Coach Aimee Hites was happy with the way her Niwot boys tennis squad finished out the regular season, and even happier with the Cougars' No. 7 seed for the state playoffs.
"I really like our seed," Hites said. "I'm happy to be on the other side of Kent Denver," which is the No. 1 seed in Class 4A.
In the final week of the regular season, the Cougars lost to Kent Denver, 5-2, with Niwot wins coming from LiChen Liao at No. 1 singles and Charlie Kirtland at No. 3 singles. Niwot followed with dominating victories over Mullen, 6-1, and Riverdale Ridge, 7-0.
Under CHSAA's new format, in effect for the past few years, teams qualify for state based on a seeding process rather than regionals, and individuals play later for individual titles.
Niwot's squad will host No. 10 seed George Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m on the Cougars' home courts. The winner will advance to play the winner of No. 2 seed Colorado Academy and No. 15 seed Golden on Friday, Sept. 29.
The Cougar lineup will feature Liao at No. 1 singles, Oskar Hansen at No. 2 singles, and Kirtland at No. 3 singles. Doubles players are Sebastian Moy and Kyle Davidson at the No. 1 slot, Rex Wallington and Ollie Jones at the No. 2 doubles position, Lauritz Stranzenbach and Manan Gangwar at No. 3 doubles, and Gabe Bandera and Tyler Chivakula at No. 4 doubles.
"Tyler didn't play the first two matches of the season," Hites said of Chivakula. "He makes our four doubles very strong."
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