Fairview’s Jane Roth completes quest for state title

DENVER – In 2022 and 2023, Jane Roth and Maya Brakhage dominated the No. 2 doubles tennis scene, winning back-to-back state titles as a synchronous pair.

The 2024 season has been very different for both Fairview seniors.

After doubling up on doubles state titles, Roth and Brakhage split off to play their senior seasons as singles players. Though it was a bit strange for both, each player was successful. At the Class 5A individual state championships on Saturday at Denver City Park, Roth won the No. 2 singles state title and Brakhage finished runner-up at No. 3 singles.

For Roth, making the jump from No. 2 doubles to No. 2 singles and going on to win a state title surprised her as much as anyone.

“I’m super happy,” Roth said. “I was super nervous and I can’t believe that I won. At the beginning of the season, I didn’t even know I’d be playing singles, so I had to adjust super quickly. The fact that I made it here, if you would have told me a few months ago, I wouldn’t have believed you at all.”

In the championship match, Roth certainly had her hands full with opponent Jisele Boker from Cherry Creek. After narrowly winning the first set, Roth lost the second and had to rebound in order to win 7-6, 2-6, 6-3.

“I think it was just a matter of containing my nerves and playing how I wanted to play even though my hands were literally shaking,” Roth said. “After I lost the second set, I just knew I had to come back stronger.”

In the No. 3 singles finals, Brakhage put up a good fight against a familiar opponent before eventually falling 6-3, 6-1.

“I was kind of expecting it,” Brakhage said after her match against Ralston Valley’s Scarlett Lutz. “I’ve played her before and it didn’t go as well. She’s a really good player and I think I was playing better this time. It was a pretty fun match against a good opponent. I had a pretty good season. It was a tough shift, but it was a ton of fun and I’m really glad I got to do it.”

While both players had incredibly successful seasons individually, Roth and Brakhage each admitted it was strange not to be on the same court together. But playing alongside one another at state, both seniors still found a way to draw energy from the other.

“It’s a little weird and we’ve been saying all season it’s weird not getting to play on the same court together since we’ve been playing together since the fifth grade,” Brakhage said. “Getting split up the last year was weird and tough, but I think it was good for both of us.”