The Durango High School boys tennis team will host Grand Junction this weekend in the team’s only home matches this season.
The Demons and the Tigers will square off at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday at DHS.
The Demons have a new coach leading them this season, Chad Patacky. Dan Zalbowitz coached the boys for one year last fall, but resigned to spend more time with his family.
Patacky and Zalbowitz are both part of Durango’s math department.
Patacky played for Chatfield High School in Littleton. He won a Class 5A state title at No. 3 doubles when he was a sophomore and then finished third at No. 2 doubles his junior and senior seasons. Patacky also helped assist the Durango girls tennis team in the spring and is now taking the reigns as a high school head coach for the first time.
“I like it so far,” he said.
The team had four players graduate from last year’s team and now has two seniors on its roster.
“We have a strong group of sophomores and juniors, but very few seniors so we have a lot of new players,” Patacky said. He said the team has been focused on improving their fundamentals and their doubles strategy so far.
The team had a brief preseason before officially starting, and has been busy competing since.
Last weekend Durango competed in the Lowry Bishop tournament, hosted by Fruita Monument in Grand Junction.
“We saw a lot of variety of teams and players,” Patacky said. “It was really tough competition, but the guys realized if they play well, they can compete.”
The Demons ended up losing to Smoky Hill, Legend, Steamboat Springs and Golden, but won at least two matches in every dual except its contest with Golden.
“Our doubles teams were strong,” Patacky said. “One, two and three (doubles) all won two of four matches.”
Nate Claassen, who returned as Durango’s No. 1 singles player, also scored a victory.
“He’s playing competitive against some really good kids,” Patacky said. Finn Skowlund is another player the coach said has looked good so far.
When the team hosts Grand Junction this weekend, the coach hopes his players will continue to battle until the final point, noting how quick the momentum can change in a match.
“The guys have been playing hard, fighting hard and they have been great sports out there,” Patacky said. “That’s what I want to continue to see.”
