Next up is the 1A Boys! Season previews are just the beginning of the content here at Iowa HS Tennis with the start of the tennis season just underway and the first matches getting ready to go next week. With many exciting things coming, take a few minutes to check out some of the key information about the 1A Boys division.
Key Dates:
March 11 - First Practices
May 8 - Districts
May 11 - Team Regionals Begin
May 21-22 - Individual state tournament
May 30-31 - Team State
Storylines
4 time defending team state champions Cedar Rapids Xavier lost Ryan Schmit and Andrew Miller to graduation, less departures than they had going into 2023. Can they do the unthinkable and capture a 5th title in a row?
Is this the year that Pella finally gets over the hump and wins a team title for the first time in program history? They have played runner-up to Xavier the last four years running.
All singles and doubles state champs are back. The singles state tournament has all four of its semi-finalists returning including frontrunner Caden Branum from Decorah. Branum is going for his second consecutive singles title.
Team State Title Contenders
Pella: Coach Brandt's Pella team has been on the brink of supremacy each of the last four seasons, but has ran into the buzzsaw that Xavier has been in that time frame. Returning almost their whole lineup, minus Cashen Thompson and Beau Bush, the Dutch have to be hungrier than ever to breakthrough in the championship match. Defending doubles state champions Jack Briggs/Josh Roozeboom are back at the top of the lineup and will be key in taking the final step.
Xavier: The Saints are the 3rd program in state history to achieve four state team titles in a row (Camanche 1983-86, Wahlert 2004-09), and are looking for their fifth straight championship. Sophomore Charlie Legrand is coming off a very impressive freshman campaign earning a runner-up state singles finish, and leading Xavier to the team title. Ryan Schmit and Andrew Miller depart the lineup and taking a lot of experience out the door with them. Coach Potts will have some guys in new spots this year and once again go through the tough MVC in their matches.
North Polk: Two of the top four players in 1A boys reside with the Comets, in the Moon brothers of Ethan and Easton. A more experienced North Polk squad in 2024, bring a bit higher expectations. The Moon's provide the best 1-2 punch in the state, but can their depth be rock solid this year to earn a state berth and challenge the perennial powers in Xavier and Pella.
Other teams to watch: Decorah, Wahlert
Players to Watch
Ethan Moon - North Polk
Caden Branum - Decorah
Jack Briggs - Pella
Roan Martineau - Wahlert
Tate Neymeyer - Aplington-Parkersburg
Tanner Laube - Grundy Center
Charlie Legrand - Xavier
Benny Ramker - Waverly Shell-Rock
Easton Moon - North Polk
Christian Jensen - Lewis Central
The big headlines, all the singles and doubles state champs are back, and Xavier is going for five straight. Caden Branum, the defending singles champion, is the leading favorite to repeat as singles state champion this spring. It will be interesting to see if other schools choose to load up in the doubles field and try their luck at a championship as Branum appears to be on another level right now with the rest of the top guys. The doubles field isn't going to be any easier, Jack Briggs/Josh Roozeboom from Pella are back and could elect to try and defend their title. They ran through the field last year having little trouble as they captured their first championship as a pair. Ethan and Easton Moon could elect for doubles, and they would be the next pair I think could challenge Pella. Charlie Legrand is back after a great freshman year, and I would expect him to be back in the singles field. On the team side, there could be a lot of movement in the rankings as the season goes on after the top two. I don't think right now there is a clear cut number three team, but who knows! It does feel like we are heading for the fifth edition of Xavier and Pella in the title match dun dun dun...
Team State Prediction
SF: Pella def. Wahlert
SF: Xavier def. North Polk
F: Pella def. Xavier
Singles State Champion Prediction
Caden Branum, Decorah
Doubles State Champions Prediction
Jack Briggs/Josh Roozeboom, Pella