5A Boys Tennis: Championship Finals, Third-Place Matches Set for Saturday
DENVER – Following two days of play, the finals and third place match ups have been set for the 5A Boys Tennis Individual State Championships at Denver Tennis Park. Third-place matches will take the court beginning at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, followed by the finals matches at 10 a.m.
Tomorrow’s finals will be a preview of Tuesday’s Dual Team State Championship, as Regis Jesuit and Cherry Creek – the final two teams left in the dual team tournament – will face in five of the seven lines, including No. 2 and No. 3 singles, and No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 doubles.
In No. 1 singles, Regis Jesuit sophomore Alec Rodriguez-Fields will take on Pine Creek freshman Braylon Desquitado for the state title. While this marks the second finals appearance for Rodriguez-Fields, who finished runner-up at No. 2 singles a year ago, this would mark the first state title for either player.
Rodriguez-Fields avenged his loss to Valor Christian’s Jace Nakamura – who won the No. 2 singles titles last year, in the semifinals, while Desquitado advanced to the finals by defeating Denver East’s Trevor Hajek in the semifinals.
In No. 2 singles, Regis Jesuit freshman Blake Wright will face Cherry Creek junior Jack Loehr in a preview of Tuesday’s Dual Team State Championship match between the two schools. Loehr advanced to the quarterfinals of last year’s individual state championship, making this the first state title match appearance for both individuals.
In No. 3 singles, Regis Jesuit freshman Sebastian Wright taking on Cherry Creek sophomore Aidan Washer in the first title match appearance for both players.
In No. 1 doubles, Valor Christian’s senior Ryan Mandes and senior Ryan Greenfield will face Cherry Creek senior Trevor Robinson and senior Luke Norfold, while Regis Jesuit senior KC Eckenhausen and junior Adam Rydel will take on Cherry Creek senior Wills and junior Tyson Hardy in No. 2 doubles.
In No. 3 doubles, Cherry Creek sophomore Sam Migliaccio and sophomore Devan Shah will face Regis Jesuit senior Carl Siegel and sophomore Edward Samuelson, and in No. 4 doubles, Cherry Creek senior Mitch Kelly and senior Turman Wooden will play Regis Jesuit senior Aiden Prananta and senior Spencer Buege.
In the third-place matches, at No. 1 singles, Valor Christian junior Jace Nakamura will face Denver East senior Trevor Hajek, while Pine Creek junior Gurman Goraya will take on Grandview freshman Kaahan Wani at No. 2 singles and No. 3 singles will pit Arapahoe senior Carson David vs. Grandview freshman Krish Wani.
In No. 1 doubles, Fairview senior Ian Schwartz and senior Sam Rich will take on Regis Jesuit junior William (Clay) Dickey and sophomore Vlad Sukhovetskyy, while, in No. 2 doubles, ThunderRidge junior Evan Heitman and sophomore Michael Hilliard will face Valor Christian senior Jack Mohler and senior Asa Thurstone. At No. 3 doubles, Fossil Ridge junior Vedant Manakeshwar and junior Braxton Phillips will play Valor Christian senior James VanWInkle and freshman Jack Simon, and at No. 4 doubles, Mountain Vista sophomore Parker Johnson and freshman Matthew Flitton will take on Valor Christian junior Charlie VanAuken and senior Cole Scherer.
A live stream will be available for all matches at Denver Tennis Park.
