Niwot girls tennis heads to Pueblo

On Thursday, May 4, in the Class 4A Region 5 tournament held at Niwot High School, several Niwot players qualified for the individual 4A state tournament, which is set to begin in Pueblo on Thursday, May 11.

“All of the Niwot girls played exceptionally well,” said Niwot Coach Aimee Hites. “They’ve worked so hard and they’re more than ready to play in the state finals next Thursday.”

At No. 2 singles, Niwot freshman Sahasra Kolli battled against Silver Creek senior Liana Kelly, who was undefeated during the regular season. Kolli won the first set, 6-0, and was ahead 3-0 in the second set when Kelly launched a comeback to win 7-5, setting up a showdown in the third set. Kolli gained the regional championship with a hard fought 6-4 win.

At No. 3 singles Tracy Yu of Niwot took the regional title with a win over Silver Creek’s Mimi Emerson.

Niwot’s Samantha Zacky and Anne Haley took the No. 1 doubles title with a win over Paula Merino and Addy Sheiven of Silver Creek.

At No. 2 doubles, Niwot’s Cassie Chen and Maggie Valentine took second in regionals with a loss to Erie’s Stella Landis and Kendall Wachowiak in the finals. The Cougars’ No. 3 doubles duo of Harper Behmer and Masha Oshmyan lost to Erie’s Ashley Stowell and Addie Rice in the finals.

Sarada Gundavarapu and Caitlyn Carmichael, at No. 4 doubles, gave Niwot its final regional championship with a win over Erie’s Avery Gilbert and Addie Osborne.

The top two finishers at each position qualified for state. Niwot’s qualifiers include Sahasra Kolli (No. 2 singles), Tracy Yu (No. 3 singles), Samantha Zacky and Anne Haley (No. 1 doubles), Cassie Chen and Maggie Valentine (No. 2 doubles), Harper Behmer and Masha Oshmyan (No. 3 doubles), and Sarada Gundavarapu and Caitlyn Carmichael (No. 4 doubles).

“These girls will be training their hardest in the next week,” said Coach Hites. “They’ve made it this far, so let’s keep the energy going.”