Vail Christian’s Rey and Keyes Qualify for State Tennis Tournament

UPDATE: Vail Christian’s tennis duo of Owen Rey and Cody Keyes have just qualified for the Colorado 4A state tournament after a stellar performance at the 4A Region 8 tournament on October 9-10 in Grand Junction. The pair finished as runners-up, securing their spot in the state competition later this week.

Rey and Keyes, seeded third, showcased their tenacity by defeating Durango 6-0, 6-0 in the first round, and overcoming the second-seeded team from Aspen with a dramatic score of 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in the semifinals. “During regular season games, both matches with Aspen ended in tiebreakers for the third set with us losing 9-11,” Keyes explained. “For regionals, we were able to turn that around.”

The championship match saw them face the top-seeded pair from Grand Junction, where Rey and Keyes fell 6-3, 6-4. Despite the loss, their journey to state has been marked by resilience and determination. “I’m very excited to represent Vail in states this year,” Rey stated. “The match against Grand Junction really showed us what we’re capable of.”

The state tournament kicks off on October 17 at Pueblo City Park Tennis Courts, where Rey and Keyes will face D’Evelyn’s Dylan Reeb and Simon Czarnecki in the first round. Their participation highlights the strength of the Vail Christian tennis program, which continues to thrive despite the graduation of seven seniors.

In addition to Rey and Keyes’ impressive performance, Vail Christian also garnered four fourth-place finishes at the regional tournament, including standout efforts from Blake Kirkham (No. 3 singles), Ehren Goree and Tennyson Sipes (No. 2 doubles), and Jake Martz and Tomas Alvarez (No. 3 doubles). Head coach J.D. Webster expressed pride in his team’s accomplishments, stating, “We’re so blessed to make another run at states and medaling at regionals this year. It takes everyone — players, coaches, and parents — to build this program.”

With nine athletes qualifying for state in 2024, including last year’s No. 2 singles state champion Daniel Blanch, Vail Christian’s tennis community is buzzing with excitement. The upcoming matches are not just about competition; they represent the culmination of hard work and dedication from the entire team.

As the countdown to the state tournament begins, all eyes will be on Rey and Keyes as they aim for victory and a chance to bring home a medal for Vail Christian. Stay tuned for live updates as these athletes take the court!