Year: 2019
Award: Tennis, High School
Location/Affiliation: Smoky Hill High School
- #1 Singles State Champion
- 17-0 Record, #1 Singles
Grit and resilience are two words that might be used to describe Valarie Negin. She is the Sportswomen of Colorado honoree in high school tennis and a sophomore at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora. 2019 was an amazing season for Valarie.
Despite being a tenth-grader, she was named team captain for the Buffaloes team and then proceeded to go 17-0 at her #1 singles position. At the 5A Girls Tennis State Tournament, Valerie showed her grit and resilience by surviving a trio of tough, three-set matches in order to finally win the #1 singles state title for Smoky Hill. That’s true grit to persevere through three set matches!
This title led her to be named the South Metro Girls Tennis Player of the Year, as well as the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) 5A Girls Tennis Player of the Year and First-Team All-State.