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Niwot boys tennis earns elusive first state title
The Niwot Cougars claimed their first-ever CHSAA Class 4A boys tennis team state title Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 in Pueblo, Colo. (Photo: Dan Mohrmann/CHSAA.org)

Niwot boys tennis earns elusive first state title

NIWOT, Colo. (BVM) — Neil Wilcox didn’t know quite how much was at stake as he battled Nico Jamison last Saturday in the No. 1 singles championship match of the CHSAA Class 4A boys tennis state tournament.

The Niwot High School senior knew that a win over the Greeley West sophomore would earn him a second consecutive individual state title. What he didn’t know was that a win would also make the Cougars state champions as a team for the first time ever.

“I had no idea that we were even in the running for first place,” Wilcox said. “I thought that for sure we were going to get second. I didn’t think there was any chance.”

But when Wilcox finished off Jamison in three sets (6-7, 6-1, 6-2), he quickly found out that he had made history for his program.

“It was incredible,” Wilcox said. “When I come off the court, everyone tells me and everyone went nuts. It was pretty great. It was a lot different than just winning my own championship.”

With 38 points, Niwot narrowly took first place over Cheyenne Mountain and Mullen, both of which finished with 36 points and tied for second. While it was the first time the Cougars were able to claim the team title, they have been close before. They finished as the runner-up to Colorado Academy in 2018 and have been among the top four several other times during the long coaching tenure of Miikka Keronen. The Niwot girls team has won two state titles (2008 and 2018).

“It’s been so close so many times and this time it kind of went our way,” Keronen said. “We’ve had some great teams, but it also takes a little bit of luck because there are so many good teams out there. It was great for the kids and the coaches and everybody.”

Sophomore Luke Weber also played a significant role in helping Niwot overtake Cheyenne Mountain and Mullen. He beat Aspen freshman Chase Kelly in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) to take first place in No. 3 singles. The team of Xavier Moy and Alan Wilcox also helped the cause with a runner-up finish in No. 1 doubles.

Neil claimed his second singles title similarly to the way he did his first, dropping the first set of the championship match before rallying to dominate the second and third. But this second individual title will mean a little more because of what it meant for his team. Neil isn’t sure whether the knowledge of what was at stake for the Cougars would’ve affected him in the title match.

“It’s possible that I would’ve gotten a little bit more nervous,” Neil said, “but it was also very good motivation too so it could’ve gone either way.”

As it was, Neil won while not knowing what it meant until it was over and he had finally secured what’s been an elusive state championship trophy for Niwot.“It’s been our goal every year,” Keronen said. “Winning it with the last match left, that was extra special.”