The Montezuma-Cortez boys tennis season began with a conversation with the Colorado High School Activities Association.
“I talked to CHSAA, and Paul Angelico, the commissioner of CHSAA, has given us permission to allow the kids to play,” said M-CHS athletic director Stacey Hall.
With only six players out for the team, the tennis team needed permission from CHSAA to allow players to play singles and doubles.
Although they have been granted permission to play in both, they can only score in their first event, and must forfeit the second.
For instance, sophomore Rory Walker and senior Cody Canzona played No. 1 and 2 singles versus Vail at Paonia on Saturday, Aug. 29, with Walker falling in two sets (0-6, 1-6), and Canzona also losing in two (0-6, 3-6).
Then, they were allowed to play as a team in the doubles matchup, but they could only play in order to fill out the slots. Even though they won the match, it was recorded as a forfeit. It was part of the agreement with CHSAA to allow the Panthers to fill out matches.
“The purpose that I asked for that is to hopefully try and build the program,” Hall said. “I don’t want to lose that program.”
Head coach Trena Veach and volunteer assistant Steve Cathey are working with the players to keep improving, in hopes of growing the program. After losses in Paonia, Veach said the team just needed more court time.
“We’re working on serves,” said Veach. “I think serves killed them a few times, getting double faults.”
Walker and Canzona dropped their matches as No. 1 and 2 singles versus Vail, and senior Grant Gasaway lost 1-6, 1-6 to Vail as well. Juniors Rowdy Veach and Billy Broughton represented the Panthers in the doubles match against Vail, losing in two sets (2-6, 4-6).
Next, against Paonia, the Panthers dropped singles matches, with Walker, Canzona and Gasaway each losing in two sets. The doubles team of Veach and Broughton stretched out the match, but eventually fell in extra sets.
“The scores look bad,” said coach Veach. “But they had long rallies, they just came up losing.”
The Panthers next hosts Fruita on Friday, Sept. 11.