4A Girls Tennis: Kent Denver’s Lila Moldenhauer Wins Third-Straight State Title

PUEBLO – The individual prep tennis journey of Lila Moldenhauer received a final dose of state glory on Saturday.

The Kent Denver senior won her third-consecutive Class 4A No. 1 singles state championship at City Park.

Moldenhauer accomplished her latest feat by muscling past Niwot’s Saha Kolli 7-5, 7-5 in the finals.

“(Saha) is an incredible player and she played amazing,” Moldenhauer said. “I think the nerves kind of got to me because I wanted to defend my titles, but I’m really glad I pulled through and played solidly when I needed to, and I kept my energy up.

“This feels great (to be a three-time state champion). High school tennis is one of my favorite parts of the year. I’m going to really miss it and I’m going to be sad to leave. But I’m just happy I got the third one.”

Moldenhauer became the first three-time state girls tennis champ since Pine Creek’s Nicole Leimbach won four straight Class 4A No. 1 singles titles from 2001-2004.

Moldenhauer is going to attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, in the fall and will play tennis for the NCAA Division III school.

“I’m super excited to continue my tennis career,” Moldenhauer said.

Last year, Moldenhauer ousted Erie’s Nanoha Nakamura 6-1, 6-2 in the finals. In 2023, she defeated Mullen’s Lexi Yost 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to claim her first state prep title.

Moldenhauer defeated Air Academy’s Tavia Kiser (6-0, 6-0); Mountain Vista’s Rebecca Napolitano (6-0, 6-3); and Cheyenne Mountain’s Alyssa Sadri (6-3, 1-6, 6-3) at the this year’s state tourney to advance to the finals.

Celebrating state championships is nothing new to the Moldenhauer family.

Lila’s older brother Jack won two individual state tennis titles and four state team titles at Kent Denver. He played college tennis at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.

Meanwhile, her twin brother Will won five prep state titles – four while contributing to Kent Denver’s boys team tennis four-peat (2022-25) and he also captured the No. 2 singles title last fall. Will is going to attend Tufts University where he will play tennis.

Lila owns the girls individual tennis state championships from each of the last three seasons, along with her 2023 team state title.

“We are such a big Colorado tennis family, and we love high school tennis and it’s sad that this was our last one (in Pueblo),” Lila said. “My brother (Jack) was coaching me today like he did last year (in the finals), and my twin brother was here, so this was great.”

Kent Denver plays Air Academy Monday with the winner advancing to take on Cheyenne Mountain Tuesday at the indoor tennis courts at Denver City Park for the 4A team title.

On Saturday, nothing came easy for Moldenhauer against Kolli.

The first set the southpaw took a 4-3 edge only to see Kolli rally to go up 5-4. With her back against the wall, Moldenhauer answered the call winning three-consecutive games to take the set, 7-5.

In set two, it was more of the same story as Moldenhauer saw her 2-1 lead evaporate into a 3-2 deficit.

Then, Moldenhauer once again fell behind 5-4 – but she never lost hope.

“I knew I had it in me to win,” Lila said. “I just had to get through those hard moments. I’m proud of myself for pushing through. She played great and didn’t miss and I had to really end points, and it was a pretty physical match. I just had to make sure I was consistent.”

Other winners Saturday consisted of No. 2 singles Cheyenne Mountain’s Rose Katen def. Kent Denver’s Victoria Strobos (6-4, 6-4); and No. 3 singles Cheyenne Mountain’s Sophie Zhou def. Kent Denver’s Ellie Strobos (6-0, 6-0).

In doubles play, No. 1 doubles Cheyenne Mountain’s Saphron Heroldt/Mary Koury def. Kent Denver’s Annie Goldmanis/Nora Rapp (6-1, 3-6, 6-1); No. 2 doubles Kent Denver’s Claire Bookmyer/ Sofia Begal def. Mullen’s Ali Croci/ Alexa Valdez (6-3, 6-4); No. 3 doubles Kent Denver’s Samantha Brenner/Sofia Pina def. Mullen’s Grace Jeffers/Jordan Alexander (6-3, 6-3); and No. 4 doubles Mullen’s Jane Roth/Addie Aragon def. Kent Denver’s Margaux Lively/Hallie Silverman (6-4, 2-6, 6-4).

Results

No. 1 Singles: Lila Moldenhauer (Sr., Kent Denver) def. Saha Kolli (Jr., Niwot), 7-5, 7-5
No. 2 Singles: Rose Katen (Jr., Cheyenne Mountain) def. Victoria Strobos (Kent Denver), 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 Singles: Sophie Zhou (Jr., Cheyenne Mountain) def. Ellie Strobos (Fr., Kent Denver), 6-0, 6-0
No. 1 Doubles: Saphron Heroldt and Mary Koury (Cheyenne Mountain) def. Annie Goldmanis and Nora Rapp (Kent Denver), 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
No. 2 Doubles: Claire Bookmyer and Sofia Begal (Kent Denver) def. Ali Croci and Alexa Valdez (Mullen), 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 Doubles: Samantha Brenner and Sofia Pina (Kent Denver) def. Grace Jeffers and Jordan Alexander (Mullen), 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 Doubles: Jane Roth and Addie Aragon (Mullen) def. Margaux Lively and Hallie Silverman (Kent Denver), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4