Niwot boys tennis shows mixed results at CHSAA State Championships

In a day of intense competition at the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Class 4A boys tennis individual state championships on Oct. 17, Niwot High School's varsity tennis program demonstrated both promise and perseverance across multiple divisions.

Senior Sebastian Moy, Niwot's No. 1 singles player, opened strong with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Lewis-Palmer High School's Thatcher Crisler in the first round. However, Moy's tournament run was cut short in the quarterfinals, when he fell to D'Evelyn High School's Nithesh Karuppasamy in a decisive 6-0, 6-1 match.

In No. 2 singles action, Niwot junior Charlie Kirtland dominated his opening round, dispatching Andrew DeYoung of Pueblo Central High School 6-1, 6-0. Kirtland's momentum was halted in the quarterfinals, where he fought hard but ultimately succumbed to the eventual state champion, Kent Denver's Will Moldenhauer, in a competitive 7-6, 6-3 battle.

The doubles competitions saw varied results for Niwot. The No. 2 doubles pairing of seniors Gabe Bandera and Andrew Fong faced a tough first-round opponent, falling to Evergreen High School's Alex Speyer and Marlow Hampton 6-2, 6-1.

The highlight of Niwot's tournament came from the No. 4 doubles team of seniors Tyler Chivakula and Oliver Jones. The duo showed impressive form, first defeating Grand Junction High School's Finn Struwe and Jack Yu 6-1, 6-4, then advancing past Cheyenne Mountain High School's Jonathan Shark and Daniel Park in the quarterfinals. Their remarkable run came to an end in the semifinals, where they fell to Colorado Academy's Peter Owen and Hendrik Jordaan 6-3, 6-1, who eventually won the state title.

Kent Denver made a strong showing at the CHSSA 4A Boys Tennis State Championships, claiming four of the seven titles. Colorado Academy secured the remaining three championships in what proved to be a compelling tournament filled with competitive matches.