Colorado state tennis: Windsor singles player takes 2nd, Fossil and Rocky doubles finish 3rd
It was a prolific weekend for local players at the Colorado girls state tennis tournaments, from initial qualifiers to final finishers.
Windsor's Zaylee Rose finished runner-up in Class 4A No. 2 singles, while two local 5A lines won third place and three more placed fourth.
The event began with 54 players and 34 lines from seven Fort Collins-area schools competing across three classifications, with seven lines reaching semifinals.
While the 5A tournament went off without any weather issues, 3A/4A action was delayed on Friday and then moved indoors for championship action Saturday.
After her title match was delayed and switched inside, Rose nearly brought home a title and capped an unbeaten season but fell to Cheyenne Mountain's Sophie Zhou (7-5, 7-5) in two extremely tight sets.
The sophomore finished the season with a 21-1 record.
Fossil Ridge doubles duo Bela Lorey and Libby Sollenberger took third place in 5A No. 3 doubles, defeating Valor Christian's Claire Pfaff/Ella Bohling (6-2, 2-6, 6-3) in the playback finals.
There was local flair in their path, as the SaberCats' first two wins came against city rivals in Rocky Mountain's Hanna Schneider/Justine Anderson and Fort Collins' Ahna Baker/Scarlett Marsek.
The Lobos also had a third-place winner, with No. 4 doubles team Neena Wittemyer and Izzy Poduska beating Ralston Valley's Elaina Roboff/Kate Decker (5-7, 6-4, 6-3) in three tough sets.
Three more Fossil Ridge lines fell in playback finals to finish fourth:
No. 1 doubles: Afton Sidwell/Abby Seager
No. 2 doubles: Avery MacKenzie/Sam Udupa
No. 2 singles: Irene Cobos
It was MacKenzie's fourth straight season placing at state, following runner-up finishes in 2021/2023 and a third-place win in 2022.
Here are the full results from the state tennis tournaments, by school:
Rocky Mountain
The Lobos wrapped up one of their best seasons in program history, winning the city title and making the semifinals of the team tournament before falling to No. 1 Ralston Valley.
Rocky qualified all seven lines for the 5A individual state tournament, winning a regional with six individual titles.
No. 4 doubles: Izzy Poduska/Neena Wittemyer took third place. The duo fought through playbacks, capped by beating Ralston Valley's Elaina Roboff/Kate Decker (5-7, 6-4, 6-3) in a consolation final.
They also beat Rock Canyon's Ally Jenkins/Zoe Katsoulas (6-2, 6-1) in playbacks after falling to Cherry Creek's Julie Karlberg/Beth Munro (6-0, 6-2) in the semifinals. The Lobos beat Denver East's Scarlett Wiedenmayer/Katie Barker (6-2, 4-6, 6-3) in the quarterfinals and defeated Arvada West's Emma Verdugo/Mia Dark (7-5, 6-0) in the first round.
Other results:
No. 2 singles: Emma Praver lost to Fossil Ridge's Irene Cobos (7-5, 7-5) in a hard-fought, all-city playback match, ending her tournament run. She won her first playback match (6-0, 6-1) over Valor Christian's Annika Riley. The freshman lost to Fairview's Jane Roth (6-0, 6-4) in a Thursday afternoon quarterfinal and beat Chaparral's Ridhi Mayekar (6-4, 6-2) in her opening match.
No. 1 doubles: Nora/Lucia Johnson retired due to injury in the quarterfinals against city rivals Afton Sidwell and Abby Seager from Fossil Ridge. The sister duo beat Legend's Ella Leman/Mahi Jasty in a three-setter (5-7, 6-3, 6-1) in the first round.
No. 2 doubles: Izzy Kinder/Mia Benz lost 6-4, 7-6 to Rock Canyon in the quarterfinals. The duo won a city matchup against Fort Collins' Tyla Aragon/Juliana Gage in two sets (7-5, 6-2) to start the tournament.
No. 3 singles: Ainsley Cunningham lost to Cherry Creek's Zoe Hochstadt (6-1, 6-4) in the quarterfinals, dropping her into playbacks. The freshman beat Pine Creek's Ellie Ruge (6-2, 6-3) in the first round.
No. 3 doubles: Justine Anderson/Hanna Schneider lost 6-4, 6-4 to city rivals Libby Sollenberger and Bela Lorey of Fossil Ridge in the quarterfinals. The Lobos duo beat Fruita Monument's Kyra Dunn/Lillie Belnap in two tough first-round sets (6-3, 7-6).
