Racquets Ready: Wyoming’s High School Tennis Season Serves Up Fast and Fierce

The smell of fresh tennis balls and sunscreen is back — Wyoming high school tennis returns this Saturday, and the action is set to be quick, competitive, and over before you know it.

It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it season — just seven weeks — wrapping up with the state championships in Gillette, Sept. 25–27. Regionals hit the courts a week earlier: the North duking it out in Cody and Powell, the South battling at Cheyenne Central.

Cheyenne Central cleaned house in 2024, sweeping both the boys’ and girls’ team titles. The girls dominated for their second straight crown, while the boys ended a drought dating back to 2018. And here’s the kicker — they’re not exactly rebuilding.

Four returning girls own fresh state titles, and three boys come back with serious hardware.

Short answer? Not easily. Central’s top two — undefeated duo Hailey Mathis-Breitkopf and Cailyn Smedley — are back to terrorize opponents. Add in doubles champ Rachel Gertsch, and the Indians look like a three-peat waiting to happen.

Jackson isn’t bowing down, though. Led by last year’s No. 1 singles runner-up Caroline Brokaw, the Broncs are eyeing an upset. Kelly Walsh also returns firepower with doubles champ Whitney Bradfield and two-time all-state Olivia Wilson. Cody, fresh off a fourth-place finish, will lean on Brenna Foote to keep them in the hunt.

Central’s boys bring back doubles champ Zeman Collins and all-state singles threat Nicholas Thornell. But they’ll have company at the top — Kelly Walsh has No. 1 doubles champ Miles Romer, Sheridan boasts doubles champ Tanner Hamrick, and there’s a pack of dangerous singles players across the state: Colin Crecelius (Cheyenne East), Nick Stewart (Cody), Nathan Preator (Powell), Grayson Ingram (Natrona), and Carter Gray (Sheridan).

Cheyenne East is trending up, and last year’s top five — Sheridan, Cody, Kelly Walsh, and Thunder Basin — all have pieces to make a run.

Who put in the extra hours over the summer? And which doubles teams are going to stick together versus getting shuffled? With lineup changes always in play, the early weeks could be a guessing game.

A few squads open play this Saturday, Aug. 16, with most hitting the court next week. From there, it’s a sprint to September — and every serve, volley, and tie-break will count.

The original story by David Settle for WyoPreps.