1A Boys Substate

Road to the Final Four - 1A Boys

16 teams remain alive on a quest to reach the Final Four of the Class 1A Boys Team-State tennis tournament after competing in districts and preliminary substate. The only thing separating these teams from punching their ticket to the Final Four is winning two matches on Friday or Saturday. We are entering the grind of the post season with substate this weekend, singles and doubles state tournaments the next weeks with team state the Tuesday following memorial day.

See the updated bracket here! 🏆
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Wahlert/Xavier/Totally Insane Substate

🔥Preliminary Substate Results

#3 Waterloo Columbus defeated Decorah 5-0, #1 Dubuque Wahlert defeated Camanche 5-0

💭Round of 16 Predictions

#1 Dubuque Wahlert 5-2 vs #10 Aplington-Parkersburg

#2 CR Xavier 5-1 vs #5 Waterloo Columbus

🔑Key Matchup(s)

Charlie Fair (DW) vs Cam Luhring (AP) #1 Singles, Brady Horstmann (CRX) vs Daniel Buchanan (WC) #1 Singles, Mitchell Pregleer (DW) vs Ethan Shimak (CRX) #6 Singles

🏆Predicted Winner: Well this is the most crazy section I think I have ever seen in Iowa post season play so your guess is as good as mine for which team makes it out. AP has the best player in 1A in Luhring, Wahlert edged out Xavier 5-4 in the regular season, and Columbus has been a traditionally strong program. While I do think Xavier and Wahlert get their rematch in the Quarterfinals, I really can't predict who will win that. It is already bad enough the IAHSAA committee organized the district/section this way putting these teams together and it will be a shame only one of these teams will make the Semis as all are capable of going that far. If I must pick a "predicted winner" I will go with the Saints this time looking to be very hungry from their early season lost to the Golden Eagles

Denison Substate

🔥Preliminary Substate Results

LeMars defeated Clear Lake 5-1, #6 Denison defeated SC Bishop Heelan 5-1

💭Round of 16 Predictions

St. Albert 5-1 vs LeMars

#6 Denison 5-2 vs Spirit Lake

🔑Key Matchup(s)

Sean Moran (DS) vs Drew Hickerson (SL) #1 Singles, Reed Miller (SA) vs Zach Wingert (LM) #1 Singles, Sam Narmi (SA) vs Caleb Seuntjens (DS) #3 Singles

🏆Predicted Winner: #6 Denison-Schleswig. I can't say this section has the fire power as the section about but don't be fooled, these four teams combine for a 37-3 record this season. St. Albert has has their best season in program history with a regular season best 9-1 and their first district title. Denison has also had a great year (all four of these teams have), finishing undefeated and they also took out St. Albert 7-2 in the regular season. I don't want to say Denison and St. Albert will cruise in their substate finals, but I would not be surprised to see them advance with some ease. The Falcons will need Reed Miller to come up big for two points against Denison again, but will need some other players to step up to pull off the upset.

Ballard Substate

🔥Preliminary Substate Results

#7 Boone defeated North Polk 5-1, Norwalk defeated Atlantic 5-1

💭Round of 16 Predictions

#9 Boone 5-4 vs #8 Clarinda

#4 Ballard 5-3 vs #7 Norwalk

🔑Key Matchup(s)

Caleb Hamerlinck (BL) vs AJ Clarkwitt (NOR) #1 Singles, Seth Wohlgemuth (BL) vs Jacob Joss (NOR) #3 Singles, JD Hitt (CL) vs Connor Patterson (BO) #1 Singles, Nick Rose (BO) vs Seth Wohlgemuth (BL) #3 Singles, Marcus McPartland/Joey Zehr (BO) vs Alex Upah/Kyler Watson (BL) #3 Doubles

🏆Predicted Winner: #4 Ballard (very close). All three sections we have touched on so far are going to be very competitive in my opinion, with this one being the second competitive section. Ballard took a 6-3 win over Norwalk during the regular season in a tightly contested meet. Hamerlinck is the best player in this section and he will be a key player in getting Ballard to the final four. Boone and Clarinda did not play each other in the regular season, however, I believe this is going to be a dog fight to reach the quarters. Boone has a bit more experience and I will give them the edge here. A Boone vs Ballard Quarterfinal will provide some fireworks. Balled took their first meeting 5-4 where the 3 singles match may have been the key for the team win. Rose and Wohlgemuth went the distance to a super tiebreak last time and, well, this spot could decide who moves on and who goes home.

Pella Substate

🔥Preliminary Substate Results

Mount Pleasant defeated Burlington ND 5-0, Grinnell defeated Chariton 5-0

💭Round of 16 Predictions

#3 Pella 5-0 vs Mount Pleasant
Grinnell 5-1 vs Fort Madison

🔑Key Matchup(s)

Sam Avery (FM) vs Lewis Jolly (GR) #1 Singles, AJ Wilkins (GR) vs Jack Edwards (P) #2 Singles, Josiah Bailey (GR) vs Luke Diers (P) #5 Singles

🏆Predicted Winner: #3 Pella. The Dutch have breezed through this season with relative ease and I do not expect that to stop on their way to the final four. Pella is undefeated and has beaten the likes of Ballard, Boone, Norwalk and Grinnell respectively. Jordan Roozeboom is Pella's top player and the best player in this section and he will be leading the charge into Des Moines for a chance at the championship. Grinnell has lost their last three regular season matches before getting back on track with a shutout over Chariton in preliminary substate. Grinnell and Fort Madison could be a sneaky close match, and with Sam Avery having strong season for FM, they will be looking to pull off a statement win. Don't let a 7-2 win for Pella over Grinnell fool you in the Quarterfinals (assuming both make it) as no. 2 and 5 singles were very tight and both went to the Dutch in super tiebreakers. If this match isn't over after singles, doubles was quite close last time and I expect the same this time around.