Boys Substate & Quarters

@ Johnston

Ankeny Centennial vs Johnston
Waukee vs Dowling

This substate features 3 top 10 teams and it makes for a heck of a day for tennis tomorrow. Ankeny Centennial shouldn't have too much of a problem with Johnston. Waukee beat Dowling 6-3 (state scoring) in the regular season and I am going to expect the same type of performance again. I think Waukee is a deeper team at the moment. In the Quarters, Waukee and Ankeny Centennial will have a shot to reach the final four and I am going to go with Waukee in a close one.



@ Ankeny

Ames vs Ankeny
Valley vs Lewis Central

Valley and Ames should reach the quarters with relative ease for a chance to advance to the Final Four. Valley defeated Ames 8-3 in the regular season (6-3 state scoring) and I would expect them to put on a similar performance tomorrow. I am going to go with Valley from this substate.


@ Linn-Mar

PV vs Cedar Falls

Linn-Mar vs Bettendorf

Another good substate region. Linn-Mar has another rematch with Bettendorf that they easily took at the beginning of the season. The Lions should advance to the quarters with little trouble. I also expect Pleasant Valley to reach the quarters as well. The PV - Linn-Mar matchup is one to keep an eye on. I believe the Lions are stronger at the top, but the Spartans may be a little deeper. I think this will be a close meet and I think this is a big opportunity for Pleasant Valley to take down a perennial Lions team and go to Ankeny.

@ CR Wash

CR Wash vs Ottumwa

IC West vs Dubuque Senior

I think this is a fairly straight forward substate region with CR Wash and IC West each winning and setting up a rematch to decide who goes to Ankeny. IC West defeated the Warriors 6-3 in Iowa City last month. I expect the same result this time around with CR Wash getting their points with Sherman and Scheetz, but the Trojans depth proving to be too strong, taking them to their 8th straight team state appearance.

Final Four Prediction: Valley, Waukee, IC West, Linn-Mar

1A

@ Boone

Boone vs Spirit Lake/Okoboji
Spencer vs Ballard

I imagine Boone and Ballard will advance to the Quarters. If that is the matchup, I expect Boone to advance through that round to the final four. Ballard has put together a nice season in 2018 but I think Boone will prove to be too strong.


@ Pella

Pella vs Mt. Pleasant
Fairfield Maharishi vs North Polk

Pella and Maharishi are the favorites in the substate rounds tomorrow morning and I would expect them to move on and face each other in the Quarters. Both teams have put together great seasons but I am going to go with Maharishi on this one.


@ Kuemper Catholic

Atlantic vs Denison-Schleswig
Kuemper vs Creston

2 Top 10 teams in this substate region in Atlantic and Kuemper. Kuemper is looking to build off a tremendous 2017 post-season by reaching the final four this year. I think Atlantic has been very good this year with one slip up early on. They will be ready to play and move through both matches tomorrow.


@ Dubuque Wahlert

Waverly-Shell Rock vs CR Xavier
Wahlert vs Grundy Center

Wahlert won't have too much trouble moving past the morning match and will await the winner of WSR and Xavier. I think WSR and Xavier could be a close match but ultimately the Go-Hawks will be victorious. In the Quarters, the #1 and #2 teams will face off (based on blogs rankings). I think both teams are quite similar and it will be an interesting match to move on to the final four. I think the Golden Eagles experience in the post-season year in and year out will help them push through.



Final Four Prediction: Boone, Maharishi, Atlantic, Wahlert