HighFIVE: Ralston Valley High School

Ralston Valley upset Cherry Creek to claim its first-ever girls tennis team title

In the past 20 years, there have only been four teams who have won the Colorado Girls 5A State Tennis Title. This past spring, the team from Arvada’s Ralston Valley High School became the fifth, knocking of perennial powerhouse Cherry Creek High School by a score of 4-2 in the championship.

Kim Greason has been the coach at Ralston Valley for 21 years and has had great success during that time, most notably the 2022 team which finished third at State, but she recognized that this year’s team had a bond and a drive that was different. 

“This year, the team really bought into the idea that we could win a state title, but then they had to put in the work. We knew there were many good teams out there and that we had to be ready when preparation meets opportunity, and our girls were.”

The team started bonding before the season by reading The Hard Hat–21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate by Jon Gordon, which tells the story of George Boiardi, a Cornell lacrosse player who tragically passed away during a game. Boiardi was recognized as being an outstanding teammate due to his selfless, loyal, joyful, hard-working, competitive, and compassionate ways. The girls each picked two qualities highlighted in the book that resonated with them and one quality they wanted to work on. 

The off-court bonding was as much a part of the team’s success as was the on-court work. Junior Cassidy Gordon, part of the No., 1 doubles team says, “This season we learned exactly how to handle pressure and support each other in each match. I think we found a belief in each other which truly made it possible to win state! We focused on our mindset and values everyday helping unite our team and have tons of success overall!”

The success started with the team’s first tournament at the Western Slope Invitational (WSI) tournament where the entire team won every match. Coach Greason proudly says “We have been attending the WSI for two decades and I can’t recall the last time a team swept all seven lines.”

The team just kept winning, with their primary lineup going 183-13 during the season. The success earned the team many post season accolades including 5A Coach of the Year, 1^st All-State team honors for No. 3 singles player, sophomore Scarlett Lutz, No. 1 doubles team of juniors Adia Farling and Cassidy Gordon, No. 3 doubles team of sophomore Sofia Elola and freshman Mataya Farling and 2^nd team All-State honors for No. 2 doubles team of senior Parker Lucas and junior Kylie Engelsman.

Ralston Valley’s first state title obviously meant a lot to the team and the school, but it also meant a lot to the community as they were recognized by both the Jeffco School Board and the Arvada City Council for the accomplishment. 

Coach Greason says “this team was built differently” and that can be seen in the roles that different girls took on. She says the two captains, seniors Ally Lowe and Elaina Roboff, “set the tone” by being the point players for the day-to-day operations, from picking uniforms to planning team gatherings and making sure the team was having fun on and off the court. Parker Lucas was instrumental in pre-season communication and took on other leadership roles during the season. Cassidy Gordon exemplified the lessons learned from The Hard Hat–21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate by displaying many of the traits of being a positive teammate, both on and off the court, with her consistent and even-keeled nature. She was named the Hard Hat Award winner at the end of the season for her day to day consistency. 

“The girls managed the bustle of spring season beautifully, but not without hurdles - weather, school, prom, AP Tests, graduation, college decisions, and, of course, normal teenage emotions that come with a competitive season. And, add in the pressure of being “one of the teams that could win it all”. This team was able to work through all of those obstacles and continue to put the team first and not crumble to the pressure”, says Coach Greason.

The concept of “team first” was echoed by two of the seniors. Elaina Roboff says, “We supported each other and never let anyone give up. We overcame our "underdog" status and beat Cherry Creek against the odds and are proud to represent Ralston Valley.” Ally Lowe adds, "We all believed in and supported each other throughout the entire season. Each day we all showed up and worked hard, no matter what, and that was one of the main reasons we were able to win state. I felt so much support and love from everyone involved and made some of the best memories of my life with my teammates and coaches. I will never forget how amazing this senior season was." 

While the team will feel the absence of the seniors, they are excited to watch Ally Lowe play next year at Colorado College. In addition to underclassman already mentioned, No. 2 singles, sophomore Emerson Bonner, and half of the No. 4 doubles team, freshman Kate Decker, will also be back next season. Coach Greason says, “The girls are already hard at work as they hope to repeat in 2025.”

“Sometimes it still doesn’t feel real that after 21 years, we were able to bring a title to Ralston Valley,” says Coach Greason. “It meant quite a bit to us as a team as many of our girls have been working towards this for years. I have been thankful for all of the past teams that set the tone and culture as it is the basis of who we are. We strive to be good sports, good competitors and good teammates. The state title was the cherry on top of an already amazing season with a great group of girls.” 

To see recaps of the past season, visit www.instagram.com/ralstonvalleytennis/ or www.facebook.com/p/Ralston-Valley-Tennis-100057120142333/.

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