Kelly Walsh Dominates at State Tennis

For the first time since 2010, one school swept the boys' and girls' team titles at the Wyoming High School State Tennis Championships. It was Kelly Walsh.

The Trojans dominated both brackets to cruise to the team titles last Saturday in Gillette.

Kelly Walsh’s girls’ team went five-for-five in the championship round and won their seventh state title in school history. This was their first championship as a team since 2007.

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Senior Finley Klinger got her state championship at No. 1 singles. She defeated Theresa Trvajavo from Natrona County, 6-2 and 6-3, in the finals. Klinger placed third as a freshman and was runner-up the last two years.

Gabriella Blumberg won the No. 2 singles crown with a straight-sets victory over Megan Counts of Green River, 6-2 and 6-2.

At No. 1 doubles, the team of Strand and Nokes defeated Dorrell and Moore from Laramie, 6-3 and 6-1 in the finals. Klinger and Catchpole won the title at No. 2 doubles after a 6-0 and 6-1 victory over Baktamarian and Murphy from Cheyenne East. Collins and Wilson at No. 3 doubles completed the sweep with a 6-3 and 6-0 win in the championship match over a tandem from Natrona County, Colling and Warelin.

The Trojans scored 69 points in the team standings and won by 40 over runner-up Natrona County (29). Cheyenne Central took third place with 26 points.

On the boys’ side, Kelly Walsh won state titles at three positions in their lineup. It helped the Trojans go back-to-back as team champions and win their third in school history.

Jackson Catchpole won the No. 2 singles title. He defeated Hayden Clark from Jackson in the championship match, 6-3 and 6-1.

The Trojans also got wins at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Phillips and Rasmussen beat Sheridan’s team of Woodrow and Hamrick, 6-4 and 7-5 in the finals. At two doubles, Kelly Walsh’s Yakel and Putnam topped Laramie’s O’Connor and Russow, 6-4 and 7-5 (7-4).

Austin Putnam took third place at No. 1 singles, and the KW No. 3 doubles tandem of Mamot and Ward also won the consolation bracket.

The Kelly Walsh boys scored 58 points as a team. Their margin of victory was 18 points over Jackson, who finished in second at 40 points. Laramie placed third with 31 points.

The only championships not won by KW came at No. 1 singles and No. 3 doubles in boys.

Jackson’s Campbell Gervais outlasted Andrew Lock from Cheyenne South in the No. 1 singles title match. Gervais prevailed 7-5, 6-7 (9-7), and 6-2 for his first prep state championship.

At No. 3 doubles, the team from Cheyenne Central of Villalobos-Alvardo and Ellison beat Baker and Hepworth from Laramie, 6-3 and 6-4, for their first state title.

- Wyoming Expectation Vs. Reality