No. 1 singles: Faith Galyardt lost to Legend's Mia Scaife in a hard-fought three-set opening match (6-7, 6-2, 6-2).
Fossil Ridge
The SaberCats qualified all seven lines into the 5A state tournament for the second straight season, continuing the program's consistent excellence.
In coach Jill Hartman's first season, Fossil made the quarterfinals in the team event, earned a league title and won the regional championship with six individual winners.
No. 3 doubles: Libby Sollenberger/Bela Lorey took third place, taking down Valor Christian's Claire Pfaff/Ella Bohling (6-2, 2-6, 6-3) in the consolation finals.
The SaberCats lost their Friday semifinal match to Ralston Valley's Mataya Farling/Sofia Elola but beat Rock Canyon's Cayden Lanziner/Mia Wynne (6-2, 4-6, 6-2) in playbacks. The duo reached the semifinals with a close 6-4, 6-4 victory over city rivals Hanna Schneider and Justine Anderson from Rocky Mountain. They also won an all-city first-round matchup in two sets (6-0, 6-1) against Fort Collins' Scarlett Marske and Ahna Baker.
Placers:
No. 2 doubles: Avery MacKenzie/Sam Udupa finished fourth after falling (6-2, 6-2) to Valor Christian's Sawyer Cruickshank/Anna Schouten in the 3rd place match. The duo lost their quarterfinal (6-1, 6-1) to Cherry Creek's Riley Loehr and Zoey Hao but then defeated Rock Canyon's Megan Knudson and Skylar Smith (6-1, 7-6) in playbacks. They opened the tournament with a win over Legacy's Leah Kirkpatrick/Megan Anthony in straight sets (6-1, 6-4).
No. 1 doubles: Afton Sidwell/Abby Seager finished fourth, falling to Valor Christian's Avery Jaggers/Sienna DeGhetto (6-1, 6-2) in the playback final. After losing a semifinal (7-6, 6-1) to Cherry Creek's Sayeesha Garud/Sabrina Sharma, they beat Rock Canyon's Kate Fehr and Kate Swiecki (7-5, 1-6, 6-2) in a playback. The duo moved past city rivals Nora and Lucia Johnson (Rocky Mountain), who had to retire from the quarterfinal. Sidwell and Seager won their first-round match over Heritage's Mary Chilson/Kora Ziegler (6-1, 6-3).
No. 2 singles: Irene Cobos finished fourth after losing to Ralston Valley's Emerson Bonner (6-2, 6-2) in a playback final. Cobos beat Rocky Mountain's Emma Praver (7-5, 7-5) in a tough all-city playback match after dropping Friday's semifinal match (6-3, 4-6, 6-0) to Fairview's Jane Roth. The freshman defeated Heritage's Abigail Johnson (6-1, 6-4) in the quarterfinals and city rival Taylor Alcaraz (Fort Collins) without dropping a game in a 6-0, 6-0 first-round win.
Other results:
No. 3 singles: Lara Seager lost to Cherry Creek's Zoe Hochstadt (6-1, 6-2) in the playback draw, ending her time at state. Seager beat Castle View's Eleanor McGovern (6-2, 3-6, 6-2) to stay alive in playbacks after falling in her quarterfinal (6-2, 6-0) vs. Fairview's Maya Brankhage and beating city rival Lauren Hughes of Fort Collins (6-0, 6-3) in the first round.
No. 4 doubles: Jess Kozlowski/Kaylee Kaup lost a tight three-setter (5-7, 6-4, 6-4) to Ralston Valley's Elaina Roboff/Kate Decker in the quarterfinals. The duo beat ThunderRidge's Grace Reader/Sophia Gaynor in straight sets (6-1, 6-3) to start the tournament.
No. 1 singles: Sophie Hartman lost to Cherry Creek's Anika Sharma in straight sets (6-2, 6-0).
Fort Collins
The Lambkins enjoyed a solid season, making the team tournament field and putting a half dozen lines into the state tournament.
All six Fort Collins lines lost in the opening round, wrapping up their time at the state tournament:
No. 2 singles: Taylor Alcaraz lost her opening match to city rival Irene Cobos (Fossil Ridge) in straight sets.
No. 3 singles: Lauren Hughes fell to city rival Lara Seager of Fossil Ridge (6-0, 6-3) in straight sets.
No. 1 doubles: Natalie Maher/Michaela Quinn dropped their opening match to Rock Canyon's Kate Fehr/Kate Swiecki in two sets (6-3, 6-1).
