Taylor Nokes of Kelly Walsh Commits to Colorado Mesa for Tennis

Taylor Nokes of Kelly Walsh has blossomed as a tennis player over the past couple of years and that success will take her to Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. She is a three-time All-State selection and is the reigning girls' state champion in #1 singles. Nokes lost 3 matches total in her 4 year career at KW but her last prep win was certainly the biggest.

Back in September at the State Tournament in Gillette, Nokes faced undefeated Ashli Smedley from Cheyenne Central in the #1 girls' final. After losing the first set 4-6, Nokes rallied to win the next 2 sets, 6-2 and 6-4. All told, that was her 3rd state championship as she paired with Bailey Collins to win the #2 doubles championship and in 2021, Nokes and Avery Strand took the podium in #1 doubles.

Tennis runs in the Nokes family as her father, Eric won a Wyoming high school state championship 30 years ago and he also attended Colorado Mesa, known then as Mesa State.

Colorado Mesa is a Division II school that competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.