For the first time in Littleton High School history, the Boys Varsity Tennis team qualified for Team State. Team State is a highly competitive tournament, in which the top 16 high school teams in Colorado play against each other. To get there, LHS had to overcome hard matches against several strong schools.
Facing more competitive opponents has been great for LHS; these difficult matches forced the players to elevate their game, preparing them well for Regionals and individual State competitions to come.
“So exciting!” said Shelly Russell, one of the coaches, when the team clinched its spot. She called that moment one of her proudest moments with the Varsity team. She also shared pride in how the team rallied together to support Evergreen High School, by creating a poster to show that the Littleton Lions stand with the Evergreen Cougars.
A major reason behind the team’s surge has been their unity. While tennis participation is decreasing across Colorado, the LHS Varsity team has grown stronger, with players pushing one another and building real teamwork.
A Varsity player, Sophomore Nikhil Bagal, had a great performance by winning first place in Singles 3, while several teammates placed third in their singles matches. Those results contributed significantly to getting the team into the state tournament.
“I felt great. The games were rough, but after everything, we made it into Team State, and we had so much fun,” said Bagal.
At Team State, LHS faced Peak to Peak in the first round. They had a great match but lost, appreciating the experience and the lessons it brought.
Throughout the season, the Lions played against a wide variety of teams, with different schools ranging from 4A to 5A classifications, which built their skills along the way. The players now shift focus to Regionals.
They may not have won at Team State, but in making it there for the first time in school history, the Littleton Lions have shown everyone what’s possible when persistence and unity come together!
