Discovery Canyon freshman wins No. 2 singles title

Mattie Kuntzelman survived match point in the No. 2 finals, and then rallied to beat Cheyenne Mountain senior Daniela Adamczyk in a three-set tiebreaker 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-2).

While her cheering section cringed in a consensus nervous wreck, Kuntzelman stayed poised.

“I wasn’t nervous at all during the match,” Kuntzelman said. “I knew whatever happened I’d be proud of myself for getting there.”

She was even happier with how it ended.

The freshman led 5-4 and then trailed 6-5. In a tiebreaker, she won seven of nine points to finally oust Adamczyk.

“Mattie has always been a fighter,” Thunder coach Brian Thirkell said. “Just that strength that she had to be able to throw on first serves and play out tough points is remarkable.”

Kuntzelman became the first girls’ tennis player to win a state title from Discovery Canyon.

Cheyenne Mountain coach celebrates from afar

Dave Adams was in North Carolina for his daughter Frances’ graduation from Davidson on Saturday. Meanwhile, his team was locking up its eighth straight title in Pueblo.

Thank goodness for technology.

“My phone has been blowing up with continuous reports,” Adams said by phone. “It’s been dramatic.”

The No. 1 doubles team of Casey Ahrendsen and Ally Arenson, the No. 2 team of Chelsey Geisz and Jessica Metz, the No. 3 team of Tatumn Mika and Ariana Arenson and the No. 4 team of Shannon Wallace and Taylor Heinicke swept 4A doubles.

No. 2 singles player Daniela Adamczyk was runner-up for the fourth straight year.

Morgan Hall (No. 1) and Claire Dibble (No. 3) added third-place finishes for the Indians.

Discovery Canyon finishes third

The Thunder capped off their best season in program history with a third-place finish in Class 4A. Their previous best team finish was 12th in 2014.

Kuntzelman won a state title in No. 2 singles, and their No. 2 doubles team of Sarah Casey and Hunter Jones took second.

“We sent everyone to the quarterfinals,” Discovery Canyon coach Brian Thirkell said. “Everyone contributing to our place is what made the biggest difference with placing us third over some other teams.”

BRENT W. NEW, THE GAZETTE