Both Fred Edwards and Alijah Konikowski needed victories from the players who beat them to have another shot at the CHSAA Class 4A Boys Tennis State Championships on Saturday at Pueblo City Park.

Edwards wasn’t so lucky.

Konikowski got his chance.

Keenan Kaltenbacher of Air Academy lost a “tough 3-setter” to Willie Gold of Kent Denver in the semifinals to eliminate Edwards from playback contention, Durango High School head coach Dave Weisfeldt said.

Noah Forman of Colorado Academy, who beat Konikowski in the first round, continued to win. He won in the quarterfinals, won in the semifinals, and he won in the championship.

Konikowski, however, lost his playback opportunity 6-0, 6-0 on Saturday to Neil Orton of Air Academy.

“He was just overpowered at this level of Front Range competition,” Weisfeldt said of Konikowski, a DHS sophomore playing in his first state tournament.

“He looked a lot looser (Saturday) swinging the racket. He did alright. He’s only a sophomore; this experience is going to pay off in the long run.”

Edwards is only a sophomore, too, and he’s now played in two state tournaments.

Kaltenbacher lost to Gold, then rallied to win the playback bracket; Spencer Lang of Niwot won the singles championship.

“It was out of our hands,” Weisfeldt said. “That was a letdown for Fred.”

heraldsports@durangoherald.com