No. 2 doubles: Tyla Aragon/Juliana Gage lost to city rivals Mia Benz and Izzy Kinder of Rocky Mountain in straight sets (7-5, 6-2).
No. 3 doubles: Scarlett Marske/Ahna Baker lost a city rivalry match (6-0, 6-1) to Fossil Ridge's Libby Sollenberger and Bela Lorey.
No. 4 doubles: Malena Glaser/Sam Wheeler dropped their first-round match (6-2, 7-6) to Rock Canyon's Ally Jenkins/Zoe Katsoulas.
Windsor
The Wizards also won a regional crown, sending six lines to the 4A state tournament at Pueblo's City Park for a second straight year.
No. 2 singles: Zaylee Rose lost to Cheyenne Mountain's Sophie Zhou (7-5, 7-5) to finish runner-up. She beat Severance's Ava Zink (6-0, 7-5) in the semifinals and took down Mullen's Claire Lenich (6-2, 6-2) in the quarters. The sophomore beat Golden's Nina Wither in straight sets (6-2, 6-1) to open the tournament.
Other state results:
No. 3 doubles: Mia Baatz/Taylor Meinen lost to Discovery Canyon's Lily Gruber and Lauren Sincock (6-0, 6-3) in the quarterfinals. The Wizards won in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) over Erie's Addie Rice/Brooke Jordan to begin the tournament.
No. 4 doubles: Abby Toerger/Sally Dreyer lost to Erie's Addie Osborne/Avery Gilbert (6-2, 6-3) in the quarterfinals. They won their first-round match (6-2, 7-6) vs. Denver South's Emma Odland/Eleanor Ekedahl.
No. 3 singles: Delaney Kintz lost to Ponderosa's Kiera Sheehan in two sets (6-2, 6-2).
No. 1 doubles: Kinza Sagel and Bailey Webb lost to Erie's Francie Mueller/Kendall Wachowiak in a tough two-setter (6-2, 7-6).
No. 2 doubles: Hannah Kraemer/Olivia Webb dropped a tough three-setter (6-1, 5-7, 6-3) to Palmer Ridge's Ulmer Kate/Madison Schoolsky.
Timnath
The Cubs made big strides in their sophomore season with a strong finish at regionals while qualifying five lines for the 3A state tournament at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs.
No. 2 singles: Sarah Daniels lost a two-set quarterfinal (6-1, 6-2) vs. Peak to Peak's Sydney Lewis. She won a straight-set match over Aspen's Greta Holton (6-1, 6-4) in the opening round.
No. 4 doubles: Taylor Brayden/Alicia Schick lost 6-2, 6-1 to Vail Christian's Linnea Iverson and Grace Armstrong in the quarterfinals, moving them into playbacks. They advanced due to a retirement and then fell (6-0, 6-1) to Peak to Peak's Abby Fitzgerald/Jolie Sasserville. The Cubs' duo won a lengthy three-set match (3-6, 6-3, 6-4) over Lutheran's Molly Deas/Chloe Capone in the first round.
No. 1 singles: Anna Davis lost to Peak to Peak's Lena Crotty (6-3, 6-0) in two sets.
No. 3 singles: Addyson Wolfe lost to D'Evelyn's Sofia Cieslewicz in a straight setter (6-0, 6-4). She advanced in playbacks after an opponent retired and then fell (6-1, 6-3) to Vail Christian's Heidi Iverson.
No. 3 doubles: Taryn Vanek/Giovanna Nielsen lost to Holy Family's Kenna Dietz/Raelynn Pickup in two sets (6-0, 6-1).
Poudre
Poudre qualified a pair of doubles' lines for the 5A state tournament.
No. 1 doubles: Ellie Beauprez/Hollis Basta lost to Fairview's Vivian Cao/Joana Pastor in two sets (6-2, 6-2).
No. 2 doubles: Avery Jackson/Channing Gessler had to retire due to injury against both Cherry Creek's Riley Loer/Zoey Hao and Fossil Ridge's Avery MacKenzie/Sam Udupa, ending their state tournament.
Wellington
The Eagles had their first-ever 3A state qualifier in the program's second season.
No. 2 singles: Ava Essay lost in straight sets to Evelyn Oltmans (D'Evelyn), dropping her into the playback bracket. She then fell to Colorado Academy's Avia Lauchli in a playback.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado state tennis: Scores, results for Fort Collins-area players
