2A BOYS
Team State Title Contenders
Waukee: The Warriors finished 3rd in the 2019 state tournament and return 4 of 6 starters from that squad. Led by Senior and former doubles state champion, Will Ecklund (Drake commit), Waukee may have the depth to compete with Iowa City West for the title come May. Expect some competitive matches over the season especially at the top when Waukee takes on Ankeny Centennial and Dowling with Ecklund facing Will Blevins and Daniel Lu. That being said, the Warriors should have great depth to lead them deep into postseason play.
Pleasant Valley: PV finished runner-up in 2019 (best finish in school history? may be wrong on that). One of the best teams for the Spartans two years ago, unlike Waukee, they only have two starters from that state team lineup returning in Jake Dolphin and Brady Adams. The Juniors will lead the way for PV this year and will be one of the top duos across the state. The biggest question will be the depth of this team and if it will be enough to match up to Waukee and Iowa City West. Do not count the Spartans out as they have proved to be a consistent force over the last several years and I expect them to do well again this year.
Players to Watch:
Will Blevins (Ankeny Centennial, Sr.): Blevins the Drake commit now a senior returns to the top of the Jaguars lineup in Ankeny. Blevins finished 4th in the state singles tournament two years ago as a sophomore and will once again be a contender. My big question is, will he go singles or doubles for postseason play? With the addition of Caleb Peterson one of the strong newcomers around the state, they would be a very serious contender for the doubles state championship.
Will Ecklund (Waukee, Sr.): Ecklund, also a Drake commit is ready to lead Waukee back to the state tournament. Ecklund who is the defending doubles state champion has all the tools to be another title contender yet again. I believe we are going to see him competing in singles for the postseason and challenging other top dogs for the crown. He will get tough matches in Blevins and Lu over the regular season I believe which will be great tests and measuring sticks for what needs to be done in late May.
Jake Dolphin (Pleasant Valley, Jr.): Our first non-senior on the list, Dolphin will most likely hold down the #1 spot for the Spartans this spring with the departure of multiple lineup players from the 2019 team. Dolphin had a great freshman campaign finishing 3rd in the state doubles tournament with then partner Nathan Wong. Along with Dolphin, Brady Adams is the other returning lineup player from the 2nd place team two years ago. Dolphin will be tough come state tournament time and someone to keep a look out for to go deep into the singles draw.
Eli Young (Iowa City West, Sr.): Half of the runner-up duo in the 2019 state doubles tournament, Young looks to be the candidate to fill the top spot for the Trojans after the graduation of Sam Shin, Jack Wenzel and Sasha Chackalackal. The Luther College commit along with teammates Mukundan Kasturirangan and Luca Chackalackal will form one of the best trios in the state. There is a lot of time between now and districts, but it will be interesting to see if Young will be in the singles field or be going for that extra step for the doubles title.
Grayson Zylstra (Cedar Rapids Washington, Sr.): Like Young, Zylstra will move into the top spot for the Warriors with Rami Scheetz and Ty Sherman gone to graduation. Zylstra has hit the tournament circuit hard since the last high school season and will be someone that can compete for the singles title in what could be a loaded field. While the Warriors as a team don't have as much depth as years past, expect to see Zylstra making a deep run into the state tournament.
Honorable Mentions: Caleb Peterson (Ankeny Centennial), Mukundan Kasturirangan (Iowa City West), Kyle Lassen (Cedar Rapids Jefferson)
1A BOYS
Team State Title Contenders:
Pella: The runner-up in the 2019 team tournament, Pella is returning three starters from that team led by senior Jack Edwards. In a battle for the ages with Xavier, Pella came up just short of the championship in a tight 5-4 meet in Des Moines. Edwards is coming off a 3rd place singles state tournament finish and will be considered a title contender with the likes of Horstmann and Charlie Fair. The Dutch shouldn't have too much of a problem returning to the final four and I believe they can setup a rematch with CRX.
Dubuque Wahlert: The Golden Eagles were another team that I and many others thought were top 4 caliber in 2019. However, the district/substate assignments always seem to put two of the best teams in the same section which prevents one from potentially moving on. Wahlert fell victim to this two years ago. Charlie Fair is back to lead Wahlert to a hopeful postseason run after helping the football team have a great season this fall. While they may not be as deep as recent years, the Golden Eagles will be a team to keep any eye on this spring.
Players to watch:
Cam Luhring (Aplington-Parkersburg, Sr.): Luhring, the defending state champion put together probably the most dominate postseason performance in Iowa history. He dropped one game in route to his 2019 title and will be the overwhelming favorite to repeat his feat. The Nebraska Omaha commit has battled various injuries over his high school career and I believe is ready to go for the start of the season. Look for Luhring to help Aplington-Parkersburg improve upon their substate final finish two years ago.
