PUEBLO – D’Evelyn sophomore Nithesh Karuppasamy acknowledged he was nervous prior to playing in his first state championship tennis match Saturday morning.
Well, his nerves didn’t show – at all.
Karuppasamy cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Vivaan Bhardwaj of Peak to Peak to capture the 4A Boys Tennis Individual State Championship at Pueblo City Park.
“I felt a little bit nervous because that was the first time I made the finals,” said Karuppasamy, 16. “I lost last year in the semifinals, and you never know what is going to happen in a match. This guy (Bhardwaj) is good. I played him twice already (both wins for Karuppasamy) and I knew it was going to be a good match, so I just went in and tried to be consistent and super focused.
“I had confidence playing against him again but I also knew this was a new match and a new day.”
Karuppasamy, who finished third last year, won his Friday semifinal over George Washington’s Andrew Rettig 6-4, 6-4, while Bhardwaj outlasted Colorado Academy sophomore Bennett Neely 6-2, 0-6, 7-5.
“I’m already looking forward to next year,” Karuppasamy said. “I think high school tennis is like the most fun playing tennis that I have ever had, just being part of a team and I’m super excited for next year.”
A year ago, Karuppasamy was upended in the state semis by Vail Christian senior Daniel Blanch (1-6, 6-4,7-6). Blanch was defeated in the state finals by Kent Denver senior Nathan Gold (6-3, 6-1).
Karuppasamy’s state victory parade this week consisted of victories over Dawson School’s Cole Cohen (6-1, 6-1), Frederick’s Josiah Brittenham (6-1, 6-0), and George Washington’s Rettig and Bhardwaj of Peak to Peak.
“I would love to play in college one day, we will just see,” Karuppasamy said. “It is pretty hard to play in college, but it would be pretty nice if I did. I know I am excited to be a state champion.”
After this week’s performance, Karuppasamy is well on his way to competing at the next level.
In other state championship matches Saturday, in No. 2 singles, Colorado Academy senior Oliver Neely outlasted Peak to Peak junior Shreyas Sundaresan (7-5, 7-5).
In No. 3 singles, Kent Denver’s Vyann Chopra edged Colorado Academy’s Craig Stapleton 6-4, 7-6.
At No. 1 doubles, Colorado Academy’s Hendrik Jordaan/Peter Owen muscled past D’Evelyn’s Dylan Reeb/Simon Czarnecki, 6-0, 6-2.
In No. 2 doubles, the state championship went to Kent Denver team of Jake Silverman/Noah Landrey due to the retirement of the Colorado Academy team of Jay Bhandari/Luka Jovanovic.
At No. 3 doubles, Colorado Academy’s CJ Marshall/Thomas Rollhaus defeated the Grand Junction team of Jude Knaysi/Oliver Keller, 6-3, 6-3.
In No. 4 doubles, Kent Denver’s Suleman Ismail/Danny Friedman Valenzuela were victorious over Mullen’s Alexander Pruisner/Steven Welte, 7-6, 6-3.
The Class 4A state tennis dual team championship is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, when Kent Denver battles Colorado Academy at the Denver Tennis Park.
Those two teams met in the finals a year ago with Kent Denver winning 4-2.
