Laramie is Prepped for State Tennis [VIDEO]

After a delay of a few days, the 2023 Wyoming High School Tennis State Championships are in Gillette over the next three days.

The tennis matches will be played at four sites. Those are Campbell County High School, Thunder Basin High School, the Bicentennial Park Courts, and Campbell County Recreation Center Fieldhouse.

Laramie is ready after runner-up finishes at the regional championships earlier this month in Cheyenne.

Head coach Elizabeth Clower spent last week working on their belief.

“We worked on our self-efficacy. We worked on our team spirit. We worked on our communication among each other. We tried to get more cohesive than we already were, and reach the point where we’re ready to lay it all out there for our teammate.”

Laramie took second in the boys’ division and sixth in the girls at state tennis in 2022. They have one defending champion in Declan O’Connor at boys’ No. 2 singles.

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LHS has a top-four seed at all positions entering the state championships.

Clower said it’s a matter of believing they can achieve it.

“They have to step on the court with confidence and believing that they can do it. They have the skills. They know the strategies. Now, they have to use them at the right time and be willing to take a risk.”

KOWB’s David Settle visited with seniors Morgan Moore and Declan O’Connor last week to preview the state championships. Moore feels she and her partner, sophomore Peyton Thorburn, have great potential to do well. She discussed their keys and how the girls’ squad might fare, as well. O’Connor described his mindset as a defending champ, and what it will take to repeat, plus how the team prospects look.

Clower knows that O’Connor’s had a target on his back all season.

“He just has to mentally realize; that I am the former state champ. I do have the skills. I do have what it takes to do this, and then trust in his stuff. When he does that, he’ll be just fine.”

Clower feels the draws were okay. She likes how they’re opposite of Cheyenne Central in most cases but knows the girls also have to look out for Kelly Walsh. Clower feels like the boys’ race will come down to her squad and Cheyenne Central.

The championships are underway. The title and consolation title matches are on Wednesday at the two high school locations.