Meet Charlie Kirtland: Longmont Times-Call’s Player of the Year from Niwot

On November 22, Niwot coach Aimee Hites praised the skills of Cougars No. 3 singles player Charlie Kirtland, claiming he could have easily been the top player for most teams in the area. In fact, Hites enthused that Kirtland was not far off from being the ace on her own team this past fall.

Throughout the season, the sophomore played a pivotal role for Niwot, leading the Cougars to a first-round victory in the team-dual postseason before concluding the year with a fourth-place finish at the individual Class 4A state tournament in Pueblo.

Despite playing at No. 3, Kirtland’s impressive 13-1 record in the regular season and his strong postseason efforts earned him the title of Longmont Times-Call boys tennis player of the year.

“Between (No. 2 singles player) Oskar Hansen, (ace) LiChen (Liao) and Charlie, they were all very close,” Hites said. “Any one of them on any given day at practice could beat each other, all the way down to Sebastian (Moy) on our 1-dubs.”

Kirtland’s own unique style was defined by its quick pace and aggressive approach, with a touch of French influence. He revealed that he learned French before English while attending a bilingual school on the West Coast, and his mental fortitude and maturity beyond his years allowed him to overpower most opponents on the court.

During the regular season, Kirtland achieved 12 of his 13 wins in straight sets, with the one loss coming in three sets to Cheyenne Mountain’s Jake Schultz, who would later finish as the 3-singles runner-up.

Regardless of the outcome, his coach expressed confidence in Kirtland’s ability, stating, “He can lose the first set 6-0 and come back to win the match. That’s the kind of kid he is. He’s never out of it. Whenever he’s on the court, you know he has a chance to win.”

In the postseason, Kirtland continued to shine, winning a regional title and securing the lone singles win in the team’s first-round playoff victory. At the individual tournament, he was one of just three 4A underclassmen to win a singles match, reaching the semifinals before ultimately bowing out to Colorado Academy’s Jackson Gilliland, the eventual champion.

“Whatever is in his DNA, his mindset, is none like I’ve seen before,” Hites praised. “He’s a very determined kid. He could’ve been a captain for me as a freshman. He’s just that in charge.”