The Laramie High School tennis season concludes this weekend with 2019 State Tennis Championships in Gillette.

At last weekend’s regional tournament, Laramie tied for second place in the boys’ team standings and took fifth in the girls’ division. Now head coach Elizabeth Clower is hoping her squads can make a push at state.

“What we need to see is a little more aggressiveness in the big moments. We’re a little bit timid some times. We have a little bit of fear that we’re not going to make it. Part of that’s not having been there, but I think now that they’ve been there (in the postseason at regionals), they see that the fear, being timid, doesn’t work, and they’re ready to go get it.”

Clower added a few keys will be keeping their energy up, plus making sure they’re moving and ready for the next point.

“Most of these kids are pretty competitive, and they want to be there. So we talked about fear paralyzes. You can’t play afraid. You’ve got to be willing to take the risk, so I think they will.”

Senior Kate Dennis and junior DJ Giron have been playing together all season. Some matches were at No. 1 doubles, but the stretch run has seen them at No. 2, where they will be at the state tournament.

KOWB’s David Settle visited with the tandem about their regular season, what they learned from the regional tournament, playing with each other, and their keys to success at the state tournament.

Laramie tied for fourth place on the boys’ side a year ago but was only eight points out of first. The girls are hoping to move up from last year’s eighth-place finish.

Both singles players, Hannah Brin (No. 1) and Grace Dorrell (No. 2), plus doubles players, Lina Woelk, Kylee Cox, and Dennis have experience playing at state. The lone member of the boys’ team with any experience is Kyle Moore at No. 1 singles.

Clower added, “I feel like, both boys and girls, we can compete. With the boys tying for second, well, that’s the top in regionals, and I think we can do it. I think the girls if we can get the No. 3 doubles and our singles one or two more rounds, then we can be in the top four.”

You don’t have to think back too far for the last state championship for either squad. The Plainsmen won it last in 2017, while the Lady Plainsmen last captured the state title in 2016.

The action begins at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and goes through Saturday.

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