiril Kostadinov bounced back after his loss to Jace Nakamura over the weekend, winning in a three set battle, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2, to put Creek back up, 2-1.

“Last time, I was just stressed out going into the match, I just wasn’t there mentally,” Kostadinov explained. “This time I came in with a better mindset and was ready to win.”

The back-and-forth affair continued at No. 1 singles, as Christian Trevey knocked off Aram Izmirian in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, to knot the match back up, 2-2, with three doubles lines still on the court.

The monentum swung back in the direction of the Bruins at No. 2 doubles, as Matthew Hu and Trevor Robinson came from behind in the third set to earn a 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Ryan Mandes and Ryan Greenfield to make it 3-2. It was another revenge match, as Greenfield/Mandes defeated the Creek duo in the final this past weekend.

The Bruins wrapped up the team title at No. 3 doubles as Trey Zurcher and Ryder Landry defeated Harrison Wentworth and Jack Mohler in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, to clinch it.

They put the “cherry” on top at No. 4 doubles, as Tate Hutchins and Drew Kaprielian won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to cap off the 5-2 victory, and the 45th team title.

“I feel like the seniors are teaching the younger guys how to how to protect our title,” Kostadinov, a senior, added. “You know, it’s been ours for so many years, so it’s nice to keep that tradition going.”

“I have five seniors that are graduating and a number of them that I’ve known for a very long time since their junior days” Quinn said. “The new format makes this title feel and look and taste differently. It will be special because it gives us another moment to mark time by and to look back and be thankful for all all of the triumphs and travails that we’ve had with our teams.”