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Articles from the 'Niwot Boys Tennis' series


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  • Singles power Niwot to 3rd place finish at state

    Jocelyn Rowley|Oct 20, 2021

    Behind a title-winning performance from LiChen Liao at No. 2 singles, the Niwot boys tennis team finished third overall at the 2021 Class 4A state tennis championships, held at Pueblo's City Park on Oct. 14-16. Liao efficiently dispatched his three early round opponents in straight sets, before facing Owen Duffy of George Washington in the Saturday morning final. There, the sophomore said, he let Duffy do most of the work. "The way my opponent played today fit my game more, because he was...

  • Niwot boys clinch 11th straight regional tennis title

    Jocelyn Rowley|Oct 13, 2021

    The Niwot boys tennis team punched its ticket to the Class 4A state championships with a rousing team win at the 2021 Region 5 tournament, held at the home courts on Oct. 6-7. Led by junior Luke Weber at No. 1 singles, five of the Cougars' seven lines claimed individual titles, which was good for 87 points and first place in the team standings, as well as five top seeds at the upcoming state tournament at Pueblo's City Park, Oct. 14-16. Afterwards, Weber said that he is excited to battle for a...

  • Niwot hangs on to clinch first boys tennis state championship

    Jocelyn Rowley|Sep 30, 2020

    Longtime Niwot coach Miikka Keronen was nervously watching the finals round at the 2020 Class 4A tennis championships when he got the news that he'd been waiting 18 years to hear-the Cougars were just one win away from clinching their first state team title and their best player in nearly a decade was still on the court. "Whenever it comes down to the last match, you never know what's going to happen," Keronen said of his state-of-mind while watching the finals, adding that he was only a...

  • Niwot tennis clinches 2020 Class 4A Region 5 title

    Jocelyn Rowley|Sep 23, 2020

    We may be living through unprecedented times, but there was nothing new about Niwot's dominating performance at the 2020 Class 4A Region 5 championships on Sept. 18. Led by senior Neil Wilcox at No. 1 singles, the Cougars cruised to wins in six of seven finals matches to clinch their 10th straight regional title and one of the 16 team berths at the upcoming state tournament. Of course, there's a precedent in Pueblo that Miikka Keronen and his players are looking to upend, and the 18th-year head...

  • Niwot tennis speeds towards postseason

    Jocelyn Rowley|Aug 26, 2020

    The Niwot boys tennis team opened the abbreviated 2020 season at a breakneck pace, winning four times in a week while going 27-1 in match play. But so far, the road to undefeated has been pretty smooth for the Cougars and 18th-year head coach Miikka Keronen is eager to find some more challenging terrain. "We need to be tested," he said after Niwot's 7-0 win over Riverdale Ridge on Aug. 20. "Of course I'm happy, who wouldn't be happy at 4-0. But at the same time, we're pretty loaded this year,...

  • Photos: Niwot downs Thompson Valley to kick-off compressed season

    Jocelyn Rowley|Aug 19, 2020

    On Aug. 13, the Niwot boys tennis team traveled to Thompson Valley for the opening match of the abbreviated 2020 season. Despite temperatures in the high-90s and new social distancing regulations, a robust crowd was on hand to see the two teams battle it out under the new pandemic rules, which mandate face coverings and limit player contact. However, only Cougars fans left with something to celebrate, as Niwot cruised to a 7-0 win. Click hereto see more photos from the match....

  • Niwot cruises to 2019 regional title

    Jocelyn Rowley|Oct 16, 2019

    Due to the early bout of winter on Oct. 10, the Class 4A Region 5 boys tennis tournament may not have started as expected, but it did end that way-with Niwot claiming another regional title on Oct. 11. With wins in six of the seven championship matches, the Cougars will advance as a No. 1 seed to the Class 4A state tournament, which opens at Pueblo's City Park on Oct. 17. Afterwards, head coach Miikka Keronen said he feels the Cougars are "in a good place," both mentally and physically, and he...