Jack Edwards (Pella, Sr.): Edwards put together a great sophomore campaign and really came on during the 2019 season which resulted in a 3rd place finish in the singles tournament. Flying under the radar a little bit as Edwards played behind Jordan Roozeboom, he will now hold down the top spot on the defending runner-ups. Look for Jack to continue great growth and improvement over the season and turn in another solid postseason performance.
Brady Horstmann (CR Xavier, Jr.): Horstmann is another player who has really come on over the course of the 2019 season and has continued his development in the last year. Leading the Saints as the defending state champions, Horstmann also had a great finish with fellow classmate in Hugh Courter as they finished 5th in the doubles tournament. The pair is the highest finishing returning pair two years later and would have a real shot at the title. One of the few lefties in the state, keep an eye on the junior this season.
Joseph Haag (Waterloo Columbus, Sr.): Haag will now assume the #1 spot with the departure of Daniel Buchanan, in which the duo finished 3rd in state doubles last season. I am not entirely sure on the depth of the Columbus team this year and I don't know if Haag will have a doubles parter as strong as Buchanan to make a run for the doubles finals this May. That being said, Haag would have a nice shot depending on the district assignments to qualify for state singles and make a run.
AJ Wilkins (Grinnell, Sr.): Wilkins was on the other end of the 3rd place doubles match at state against Haag/Buchanan with partner Lewis Jolly and took home a 4th place finish. Like Haag, Wilkins's partner Jolly has graduated and I am also unsure of the depth of this Tigers team. Grinnell made the state quarterfinal where they fell to Pella in 2019. The Wartburg College commit, I think we may see him in the singles draw during this spring for districts with a solid chance at making state.
Honorable Mentions: Jeff Miller (St. Albert), Hugh Courter (CR Xavier), Colin Reis (Denison-Schleswig)
2A GIRLS
Team State Title Contenders:
Iowa City West: The Women of Troy, winners of an epic 2018 state final over Ames, and runner-up to Ames in 2019 look to have one of the deepest teams this year. Returning 4 of 6 starters from 2019 and the addition of the younger Mascardo and Ella DeYoung, watch out for this very experienced and talented team. I am not sure who will get the nod at the top of the lineup whether that is former doubles state champ and Providence basketball signee Audrey Koch, or DeYoung, either would do a stellar job. I think it will take a lot of depth and firepower at the top from another team to really challenge the Women of Troy this spring.
Dowling: After a 3rd place finish as a team two years ago, Dowling once again will be a team that can make a deep run and challenge to be the top team. Dowling is led by defending state doubles champion Allison Szalay, Mackenzie Klein and Isa Valverde. There may not be enough depth to compete with Iowa City West just this year, but this is not a team to take lightly come postseason play. I think experience from this Dowling team will be a key factor should they play Ames coming up this year.
Cedar Falls: The Tigers were 4th place finishers two years ago and fielded one of their best teams in recent memory. Three starters from the 2019 team return in Mira Keeran, Malina Amjadi and Elena Escalada will lead the way for the Tigers pursuit of another strong state tournament finish. The addition of Madison Sagers and Maya Mallavarapu will also be key contributions in the middle to the top half of the lineup for how far this team can go in May. Should be an exciting meeting between Cedar Falls and IC West this year.
Players to Watch:
Arunadee Fernando (Ames, Sr.): Fernando finished runner-up in the singles state tournament in 2019 and returns for her senior season as the lead favorite for this years singles tournament. The second highest rated player in 2A according to Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), Fernando will once again be at the top of the lineup for the Little Cyclones. She will be one of the favorites and be looking to make that final leap for the singles title this spring.
Abbie Peterson (Ankeny Centennial, Fr.): There are a lot of new faces to Iowa High School tennis this spring whether that be freshman or now sophomores who missed last year, which makes it very exciting across the board in 2A. Abbie Peterson is one of these talented freshman coming in. Peterson is the highest ranked 2A player according to UTR, and ahead of Fernando by a little bit. Peterson will hold down the #1 spot and could help lead the Jaguars past the regional final where they finished up two years ago.
Allison Szalay (Dowling, Jr.): Szalay is half of the defending state doubles champion duo (partner Kaylyn Chleborad in 2019). As talked about above, Dowling will be a team to contend for the team title and Szalay will be leading the charge and be an important piece to the success of this team. Unsure if she will be seen in the doubles field again or take a crack at the singles draw in postseason. Either way, Szalay will be someone to fight for the crown in either draw.
Kathryn Zylstra (CR Washington, So.): The remaining list of players to watch here are all going to experience their first high school season. Coincidentally, they are all sophomores and didn't get to play last year. Zylstra who resides with the Warriors in Cedar Rapids comes in and will play the number one spot. She has vastly improved over the course of the last year and could be someone to keep an eye on this spring. Depending on how regional assignments turn out, she may be in a loaded region should they get paired with Cedar Falls/Iowa City West.
