Five tennis players will represent Durango High School at next week’s state championship tournament in Pueblo.
DHS senior Will Lammons qualified at the No. 2 singles position for the DHS boys tennis team, while the Demons also qualified a pair of doubles teams with freshman Calan Barnhardt and sophomore Aeden Hall in at No. 3 doubles along with sophomore Andy Rodriguez an freshman Carter Ward at No. 4 doubles.
At the Class 4A Region 8 tournament played Wednesday at Canyon View Park in Grand Junction, the Demons finished second as a team. Aspen was first, while Steamboat Springs place third, Vail Mountain fourth and Basalt fifth.
DHS head coach Alan Batiste is excited to take five boys to the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A state tournament next week at Pueblo City Park.
“We’re bringing young guys at doubles,” Batiste said. “It will be good experience for all of them. It will give them open eyes. It will be great to be there and experience that level of play.”
Lammons had to get into state through the playback system. He won his third-place match and then earned the right to face a Vail Mountain player. He won 6-2, 6-3 to earn a spot in the No. 2 singles bracket.
“Will, he’s never been there,” Batiste said. “He’s played in some tournaments as he grew up as a kid, but this will be a great experience for him to get in there and witness the level of play at state.”
Barnhardt and Hall had a chance to play for the regional championship after winning a semifinal match. Despite losing in the title match, the pair qualified for state with a second-place finish in the region.
Rodriguez and Ward hung tough in a playback match against Vail Mountain. After a 6-2 loss in the first set, the duo rallied for a 6-2 win and then a 7-5 victory in the decisive third set.
State tournament play will begin Thursday in Pueblo.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
