GREELEY — In the second-ever Class 3A girls state tennis tournament, Peak to Peak came away with the championship in their first-ever team appearance.
Before this year, Peak to Peak had only sent individuals to the state tournament. Despite only having a stand-in head coach, every girl from Peak to Peak played like a seasoned veteran.
“We are a very confident team,” said No. 2 singles champ, Trini Somasundaram. “We’ve had a great season and I think that when our coach quit, it really motivated us to come out and be successful.”
At the end of the first day, Peak to Peak was in fourth place, so they knew they would have to work hard to make their way up the leader board. With three singles and four doubles teams, Peak to Peak put up some impressive numbers on the second day.
Towards the end of the day, Holy Family and D’Evelyn had started to make a comeback. But they both fell short when Peak to Peaks No. 3 singles Tiffany Tran came up big with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Holy Family’s An Tran. Tran, who was fighting a nasty cold, supplied a win that would provide Peak to Peak with enough points to seal the first-place team win.
The win was big in team points as it provided Peak to Peak with a steady lead that would last the rest of the tournament.
“I didn’t want to pay attention to our overall team score during my last match,” said Tran. “My team didn’t pressure, and they helped by coming over and cheering me on, they were like my own personal cheerleading squad.
“We’re like a family, even if that sounds really cheesy. Playing tennis, you are playing individually, but it’s different playing with this team and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”
Also coming in clutch were the Somasundaram twins who both won first in their respective divisions and lead their team to the trophy. These No. 1 and No. 2 singles wins provided Peak to Peak with a firm foundation.
Playing side by side in No. 1 and No. 2 singles finals, the twins used their bond and competitiveness to help motivate each other to victory.
“I kept wanting to watch her play and I did whenever I would get a break,” Trini said. “I’m so happy I won first, now I have all the bragging rights.”
Peak to Peak finished the tournament with 55 points. D’Evelyn finished in a close second with 51, and at third was Holy Family with 46 points.
Dawson also won the team sportsmanship award for the second consecutive year.
Peak to Peak’s Trisha Somasundaram dominate in No. 1 singles final.
Trisha looked like a comforatable pro in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Steamboat Spring’s Mae Thorp.
“I have no words,” she said. “I can’t believe that this happened.”
The win was big in team points, even if Trisha didn’t get the bragging rights over her sister.
“Twin power,” Trisha said. “We were talking to each other and telling each other we both got this and that we used that twin power to both be successful.”
“When I saw Trini winning, I was like we both got this,” Trisha said. “I was kinda freaking out when I saw my sister win and all the cheers, so then I was like it’s my turn and I want the cheers now.”
Around a few minutes after the cheers for Trini, all eyes and applause went to Trisha who won her first No. 1 singles championship.
“I couldn’t have done this without the support of my team, my sister and parents, and all the volunteer coaches,” Trisha said.
Somasundaram knew that the match wouldn’t be a easy one though as she knew she was facing Thorp who had been in the final last year.
“I thought since I won against Mia Oliver that I had a good chance of beating Thorp,” Trisha said. “I knew I had to go in there confident and not let my nerves get the best of me.”
With volleys that seemed to last minutes, both girls played with determination and uncanny skill. Somasundaram came in with the right motivation that helped her claim the championship.
In No. 3 singles, D’Evelyn’s Elisa Dean won (6-1, 7-5) her title over Colorado Academy’s Amanda Funk.
Holy Family’s Ciara Donovan and Lexi Licata defeated Natalie Ocrutt and Alexsie Vieyra of University (7-6, 6-2) to claim the No. 1 doubles championship in a hard fought match.
