RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The Stevens High School girls tennis team was honored by Mayor Jason Salamun at Monday’s city council meeting.
Salamun recognized the team’s win during the 2026 Class AA state championships. It is the team’s third straight state title and its fifth win in the last six years.
The team took home top spots in both the singles flight 1 and doubles flight 1 matches. It is the first time the team has done so since 2006.
Team members and coaching staff attended the meeting and received challenge coins from Salamun.
Head coach Jason Olson said winning the title this year was more of an accomplishment than the team’s record would suggest.
“This was the first year we were not favored to win the state tournament,” Olson said. “We came in before the season ranked third or fourth by most people because we graduated more than anybody else out of the top five teams. We lost four of our returning varsity kids and every one of our kids had to jump up at least two spots. One of our girls jumped up, like, ten spots to make the varsity team this year. So they, really, didn’t know they weren’t the favorite and they didn’t play like they weren’t the favorite the whole year. They just came out and competed all the time.”
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