Tennis team bounces back

After consecutive match losses to close out the month of March left the squad in a 1-2 hole, the Niwot girls tennis team came out swinging after spring break. The Cougars posted three consecutive dominant victories in the first week of April, winning 6-1 over Thompson Valley, 6-1 over Broomfield and posting a 7-0 shutout against Silver Creek to give Niwot a 4-2 overall recordd on the season.

Niwot’s two losses in March, both on the road, came at the hands of the cream of this year’s 4A crop, a 5-2 defeat against 8-time state champion Cheyenne Mountain, and a 4-3 loss to Valor Christian, which recently defeated last year’s state runner-up, Kent Denver, by a score of 6-1.

Coach Aimee Keronen said the players felt good about their performance coming out of both losses, noting especially that the Valor Christian match featured two three-setters, and “could’ve easily gone the other way.”

The Cougars have overcome a bit of early-season adversity as well, with the loss of number one doubles partner Sophie Williams to a shoulder injury. Fortunately Jewel Ng, who played at number two doubles last season, was able to move into Williams’ spot, allowing the other three doubles teams to remain intact. Conflicts for Ng regarding her possible International Baccalaureate testing schedule had caused her to step aside at the outset of the season, but after having since resolved those conflicts, she was available to step up when Williams went down.

“Our doubles teams are really starting to gel, and our singles girls have been ready from day one,” said Keronen. “We’re young, we’ve got a lot of freshman, and playing high school tennis is a big adjustment for them. It’s a different kind of pressure, representing your school now and not just yourself.” This week the Cougars will play four matches in five days: on the road at Centaurus, Mountain View and Longmont, and at home against Pueblo West.