Niwot tennis clinches 2020 Class 4A Region 5 title

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 coach believes that 2020 may just be the perfect time to do so.

"We've got a talented group of kids, and they've been working really well together," Keronen said, assessing his team's chances to finally win a state title, after coming close repeatedly during his tenure. "I think this is going to be the year."

If it is Niwot's year, as Keronen predicts, it will be in no small part due to the efforts of Wilcox, who clinched his third straight regional title with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Longmont's Henry Matheson. Wilcox now moves on to defend his Class 4A state singles title, another feat that doesn't have much precedent in the Cougars' tennis program.

The only stumble on the day from Niwot came at No. 2 singles, where senior Sam Keronen fell to Longmont Trojan senior Danny O'Brien for the second straight year. Keronen posted a convincing win over his rival in the first set, but ultimately fell in three, though he secured a spot at state by finishing as runner-up.

Also victorious for Niwot were sophomore Luke Weber at No. 3 singles, freshman Lichen Liao and senior Ivan Calderon at No. 1 doubles, senior Xavier Moy and junior Alan Wilcox at No. 2 doubles, seniors Reeves Moor and Maia Heather at No. 3 doubles, and junior Raaghav Agarwal and sophomore Ryan Gray at No. 4 doubles.

The Cougars will head to Pueblo for the Class 4A State Championships on Sept. 25-26.