AURORA | In a result that was closer than the final score — 7-0 — Regis Jesuit got past Arvada West Wednesday in the opening round of the Class 5A girls tennis team state tournament.
Seeded sixth — the highest in three years of qualifying for the program — coach Jen Armstrong’s Raiders got the four solid wins they needed advance and also prevailed in three three-set matches to compete the sweep of the 11th-seeded Wildcats.
Regis Jesuit moves into Friday’s 5A quarterfinals — which include all eight of the top seeds after an upset-free first round — and will play at No. 3 Valor Christian at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
The Raiders were the No. 8 seed in each of the previous two 5A team state tournaments and lost to No. 1 seeds both times (6-1 to Cherry Creek in 2023 — the inaugural year of the team tournament — and 6-1 to Ralston Valley in 2024).
To advance into the semifinals for the first time, Regis Jesuit will have to defeat the Eagles, who downed No. 14 Fort Collins 6-1. The teams went head-to-head at a few positions April 11 at the Full Send Invitational, but did not meet in dual play in the regular season.
In the opening round, the Raiders had the four victories needed to advance with straight set wins in singles from freshman Madeline Dickey at No. 1 (6-3, 6-4 over Emily Endes) and senior Rebecca Gelfer at No. 3 (6-1, 6-0 over Saylor Swanson) and in doubles from the No. 3 team of senior Brooklyn Craven and sophomore Abigail Puschaver and the No. 4 duo of senior Sophia Simoes and freshman Rachel Osborn.
On top of that, Regis Jesuit came through in the third sets of three other matches.
Junior Otylia Martino fell behind by a set to Arvada West’s Lucia Tanguma in the No. 2 singles match, but came roaring back for a 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 victory. The No. 2 doubles team of senior Molly Goodwin and junior Helen Adams also faced a deficit before they prevailed 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 10-7 over Isabella Armigo and Lydia Meakins of the Wildcats.
Seniors Lily Beebe and Cait Carolan saw a set advantage get away as Arvada West’s Grace Lantz and Chloe Powell dug in to even their match, but the Raiders prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
As the runner-up team in the Continental League, Regis Jesuit will play host to a 5A individual regional tournament next week.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@sentinelcolorado.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
2025 CLASS 5A GIRLS TENNIS TEAM STATE TOURNAMENT
First round, April 23 at Regis Jesuit H.S.
(6) REGIS JESUIT 7, (11) ARVADA WEST 0
No. 1 singles — MADELINE DICKEY (REGIS JESUIT) def. Emily Endes (Arvada West), 6-3, 6-4; No. 2 singles — OTYLIA MARTINO (REGIS JESUIT) def. Lucia Tanguma (Arvada West), 4-6, 6-4, 10-5; No. 3 singles — REBECCA GELFER (REGIS JESUIT) def. Saylor Swanson (Arvada West), 6-1, 6-0; No. 1 doubles — LILY BEEBE/CAIT CAROLAN (REGIS JESUIT) def. Grace Lantz/Chloe Powell (Arvada West), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2; No. 2 doubles — MOLLY GOODWIN/HELEN ADAMS (REGIS JESUIT) def. Isabella Armigo/Lydia Meakins (Arvada West), 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 10-7; No. 3 doubles — ABIGAIL PUSCHAVER/BROOKLYN CRAVEN (REGIS JESUIT) def. Tara Donelson/Bella Frandina (Arvada West), 6-1, 6-2; No. 4 doubles — RACHEL OSBORN/SOPHIA SIMOES (REGIS JESUIT) def. Emma Verdugao/Lydia Mauger (Arvada West), 6-2, 7-5
