4A girls tennis: Kent Denver’s Moldenhauer wins No. 1 singles to highlight state champions

PUEBLO – Lila Moldenhauer acknowledged she had plenty of butterflies before her Class 4A No. 1 singles championship match Saturday morning.

The nerves showed – at least initially – as the Kent Denver sophomore dropped the first set to Mullen senior Lexi Yost 6-4.

However, Moldenhauer was able to keep her composure and claim the coveted state title by winning the next two sets 6-1, 6-2 at the City Park courts.

“She (Yost) is a really great player and she played incredible (the first set),” said Moldenhauer, 16. “I was really nervous, and that combination mixed with her coming out really strong right out of gate was tough, but I feel like I found my game pretty fast in the second and third sets.”

The championship match between Moldenhauer and Yost was the first meeting ever between the two elite players.

“I was super nervous, and it was hard for me to focus,” Moldenhauer said about her start to the match. “I feel after the first set, I just played my tennis that I know how to play. I was worried (things would unravel) after I lost the first set, but I feel like being positive and knowing that I have the capability to do it kept me going.”

Moldenhauer and Yost each played in the state tournament a year ago but they each lost in the quarterfinals. By Saturday afternoon it was nearly impossible to wipe the smile off Moldenhauer’s face.

“I’m really excited and I’m super happy,” Moldenhauer said.

She was especially thrilled to add her name in the storied Kent Denver tennis record books and to her family’s tradition in the sport.

“This great to do this for Kent Denver,” Moldenhauer said. “My older brother (Jack) played for Kent Denver, and he won state championships and my twin brother (Will), he was in the state finals in No. 2 singles, so we are a big tennis family. It just feels great to get this state championship.”

Jack Moldenhauer won two individual state tennis titles and four state team titles at Kent Denver. He is presently playing at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

This weekend, Lila defeated Lewis Palmer’s Ellie Flinn (6-2, 6-0); George Washington’s Leah Tiktin (6-1, 6-4); Palmer Ridge’s Alexis Ellison (6-2, 6-0) and then Yost in the finals in three sets.

“I was trying to stay away from the thought about (winning state),” said the 5-foot-7 Moldenhauer. “That psyches me out a little bit. I tried to avoid that all together and just remember one match at a time and play my game. If it goes my way, it goes my way. If not, leave it out on the court. I play a lot of tennis all-year round, basically every day. I’m hoping to play college tennis one day.”

Other winners Saturday were Niwot’s Sahasra Kolli, who beat Cheyenne Mountain’s Alyssa Sadri (6-2, 6-1) at No. 2 singles. Cheyenne Mountain’s Saffron Heroldt defeated Kent Denver’s Meredith Waters (6-4, 6-0) at No. 3 singles.

In No. 1 doubles, Kent Denver’s Brooke Roper/Victoria Strobos outlasted Cheyenne Mountain’s Jocelyn Kelly/Rose Katen (7-5, 3-6, 6-2). Cheyenne Mountain’s Brooke Ballenger/Hope Lewis upended Thompson Valley’s Camy Wiersema/Brenna Rutherford (6-4, 6-3) at No. 2 doubles. In No. 3 doubles, Kent Denver’s Margaux Lively/Sofia Bagel edged Mullen’s Maisie McMorrow/Anna Lawrence (7-6, 3-6, 6-3). Mullen’s Emma Lehman/Grace Jeffers beat Cheyenne Mountain’s Daisy Hodsdon/Shea Devanny (4-6, 7-5, 6-3) at No. 4 doubles.