We just had a tremendous weekend of Boys State Tennis on the singles and doubles side a few days ago and now the tide turns to team play after the Memorial Day holiday. First of all, I am hoping for nice weather and outdoor play as that tremendously prevents the day from being incredibly long, but also it's great to be outside to enjoy some tennis right? Only 4 teams remain in both the 2A and 1A brackets vying for a state championship. I will be doing team bracket live results showing who advances and who moves to the 3rd place matches, but I will also be doing my best to provide updates on team scores for all the meets throughout the day!
2A
Semi-Finals
#1 Waukee v #4 Valley
Waukee Breakdown: The Warriors may be sporting their best team in program history? Somebody should check me on that. One thing we all know if this team is the real deal and that showed this past weekend at the individual state tournament with freshmen Kaden Taylor and Quinn Monson capturing the doubles title along with Will Ecklund taking 3rd in the singles field. Waukee comes into the team state tournament undefeated on the year at 13-0 including a win over their next opponent in Valley. The Warriors drop off some after their top three but the bottom half still sports some of the best depth in the state making them a favorite to win this year.
Valley Breakdown: Valley enters the team state tournament once again and is one of the richest programs in Iowa High School history, with this being the 21st time in program history making the team final four. The Tigers come into the tournament with just one loss on the year, at the hands of Waukee 7-2 back towards the beginning part of the season. Valley otherwise has been pretty business like this year claiming wins against ranked foes in Marshalltown, Centennial and Mason City along the way. This team may not have a stud at the top like the other three teams remaining, but do have some pretty good depth that won't make any match easy for their opponent.
Prediction: Waukee def. Valley 5-0
#2 Iowa City West v #3 Pleasant Valley
Iowa City West Breakdown: You all know and have hear about the Trojans out of Iowa City for the past decade. This is the 10th straight season they have made it to the final four, and state champions 6 of the last 8 seasons. West once again is bidding to make the finals for a 10th straight year and capture another title, this time starting in the number two position. Another strong individual state performance over the weekend including a runner-up finish in doubles, 7th in doubles, as well as 5th and 6th in singles bring the Trojans into tomorrow looking pretty sharp. With only one loss on the year at the hands of Waukee, West has dominated the rest of their opponents over the course of the season. They will have to be ready to fight to claim another state championship.
Pleasant Valley Breakdown: Pleasant Valley once again is back into the semi-finals and has a strong team up and down the lineup this year. Like Valley and West, PV has only one loss on the year to Waukee, otherwise blanked the rest of their opponents 9-0 all year and claimed 1st at a few invitationals as well as the conference meet. The Spartans also had a great showing at the singles and doubles state tournament taking 3rd and 4th in doubles along with Jake Dolphin taking 7th in singles. They may not have as much firepower as some other teams at the top, but this depth should keep them in the match with West out of the gate tomorrow morning. Depth is going to be their path to making the finals.
Prediction: Iowa City West def. Pleasant Valley 5-2
Finals Prediction: Waukee def. Iowa City West 5-3
1A
Semi-Finals
#1 Xavier v #4 Spencer
Xavier Breakdown: 2019 defending champs are back as the top seed in 2021 looking for back to back team state titles for the first time I think in program history. The Saints have only one loss this year in a gauntlet of the MVC with their lone loss coming to Iowa City West, but wins coming over Linn-Mar, Cedar Falls and Wahlert during their impressive season. Brady Horstmann and Matthew Schmit brought home a state doubles title on Saturday and all of the other CRX entries placed at the conclusion of the tournament. The Saints look to be in prime position to repeat as a team, but nothing is going to come easy.
Spencer Breakdown: Spencer is a perfect 12-0 on the season with their best wins coming against Kuemper Catholic and LeMars twice. To get here, they beat LeMars in a thrilling 5-4 finish a few weekends ago in what could be their first trip to the final four? No clue on that fact or not. The Tigers did have a doubles team in Charlie Steele and Sam Feldmann compete in the state doubles tournament over the weekend, and while they did not place, they will be looking to lead Spencer to a strong team state performance tomorrow. This team was a nice surprise for me and I am sure many others this year as I know I didn't know anything about them even in the past few years, but they are here and ready to rock.
Prediction: Xavier def. Spencer 5-0
#2 Pella v #3 Wahlert
Pella Breakdown: Pella who was on the losing side of an epic state title match in 2019 is back and back with a statement this season. Although they haven't played many strong opponents, they have steamrolled all of the opponents they have face. A cool tidbit as well is they got to play an exhibition with 2A Valley last week or the week before and actually won that 5-4. Regardless of that outcome, that is nice preparation for the team as play begins tomorrow morning. The Dutch brought home runner-up finishes in singles (Lucas Heap) and doubles (Jack Edwards and Vaughn Thompson) on Saturday at the singles and doubles tournament in Waterloo. Nearly all of these guys were on the runner-up team two years ago and will bring their experience along for a strong day on Tuesday.
Wahlert Breakdown: Wahlert is traditionally one of the best programs in all of Iowa High School state tennis history and they will be adding to their storied program when the day is over tomorrow. Maybe not one of their strongest teams in recent memory, but this is still a good team that is going to be a tough out for Pella and anyone they have faced over the year. Charlie Fair and Jack Freiburger took home a 4th place finish in the doubles tournament while freshman Roan Martineau finished 5th in his state debut in singles. The Golden Eagles have some nice players up and down the lineup, but I think Fair and Martineau may be the X factors tomorrow in jumpstarting Wahlert's chances of making the finals.
Prediction: Pella def. Wahlert 5-2
Finals Prediction: Xavier def. Pella 5-3
-Iowa HS Tennis
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