DENVER – Only one player stood in between Cherry Creek advancing all seven of their positions into the finals.
 
That player was Fairview sophomore Quinn Bernthal, who won her No. 1 singles match over Cherry Creek senior Jacqueline Pearsall in a three-set come-from-behind thriller, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. The match was the only of the six singles semifinals matches to go to all three sets.
 
“Jackie is a really good player, and I was a little nervous since it’s the state tournament,” Bernthal explained. “It took me a little while to find my forehand, but I think I got it back in the second and third sets and was able to play a little more free.”
 
Bernthal has advanced to tomorrow’s No. 1 singles championship match against defending No. 1 singles champion, Boulder senior Lily Chitambar, who has not dropped a set yet this tournament.
 
Bernthal is appearing in her second state championships, having finished runner-up at last season’s event in No. 3 singles. Now, she has a chance at claiming the top spot in the 5A tennis world.
 
“That match was super fun, my team was super happy, and it was a special moment for sure,” Bernthal added.
 
In the ever-important team race, 37-time champions Cherry Creek remains slightly ahead of Fairview, with the Bruins earning 73 team points to the Knights’ 66.
 
Coming in behind Cherry Creek and Fairview in the team standings are Ralston Valley with 33, Mountain Vista with 26, and Fossil Ridge with 18.
 
The team race will come down to the final day, as Creek has six slots in the finals and one in a third-place match, while Fairview has five in the finals and one in a third-place match. The two teams will match-up in the two other singles finals, as well as the first two doubles finals.
 
Matching up in the other two singles finals are Cherry Creek senior Lorena Cedeno and Fairview freshman Stella Laird at No. 2 singles, and Fairview junior Elle Middleton and Cherry Creek sophomore Jisele Boker at No. 3 singles.
 
In the doubles matchups, Cherry Creek and Fairview will face-off at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, while the Bruins will take on Ralston Valley in No. 3 doubles and Mountain Vista in No. 4 doubles.
 
The championship finals and third place matches are set to begin at 9 a.m. at the Gates Tennis Center.