Monteuma-Cortez High School has cut its boys tennis program, athletic director Chris Kelley confirmed this week.
However, its players will have the opportunity to join the Durango High School team for the fall season.
The Panthers had just six players out for the team for the second consecutive year, and with three singles spots and four doubles spots per contest, they were unable to field a full lineup.
Head coach Trena Veach and M-CHS administrators requested that the Colorado High School Activities Association allow the team to slot players based on their ability level, but the request was declined.
They had hoped to play one player in the No. 1 singles match, forfeit the No. 2 and No. 3 singles matches and fill two of the four doubles matches with their remaining players. However, CHSAA regulations state that teams must fill matches from the top down, so M-CHS would have been required to play No. 1 through No. 3 singles matches and the No. 1 doubles match.
Also taken into consideration was the thought that other teams may choose to cancel contests with M-CHS because the Panthers were unable to fill matches.
Ultimately, Veach, Kelley and M-CHS administrators decided to cut the program but allow players to try out for the Durango tennis team.
“After speaking with the coach, the players and the admin team, we decided that it would be best for our players to have the opportunity to play tennis for the Durango team,” Kelley explained in an email. “They will hold practices twice a week in Cortez and twice a week in Durango.”
M-CHS players traveled to Durango on Wednesday evening to compete in challenge matches to determine their positions on the Demons’ depth chart.
Senior Rowdy Veach was the lone Panther to secure a spot so far, locking up a position on the No. 3 doubles team.
However, other M-CHS members Billy Broughton, Noah Porter, Rory Walker, and newcomers Noah Peterson and Cael McHenry will get a shot during challenges next week.
Coach Veach said that the current plan is for Cortez players to practice at home on Mondays and Thursdays and travel to Durango to practice with the Demons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.