The Steamboat Pilot & Today

The Steamboat Springs High School boys and girls tennis teams have done plenty to prove their worth in the past year, both ranking among the most successful programs at the school.

Tennis is still a Tier 2 sport in Steamboat, however, which means it’s the players and families shelling out money to travel to the tournaments and championships where so much success has been found. That’s why, despite the teams’ resounding success, there’s still a need that the Steamboat Tennis Association’s Summer Championships hope to fill with this weekend’s three-day tournament at the Tennis Center at Steamboat Springs.

“Without this tournament and the money it raises, we wouldn’t be able to have a boys and girls tennis team,” boys and girls coach John Aragon said. “This is the big fundraiser for our Tier 2 sports.”

The event — with singles, doubles and mixed pairs brackets — will feature 117 players, and taking a turn from typical tournaments, will allow juniors and adults to play in the field.

That means those who registered to compete will have to face off against the very athletes they’re trying to help if they hope to play Sunday in the tournament’s championship round.

“That makes it really fun,” Aragon said. “The adults are always really good sports about allowing the young kids to come up and play.”

Any adult players are well advised to watch out. The high school tennis teams accounted for two of the three state championships won by local students during the 2007-08 school year, with Ramsey Bernard dominating the Class 4A boys No. 1 singles bracket in the fall and Molly Weiss fighting to a No. 3 singles championship in the spring.

The girls team finished fourth in the state. The boys squad was third.

“The success helps, but I’ve seen the people in this community help out even with programs that aren’t as successful,” Aragon said. “If they can get the kids to be a part of a program and help them, that’s the big thing. The people here are willing to help the young kids achieve their goals and improve their lives. It’s amazing to me how much this community gives and is willing to help.”

In addition to regular tournament play, there will be a cocktail party Saturday night and a live auction Sunday at the Catamount Ranch and Club clubhouse after the final round is complete.

“The community has always been very supportive trying to help juniors players compete better,” Tennis Center Director Jim Swiggart said. “This has been a very successful event every year since the center opened. People believe in the high school teams and are willing and ready to support them.”