Cheyenne Mountain girls’ tennis set to defend team title against Kent Denver after semifinals win
And then there were two.
They’re the same girls’ tennis squads that have captured each team championship since 2022 and a rematch of the 2025 finale.
Top-seeded Cheyenne Mountain swept No. 4 Air Academy on Monday in the 4A semifinals to advance to next week’s team state championship round at Denver Tennis Park at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The first team to reach four wins in the finals will win the championship.
Inclement weather forecast for Tuesday forced the Red-Tailed Hawks’ match with the Kadets – as well as Kent Denver’s semifinals match – to move to Monday. But both teams will compete at Denver Tennis Park’s indoor facility next week where the Red-Tailed Hawks hope the Sun Devils don’t serve a plate of revenge.
Cheyenne Mountain, the No. 2 seed in 2025, upset top-seeded Kent Denver last season at the state team tournament 4-2 to capture its 26th title in team history. Red-Tailed Hawks players understand that last season’s success doesn’t equate to this year. They’ll have to earn the victory once more against the Sun Devils.
“It’s a lot more pressure knowing that we won state last year and that we’re the first seed this year,” No. 1 singles player Rose Katen said April 22 after Cheyenne Mountain’s first-round win. “Based on the rankings, we’re technically supposed to win. But the other teams in the draw are also good teams.”
The individual state tournament, which is separate from the team competition, will take place Thursday-Saturday in various locations. For 4A, the tournament will occur at Pueblo City Park. Many of the Sun Devils and Red-Tailed Hawks competitors have a chance to meet in the finals or earlier.
Coach Dave Adams said the various matchups between these teams has created a friendly rivalry. And, with the Sun Devils gunning for their second title and revenge for last year’s upset, he added that “it will be difficult to repeat.”
But the Red-Tailed Hawks remain hungry.
“We want to win it,” Adams said April 22. “We’re competitive people and we want to win this. When you look at that trophy case and see your name on that trophy, that’s forever. When they come back when they’re 40 years old, they can say they were a part of that.”