GREELEY — It’s one accomplishment to be a four-sport athlete in high school.
It’s another to be a state qualifier in three of those — but to do it as a freshman?
Kate Griffin plays tennis, golf, basketball and runs cross country at Colorado Springs School. She’s a state qualifier in tennis, golf and cross country a freshman.
“The fact that I play so many sports is cool, and I think it’s cool that I can make it as a freshman,” Griffin said. “I don’t want to brag, but I think it’s a cool experience to be able to say that I went to state as a freshman playing 18-year-olds.
“I put a lot of time and effort into this, so it’s really gratifying and nice to have it pay off even if I don’t do as well as I want to. It’s an honor and a privilege to be here.”
The ability to balance school, four sports and simply everyday life speaks for itself in terms of Griffin’s personality and work ethic. She cherishes every opportunity and just loves to do it.
“I enjoy practicing. It’s something that I love to do,” Griffin said. “There’s really not a lot of time for other things that teenagers do. I enjoy doing it.”
And, it’s always nice to see the payoff from practicing day-in and day-out.
“I like winning. I’m going to be honest with you,” Griffin said. “I like the feeling of winning. I always play for that, I play because I like it, I play because I like competition.”
Griffin wouldn’t admit to a favorite sport — she just wants to be in the moment.
“I can’t pick a favorite sport,” Griffin said. “The sport that I’m currently playing would probably be the best answer for that. I enjoy every one of them, that’s why I play so many.”
Now imagine there’s two Griffins.
Kate’s twin sister, Anna, qualified at No. 1 doubles for Coronado high school in Class 5A.
“My sister would be mad if I didn’t tell you this,” Griffin joked.
But, it’s yet another reason for Griffin to push herself even further.
“We’re so competitive with each other,” Griffin said. “We support each other so much in sports and in everything we do, but we always push each other for to go the extra mile, just for bragging rights.”
As for who has bragging rights currently, Griffin said she has the advantage over Anna.
“For tennis, I think it might be me, but we’ll see,” Griffin said.
Griffin lost her first-round match to Peak to Peak’s Trisha Somasundaram (6-1, 6-3). Somasundaram plays Colorado Academy’s Sammy Moore-Thomson in the semifinals.
“I gave it my best, she’s just super consistent,” Griffin said. “She places the ball extremely well and she hits it hard. I couldn’t do anything about it, but she’s a great player and she figured it out.”
Griffin has a shot with play-backs to get back in the tournament, but for now, it’s on to the next sport.
“That feeling that you accomplished something is a really nice feeling,” Griffin said. “I’m proud that I can say that I went to states as a freshman. Just the feeling that you did this — you can cherish it forever.”
Three teams tied for lead after day one
After day one of the first-ever Class 3A state tennis tournament, there is a three-way tie at the top.
Colorado Academy, D’Evelyn and Dawson are all tied for first with 16 points. Holy Family follows with 14.
Freshmen made a splash in the No. 1 singles spot as Steamboat Springs’ Mae Thorp upset Conifer’s Hailey Janson and Holy Family’s Julia Giltner. She’ll face Eaton’s Myiah Scott.
Sammy Moore-Thomson, of Colorado Academy, made her way to the semifinals with ease, losing just two games overall.
The two freshmen could meet in the No. 1 singles final, should they win Friday.
Angi Reed/Taylor Whatley were dominant for D’Evelyn into the No. 1 doubles semifinals. They’ll play Ellie Beeck/Alexa Rinard (Dawson).
Matched up on the other side of the bracket are Eaton’s Courtney Leafgren/Shelby Naill and Colorado Academy’s Amelia Lochhead/Hope Cherubini.
Colorado Academy stayed in the mix in No. 2 singles with Savannah Mease moving on. Mease plays University’s Camille Krammer.
Steamboat Springs’ Maddie Thompson is matched up against Dawson’s Bridget Bell.
D’Evelyn again broke into the semifinals with No. 2 doubles. Cammy Lee and Elisa Dean will face Aspen’s Karina Keller and Grace Ferguson.
Maren Steiner/Caroline Smolky and Allie Blank/Isabelle Shehan, Dawson, will square off for Holy Family and Dawson.
In No. 3 singles, it’s Dawson’s Maggie Berry vs. Holy Family’s Lindsey Bovine and Colorado Springs Christian’s Nicole Pei vs. Rachel Molnar of D’Evelyn, who beat Colorado Academy’s Amanda Funk.
The No. 3 doubles semifinal field is set as Dawson’s Aria Barbour/Quin Ramos play D’Evelyn’s Maggie Hime/Olivia Sanders, while Colorado Academy’s Ann-Claire Lin/Lila Arnold face Leah Schwartz/Camilla Ruiz of Holy Family on the other side.
Charity Perks/Keri Jennings (D’Evelyn) cruised to the semifinals of No. 4 doubles. They’ll get Holy Family’s Lexi Licata/Kate Diamond.
On the other side, Sydney Booth/Mikaelee Salberg of Eaton play Alexandra Ford/Story Wolf-Tinsman of Colorado Academy.