Ella DeYoung (IC West, So.)/Julianna Mascardo (IC West, So.): DeYoung and the younger Mascardo are both highly touted players in 2A this year. West lost Jessica Moonjelly to graduation their former number one player and return former doubles state champ Audrey Koch. I am unsure who will come out of the gate in the top spot for this team but I could see it being any of these three. Will be interesting to see who is playing singles and doubles this postseason at regionals for the Women of Troy.
Honorable Mentions: Audrey Koch (IC West), Puja Mekala (Waukee), Ramya Subrmanian (Pleasant Valley), Caroline Chandler (IC West), Caroline Mascardo (IC West), Abby Struble (Clinton)
1A GIRLS
Team State Title Contenders:
Fairfield: The Trojans had their 2019 season ended at the hands of Dubuque Wahlert falling in a very close meet 5-4 in the quarterfinals of state. Four of the six starters from that team are back including top player and defending state singles champion Yana Gaskell. I really do not want to see Fairfield and CRX matched up in the same regional as I think Fairfield has a good chance to take the next step and make it to the final four this time around.
Red Oak/Columbus: I put both of these teams here because I don't know much about them except that each team lost a lot of lineup players from two years ago. That being said, Columbus has been a powerhouse for what seems like forever and Coach Will is going to have his team ready to go as usual. Red Oak I believe has a few younger players from 2019 that are solid and could give the Tigers a big boost to get back to the final four and contend for the title.
Players to watch:
Yana Gaskell (Fairfield, Sr.): Defending singles state champion, and a runner-up finish to her name in 2018, Gaskell will be the overwhelming favorite to repeat her singles title. Gaskell is not only the highest rated player based on UTR in 1A, but is the highest rated player in the entire state on the girls side. This girl can play and I am excited to see where she ends up for her college tennis aspirations this coming fall.
Miyako Coffey (CR Xavier, Sr.): Coffey will be off to Hope College in Michigan to continue her tennis and academics after she graduates this spring. CRX is the defending state team champs, and Coffey is also the defending state doubles champion, with then partner Emily Jasper. Miyako may be one of the few players than could challenge Gaskell on the singles side. Will be curious to see which field she will be in when the postseason starts.
Sasha Hyacinth (Waterloo Columbus, So.): Hyacinth if my intel is correct is not just new to Columbus but new to the state of Iowa. Coming from New York, Hyacinth would take over the #1 spot for the Sailors. I could be completely wrong and she could be at a different school or not even in Iowa, but I am pretty sure she is at least in Iowa. Should she be on the Columbus team and playing, this is someone to keep an eye on and the damage she could do.
Courtney Carstensen (CR Xavier, Jr.): Carstensen was a huge contributor for CRX in their 2019 title run in the bottom of the lineup at five singles and three doubles. With the graduation of 2-4 players from that team, I imagine Carstensen will move up to the two spot. Will be curious to see if she stays with her partner from last season Ally Burger and hold down the one spot, or if they will be split and one of them will be partnered with Coffey at one or even two. With great strides the last year, Courtney will be a tough two for any opponent.
Other notables:
2A Boys Singles/Doubles Tournament Location?
With the August derecho causing damage to Vets, the usual location for the 2A Singles/Doubles state tournament, it is unclear where the new location is going to be for 2021. 1A resides in Waterloo at Byrnes Tennis Center, which leaves Ankeny as a viable option where the 2A Team tournament is held. Another interesting option coincidentally near Ankeny, is at the new Waukee Northwest High School (set to open in Fall 2021). They have a brand new 12 court facility, which looks to be laid out nearly the same as Prairie Ridge in Ankeny with multiple banks of courts, in this case four banks of three.
New faces in 1A Girls
Nearly the entire singles and doubles state tournament fields are not graduated with just a few remaining. I had a very difficult time in my players to watch section above because of this reason. However, this opens the door for so many new players to emerge and make a name for themselves by reaching the state tournaments and making a run. I am excited to see some new faces emerge, but in the meantime I am clueless!
2A Girls...DEPTH
Unlike 1A, the field in 2A girls is incredibly deep this year. The even cooler thing about this is not many of them are seniors! Fernando at Ames is on her last go around, as well as Koch/Chandler at IC West to name a few. It will depend a lot on who goes singles and who goes doubles for regionals but this is going to be quite a competitive season across the board from an individual standpoint.
Phew, I am out of breath (rather tired from typing). I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Iowa High School season preview for 2021. Appreciative of the fact that the season is going to happen this year after not playing a year ago and that is such a great feeling. Best of luck to all teams, players, and coaches this season and lets get rolling!
-Iowa HS Tennis
Thank you for the in-depth update!! Cannot wait to watch these players on the court!
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