Vail Christian Tennis Duo Qualifies for State Tournament THIS WEEK

BREAKING: The Vail Christian boys tennis team is making headlines as Owen Rey and Cody Keyes secure their spots at the Colorado 4A state tournament following a remarkable performance at the 4A Region 8 tournament on October 9-10 at Colorado Mesa University.

In an impressive showdown, Rey and Keyes, the No. 1 doubles team, finished as runners-up to Grand Junction, earning their tickets to compete at the state level. Head coach J.D. Webster expressed pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “We’re so blessed to make another run at states and medaling at regionals this year after graduating seven seniors.”

Vail Christian also showcased strong performances with four fourth-place finishes, including standout showings from Blake Kirkham (No. 3 singles) and the pairs of Ehren Goree and Tennyson Sipes (No. 2 doubles), Jake Martz and Tomas Alvarez (No. 3 doubles), and Brody Zenz and Landis Breitzman (No. 4 doubles).

Rey and Keyes, who entered the region tournament as the third seed, began their campaign with a decisive victory over Durango, winning 6-0, 6-0 in the first round. Their semifinal match against the No. 2-seeded pair from Aspen was a nail-biter, ending with a score of 6-7, 7-6, 6-3. Keyes reflected on their journey, saying, “During regular season games, both matches with Aspen ended in tiebreakers for the third set with us losing 9-11. For regionals we were able to turn that around.”

In the championship match, Rey and Keyes faced the formidable No. 1-seeded duo of Gareth Keller and Ben Miller, ultimately falling short with a score of 6-3, 6-4 as Grand Junction claimed the regional team title. Despite the loss, Rey expressed enthusiasm about their upcoming state matches, stating, “I’m very excited to represent Vail in states this year. The match against Grand Junction really showed us what we’re capable of, and we are looking forward to good matches at states.”

The state tournament kicks off on October 17 at Pueblo City Park Tennis Courts, where Rey and Keyes will face D’Evelyn’s Dylan Reeb and Simon Czarnecki in the first round. This marks another significant milestone for the Vail Christian team, who qualified nine athletes for state in 2024, showcasing their growing talent and competitive spirit.

As the community rallies behind Rey and Keyes, their journey underscores the importance of teamwork and resilience in sports. Coach Webster noted, “It takes everyone — players, coaches, and parents — to build this program.”

Stay tuned for more updates as the state tournament approaches, highlighting the determination and achievements of Vail Christian’s talented athletes.