Pueblo Central's Isabella Guzman highest place-finisher at state girls tennis tournaments

Isabella Guzman turned in a stellar performance at the Class 3A state high school girls tennis championships at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs.

Playing at No. 3 singles, the Pueblo Central freshman won her first two matches to reach the semifinals before falling. She also won a challenge back and played for third place in her classification.

In an all-freshman match, Sydney Lewis of Peak to Peak defeated Guzman for third place 6-1, 6-0 Saturday morning. Guzman finished fourth, quite a feat for her first appearance at state.

"No, I didn't think I'd make it this far," said Guzman, who also plays softball, basketball and volleyball. "I had good coaching. I really wanted it. It feels good, exciting, really happy about it. Kind of surprised."

Pueblo sends 32 to state girls tennis: Pueblo sends 32 girls to Class 4A, 3A state tennis tournaments

She said the experience will aid her down the road in her high school career.

"The experience and higher competition will help me. I'm glad I got the chance to go through the experience because I will be ready for it next time."

Guzman led the Class 3A, Region 7 Wildcats to a 10th-place finish in the team standings.

"Awesome," Central head coach Russ Guerrero said of his prize freshman. "I told her before the season if she would concentrate on tennis, she could place at state. She's real coachable. She's got that competitive fire that you don't see a lot. She doesn't like to lose."

Central's No. 2 singles player Dannielle DeYoung won her first-round match, as did the Wildcats' No. 1 doubles team of Trinity Saenz and Marin Munoz. Both were beaten in their second-round matches.

Both of Pueblo County's doubles teams at No. 3 and No. 4 were beaten in the first round on Thursday. Emily Olonnia and Makala Martinez fell at No. 3 doubles, and Ornilla Azar and Roxie Valentine lost in the first round.

In the Class 4A state tournament at Pueblo's City Park tennis courts, only two Pueblo doubles teams won matches.

At No. 1 doubles, the Centennial tandem of Jenna Lewis and Quincy Nakaguma won their opening-round match on Thursday.

And at No. 4 doubles, Pueblo West's team of Olivia Day and Makenna McGraw won their opening-round match on Thursday.

Both teams dropped their second-round matches and didn't advance.

The Cyclones came in as the Class 4A, Region 7 champion.

Pueblo Central, Pueblo West win regional tennis: Pueblo Centennial's Montalvo-Moreno headed to state tennis as West, Central win team titles

State girls tennis championships

Here are Pueblo's results from the Class 4A and Class 3A state girls tennis tournaments:

Class 4A

No. 1 singles: Maya Michalski, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Isabella Montalovo-Moreno, Centennial, 6-0, 6-0; Mycah Bisceglia, Windsor, def. Isabella Montalovo-Moreno 6-2, 6-2 (challenge back)

No. 2 singles: Emma Thompson, Grand Junction, def. Jordan Hunt, Pueblo West, 6-4, 6-0

Lyna Truong, Palmer Ridge, def. Camryn Vigil, Centennial, 6-1, 6-2

No. 3 singles: Genevieve Berning, Lewis-Palmer, def. Audrina Suaceda, Centennial, 6-2, 6-1

Hailey Javernick, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Lyndsey Aguilar, Pueblo West, 6-0, 6-0

No. 1 doubles: Adwyn Chowen/Juliet DiGiacomo, Durango, def. Reann Savage/Lindsey Stevenson, Pueblo West, 7-5, 6-4

Jenna Lewis/Quincy Nakaguma, Centennial, def. Ana Lucia Ferguson/Olivia Collins, Coronado, 6-7, 6-4, 6-1; Ruby Muhl/Kate Twede, Cheyenne Mountain, def. Jenna Lewis/Quincy Nakaguma, Centennial, 6-4, 6-3; Carly McClung/Lia Griese, Denver South def. Jenna Lewis/Quincy Nakaguma, Pueblo Central 6-4, 6-2 (challenge back)

No. 2 doubles: Ellie McLean/Lola Bradshaw, Durango, def. Allseya Dickerson/Ambrea Pena, Centennial, 6-3, 6-3

Jayna Erickson/Haley Erickson, Thompson Valley, def. Mackenzie Adams/Gabriella Bhagat, Pueblo West, 6-4, 6-0

No. 3 doubles: Harper Behmer/Julia Price, Niwot def. Savannah Baca/Ashley Schlup, Pueblo West, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6

Franci Mueller/Danika Bahensky, Erie, def. Elise Pasquin/Camyrn Cordova, Centennial, 6-4, 6-0

No. 4 doubles: Olivia Day/McKenna McGraw, Pueblo West, def. Stella Weiber/Avery Williams, Dakota Ridge, 6-1, 7-5; Sasha Berry/Annie Goldmanis, Kent Denver, def. Olivia Day/Makenna McGraw, Pueblo West, 6-4, 6-3

Class 3A

No. 1 singles: Lila Travis, Dawson, def. Dayna DeYoung, Pueblo Central, 6-0, 6-1.

No. 2 singles: Dannielle DeYoung, Pueblo Central, def. Quin Burns, Peak to Peak, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4; Ava Zink, Severance, def. Dannielle DeYoung, Pueblo Central, 6-0, 6-0

No. 3 singles: Isabella Guzman, Pueblo Central, def. Emily Brisendine, Eaton, 6-2, 7-6; Isabella Guzman, Pueblo Central, def. Summer Sveum, Vail Mountain, 6-4, 7-6; Lila Paton, Colorado Academy, def. Isabella Guzman, Pueblo Central, 6-1, 6-2; Isabella Guzman, Pueblo Central,, def. Siri Henderson, Glenwood Springs, 6-0, 6-3 (challenge back); Sydney Lewis, Peak to Peak, def. Isabella Guzman 6-1, 6-0 (Third-place match)

No. 1 doubles: Trinity Saenz/Marin Munoz, Pueblo Central, def. Hope Smith/Kegan Reeves, Prospect Ridge Academy, 6-1, 6-0; Kate Halverson/Halle Getting, University, def. Trinity Saenz/Marin Munoz, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6

No. 2 doubles: Lyndsey Pancost/Kelsi Thorn, Berthoud def. Kai Arriaga/Andeana Krupka, Pueblo Central, 6-2, 6-2

No. 3 doubles: Erin Daidone/Isabella Carabetta, Northfield, def. Emily Olonnia/Makala Martinez, Pueblo County, 6-4, 6-2

No. 4 doubles: Izzy Parsons/Sydney Tater, St. Mary's, def. Ornilla Azar/Roxie Valentine, Pueblo County, 6-1, 6-2

Kylie Horning/Alesandra Wise, Holy Family, def. Hannah Arellano/Marissa Gonzales, Pueblo Central, 6-1, 6-2; Izzy Parsons/Sydney Tager, St. Mary's, def. Hannah Arellano/Marissa Gonzales, Pueblo Central 6-3, 7-5

Chieftain senior sports reporter Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at jletofsky@chieftain.com or on Twitter @jeffletofsky

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo Central's Guzman has best finish at girls state tennis tournament