Niwot tennis falls to Colorado Academy as regular season wraps up

On Sept. 27, the Niwot boys tennis team traveled to Denver to take on the Colorado Academy Mustangs (9-1), last year’s runner-up in the 4A state tournament. There, Niwot suffered its first official defeat of the season, falling 7-0 to the Mustangs.

Cougar senior Matthew Chavez lost his first match of the season, 6-4, 6-2, to Colorado Academy sophomore Richter Jordaan. Riley Black, filling in at No. 2 singles for the injured Caden Kammerer, also lost for the first time in 2016, 6-3, 6-1. At No. 3 singles, Manas Saini took one set from junior Jordan Wagner, but ultimately fell 2-6, 6-0, 6-0.

In doubles, the No.1 pair of freshman Cruz Culpepper and senior Peter Graham lost 6-4, 6-1, and No. 2 pair Riley Mulshine and Samuel Bickham fell 6-0, 6-1.

Earlier in the week, the Cougars faced Colorado Academy at the Kent Denver Invitational. Niwot finished fourth overall in the exclusive tournament, but defeated Colorado Academy for third place in No.1 and No. 3 singles.

On Sept. 20, Niwot beat Mountain View 7-0 in its final league meet of the season, extending its winning streak to nine matches. Black made his season debut at No. 1 singles, defeating Mountain View’s Mitchell Knutsen 6-0, 6-0. Graham won at second singles, 6-0, 6-0, while his doubles partner Saini played No. 3 Singles, winning 6-0, 6-0 as well. Each of the doubles pairs also won in straight sets.

The tennis team traveled to Fort Collins on Oct. 3 to face Fossil Ridge in their final regular season match. The Class 4A Region 5 tournament will be held in Longmont at the Quail Tennis Courts on Oct. 5-6

Niwot vs. Colorado Academy (9/27)

Singles — Richter Jordaan (So.) def Matthew Chavez (Sr.), (6-4, 6-2); Quinn Bermingham (Jr.) def Riley Black (So.), (6-3, 6-1); Jordan Wagner (Jr.) def Manas Saini (So.), (2-6, 6-0, 6-0)

Doubles — Garrett Sutter (Sr.) & Nicholas Pulido (Jr.) def Cruz Culpepper (Fr.) & Peter Graham (Sr.), (6-4, 6-1); Zachary Brinker (So.) & Caleb Aguirre (Fr.) def Samuel Bickham (Sr.) & Riley Mulshine (So.), (6-0, 6-1); Cameron Pollock (Sr.) & Emmett Ela (So.) def Patrick Xiao (Jr.) & Andrew Thomas (Sr.), (6-2, 6-1); Ren Lubchenco (Jr.) & Eli Henry (Jr.) def Riley Ferrero (Sr.) & Adin Heinritz (Sr.), (6-1, 6-1)

Niwot vs. Mountain View (9/20)

Singles — Riley Black (So.) def. Mitchell Knutsen (So.), (6-0, 6-0); Peter Graham (Sr.) def Michael Lang (Jr.), (6-0, 6-0); Manas Saini (So.) def. Josh Rosen (Sr.), (6-0, 6-0)

Doubles — Riley Mulshine (So.) & Samuel Bickham (Sr.) def. Liam Whitaker (So.) & Cole Craig (Jr.), (6-0, 6-0); Cruz Culpepper (Fr.) & Adin Heinritz (Sr.) def. Erik Cooper (Fr.) & Cleveland Odd (Fr.) (6-0, 6-0); Andrew Thomas (Sr.) & Gabriel Hyde (Sr.) def. MV No. 3 Doubles (forfeit)