At Denver City Park over two days, Oct 6 and 7, the boys’ tennis team competed against six other teams for the right to qualify for the state tournament. Denver East won the whole tournament by a decisive margin; the Angels won every level of play and is sending their whole squad to the state championships.

For the Cougars, James Boehlke,11, playing at #3 singles, is the lone qualifier. He took second place, the last qualifying spot. Even this was in doubt as Boehlke suffered from a sore back during the final match.

Team manager, Sydney Walker, 12, said that “James had some tough competition from the Lakewood player who had some really good serves,” and that “the match was for second place and to see who would qualify for state.”

In the end, Boehlke prevailed 2-1 despite falling behind with a loss in the first set. First year coach Tyler Philipsen was impressed with Boehlke’s play, “James showed a lot of toughness in fighting his way back from losing the final and then the first set of his playback challenge.”

Boehlke becomes just the second Cougar to qualify for state competition since moving up to 5A. Both he and Walker, who played last spring during the girls’ season, managed to fight through at #3 singles.

The other Cougars struggled fighting for the, seemingly, only state qualifying spot. With Denver East playing so well at all positions, only second place seemed available to the other six teams. Coach Philipsen was glad for the opportunity to face a potential state champion team. “We got to see one of the best teams in the state in Denver East. It was good for all of the boys to see the level of fitness, focus, and skill that it takes to be a complete, competitive team.”

Here’s how the rest of the Cougars fared at Regionals:
At #1 singles, Ashton Rogers, 10, finished 4th. At #2 singles, Spencer Furgerson, 11, finished 5th.
On the doubles side, #1 Luke Kellman, 12, and Mark Landolfi, 11, finished 4th; #2 Brayden Meister, 12, and Jason Mackay, 11, finished 5th; #3 Tucker Travins, 9, and Benny Pitts, 10, came in 4th; and #4 Zac Walls, 12, and Nick Pharris, 9, in 5th.

James Boehlke will head to the Gates Tennis Center in Denver on Thursday Oct 15 for the first day of competition.