You can't do anything about the weather. When it was over, three tennis regionals played late into the night at indoor facilities throughout Colorado Springs. Some singles semifinals were scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Class 4A, Region 6 began with two matches at the Country Club of Colorado, then moved to the Air Force Academy. They were scheduled to play until 10 p.m. In each case, the tournaments took full advantage of coaches and their connections.
Coaches are either members or tennis pros at four of the five facilities.
At Air Force, Joe Novak, the chief of events management for the athletic department, is friends with Lewis-Palmer athletic director Ken Emry. So Novak got a call from Lewis-Palmer coach Al Duhon. Normally, the Cadet Gymnasium closes at 9 p.m., but the academy prepared to keep the facility open until midnight. Players prepared for the long hours by bringing sleeping bags, playing board games, and ordering pizza. Cheyenne Mountain players set up shop on a racquetball court and braided each other's hair.