After tasting a third-place finish a year ago, the Park City High School boys’ tennis team wants the taste of a 3A state championship this season. And, so far, they look to be on track.
“We’re doing really well,” said second-year head coach Jessica Watts. “I would definitely place us as one of the better teams in the state.”
The Miners have a formidable lineup this year as sophomore Kevin Colopy has taken over as Park City’s No. 1 singles player. Colopy is followed by junior Stefan Dancy in No. 2 singles and senior Jackson Engen in No. 3 singles.
Colopy and Engen haven’t lost a match yet this season.
“Kevin is a great player,” Watts said. “He has a ton of experience, has been a top-ranked national level player for most of his life. That really just adds depth to our team.
“But what’s great is there’s very slim separation with our players. That says a lot about the depth of our team.”
On Thursday afternoon, the Miners traveled to Heber to face rival Wasatch and won decisively, 4-1. Colopy won 6-2, 6-1, despite a nagging shoulder injury and Engen won 6-1, 6-0, including his impressive 10th 6-0 set so far this season. Dancy won 6-4, 7-5.
Park City’s doubles teams have been running through the competition as well, including invitational tournaments against 4A and 5A squads.
The No. 1 doubles tandem of juniors Caleb Wray and Kasra Motaghed suffered just their first loss of the year Thursday against Wasatch, while the No. 2 duo of sophomore Matt Groy and junior Marco Testa continued on their undefeated-season streak.
Park City looks to be one of the better teams in Utah regardless of school size and is primed to make some noise when the 3A state meet rolls around.
“We took third last year at state, and we feel like last year was a learning year for all of us,” Watts said. “It’s hard to take over a program and make as many dramatic changes as we did, but they knew what to expect going in. They are more experienced and trusting in the results.”
One challenge for this year’s Miners is that they have become road warriors, though not by choice.
Due to the Park City Racquet Club closing down for remodeling in June 2010, Park City had to learn take its show on the road.
“I think this year, they’re kind of used to it,” Watts said. “A lot of them adjusted their classes to get used to it. I told them, ‘If you’re coming back, you need to come back and be ready. Be mentally prepared to be on the road with your academics.'”
“It wouldn’t be good if they were missing AP chemistry every time,” she added.
Watts said she has noticed the growth in her team this year.
“We just have a stronger team,” she said. “There’s a lot of friendships made and a lot of belief in one another. It’s a lot nicer going on the road and beating a team at their place. That’s a big confidence booster.”
As for improving on last year’s third-place finish, Watts said her team has the potential; it just needs to keep its foot on the gas pedal.
“I think we have a really good shot,” she said. “I think it’ll be the closest it’s ever been this year. If we continue on the path that we’re going, we’ll have as good a chance as any team to win state. I’m definitely being hopeful that we’ll win both region and state and it’ll just depend on if the kids can keep the right mindset throughout the rest of the season.”