CHS Tennis Closes Out 2026 at State Meet

kmarksteiner0
17 minutes ago
2 min read

By Don Eskins

The Carlsbad Cavemen participated in the NMAA’s Individual and Team State Tennis Tournament in Albuquerque on May 6-9.

Although the CHS boys failed to pick up a victory in singles or doubles play, they did down the Rio Rancho Rams 5-4 in the first round of team competition before losing to La Cueva 0-6 in the quarterfinals.

“This year’s tournament was really tough. But our boys played hard and fought the opposition to the very last match,” said CHS assistant coach Diamond Morrill. “Getting an opportunity to compete at state was also a great experience for our younger players. It exposed them to the different styles of tennis, which should prove to be a valuable asset for them next year.”

In beating Rio Rancho 5-4, CHS picked up singles competition wins from their No. 1 player, Lucas Bluth, who won 6-1, 6-0. Also grabbing wins were CHS’s No. 2 player, Sean Erosido, 6-1, 6-0; No. 3, Steven Pham, 6-3, 6-4; and No. 5, Josh Cooper, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

The Cavemen picked up their decisive fifth win in doubles play as Bluth and Erosido, playing at the No. 1 spot, teamed up to register a 6-2, 6-1 victory.

“Despite the level of play at this year’s state tournament, our kids never backed down; they battled,” said CHS head coach Ryan Galindo. “Overall, they’ve experienced a pretty good year of tennis, and I am extremely proud of them.”

“Due to graduation, we’ll be losing seniors Lucas Bluth, Sean Erosido, and Steven Pham next year. They’ve all played such a big part in our success this season, and no doubt, they’ll be missed,” said Morrill. “But we’re already looking forward to next year. Alex Burns, Josh Cooper, and Grayson Reed will all be back to lead what we feel like should be an exciting year of tennis.”

Individual State Tournament:

Boys’ Singles:

Lucas Bluth lost in the first round to Alb. High’s Julian Olson, who eventually placed 3rd.

Sean Erosido lost in the first round to Piedra Vista’s number one player, Cyrus LeSeuer.

Boys’ Doubles:

Steven Pham and Alex Burns lost in the first round to La Cueva’s second-seeded Ronan Reznik and Noah Sasser, who ended up placing 2nd.

Team State Tournament:

1st Round Play:

Cavemen Down Rio Rancho 5-4

#1 Singles: Lucas Bluth won 6-1, 6-0

#2 Singles: Sean Erosido won 6-1, 6-0

#3 Singles: Steven Pham won 6-3, 6-4