Doubles give Mustangs 4A pleasure

“Massive!”

In a word, boys tennis coach Jacob Ohrman described his team’s improvement in 2018, a Mullen Mustangs team that jumped from 12th place at the 2017 Class 4A tournament to fifth on Saturday at  City Park in Pueblo.

Through improvement, growth, commitment and development of talent, the Mustangs took another step toward challenging 4A’s elite both as a team as well as individually.

“We’re really excited,” Ohrman said. “Our guys were pretty awesome.”

The Mustangs earned points at five of the six spots that advanced and had two third-place winners and a fourth. A year ago, only two made it past the first round in the championship bracket.

Mullen finished with 24 points. Colorado Academy (95) was dominant in winning and joined with Niwot (71) to make it a two-horse race. Cheyenne Mountain (45) and 2017 winner Kent Denver (43) were a distant third and fourth, respectively.

“We had a chance at third,” Ohrman said. “There were tough matches and if a couple of others went our way … we’ve just come a long way since.”

J.P. Starkey-Dante Dino grabbed third place at No. 1 doubles as did Greg McMullan-Charlie Manta at No. 4, and Thomas Logan-Coleman Guthrie were fourth at No. 2.

Starkey-Dino won twice after losing in the semifinals, the second a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 handling of Cheyenne Mountain. McMullan-Manta also had to win twice, including a three-setter in their first playback match, then clinched third with a 6-0, 6-3 defeat of D’Evelyn. For Logan-Guthrie, they were headed on the same path before being tamed in the conso finale by 7-5, 4-6, 3-6.

Mac Caldwell won an opening-round match at No. 2 singles as did Tanner Amman at No. 3. Both went out in playbacks, although Amman won again before being eliminated. And sophomore No. 1 George Henry Hanzel, who dropped his opening match and didn’t make it into the consos, can sleep well knowing eight of this year’s 16 qualifiers are seniors.

Ohrman, in his second season, will be looking for another Mustangs jump in 2019. They will lose only two of their 11 varsity regulars. They were 7-3 in dual meets, won two tournaments and were third in another.

“Oh, yeah, there’s no reason why we won’t be better next year,” Ohrman said. “We should have a legitimate shot to win state next year, I think so. Our guys will be working hard at singles and our doubles will get better.”