The first of the Women's side, we have 1A individual regionals. For those of you that do not know the format, I will break it down. Unlike the boys side, this is strictly individual, there are no team implications at these regionals. There are eight regions and teams are allowed to enter two singles entries and two doubles entries. Players that reach the finals of the region have qualified for the state tournament. Region winners are eligible to be seeded. A runner-up is able to be seeded in the following circumstance, and you can read about that rule change here. May the odds ever be in your favor.
*The following rankings are based off the blog rankings from April 30th*
Individuals regionals are on May 15th
Site: Spencer
Teams: Bishop Heelan, Cherokee, Denison, Estherville, LeMars, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake
Here we go, first regional for the 1A girls in 2019! Sadly, I do not know much about any of the teams at this Spencer region. Spirit Lake, Spencer and Denison seem to be the strongest three teams. This is a great opportunity for a lot of players vying for a spot in the state tournament. There isn't a "big name" in this region and therefore lots of players have the chance to go deep into regionals and some make state. A couple players to look out for include Casie Barba of Spirit Lake, Autumn Rausch of Spencer and Hannah Auen of Denison. These three as well as their teammates will be fighting for those coveted state berths.
Site: Red Oak
Teams: Atlantic, Clarinda, #8 Glenwood, Harlan, #6 Red Oak, St. Albert CB, #7 Shenandoah, Southwest Valley
I would argue that is this one of the 2 most competitive regionals with the no. 6,7 and 8 teams vying for individual state berths. Red Oak leads the way with wins over both Shenandoah and Glenwood a few weeks ago. Red Oak was without Macy Baker to start the season, however, she is back and helping Red Oak have a great season. Baker and #1 player Sophie Walker headline the talented regional. Shenandoah's sisters of Nichole and Natalie Gilbert as well as Glenwood's Brooklyn Taylor join Baker and Walker. Walker and Baker are not doubles partners which would make you think they will be going doubles otherwise they would be playing together, but thats not always the case. The Gilbert's are a strong doubles pair that I believe will be competing in the doubles draw and at least make it to the regional finals, which means a trip to state. Taylor of Glenwood is another strong player at the top of the Rams lineup and could make things interesting over at Red Oak. Whatever the entries may be, expect a competitive regional.
Site: Norwalk
Teams: Audubon, #4 Ballard, Clarke, Creston, Kuemper Catholic, North Polk, Norwalk, Saydel
#4 Ballard has been fairly dominant this spring and as a team they look to challenge the top dogs in Fairfield, Wahlert, and Xavier. Balled is the favorite to get multiple entries into state this year with a slightly weaker region. Led by Lindsey Kaldenberg and Anna Krejcarova, the Bombers pair should be the favorites for the doubles title, however, until the draws are actually out, we don't know who will be in for singles or doubles. That being said, I am not sure what Ballard will do for their entries. Some other notables to watch out for at the Norwalk region is Saydel's Sofia Ordinteva. Sofia defeated Grinnell's Macy Harris earlier this year in straight sets, where Harris just upset Jorgensen of Pella last week in straight sets. Sofia has not dropped a set all year and sits undefeated, she very well has a shot against Ballard foes for a singles state berth. Kuemper Catholic's Isabel Schwabe is another too look out for as I think she will be in the singles draw trying to duke it out with the likes of Ordinteva and Ballard.
Site: Waterloo Columbus
Teams: Dike-New Hartford, Grundy Center, Iowa Falls, Oelwein, St Edmund FD, South Hardin, #1 Waterloo Columbus, Webster City, South Tama
The Waterloo Columbus regional. Columbus themselves have had yet another spectacular season with an epic battle against CR Xavier. From an individual standpoint, Columbus returned 4 of their 6 starters from last years title team led by Taylor Hogan last years doubles state champion. I am not completely sure what players will be entered into singles and doubles, but my best guess would be the top 2 doubles pairs will be in for doubles. Hogan/Grace Sullivan and Bella Fain/Elysse Trost. Other notables in this regional include Faith Hinz of Iowa Falls and Leslie Homeister Dike-NH. Both Hinz and Homeister could compete for a regional title if Columbus elects to go strong in doubles.
Site: Waverly-Shell Rock
Teams: Aplington-Parkersburg, Charles City, Clear Lake, Decorah, Hampton-Dumont, Independence, Osage, #5 Waverly-Shell Rock
A couple of undefeated teams are featured in this region in Decorah and Independence, in addition to #5 Waverly-Shell Rock. Decorah and WSR were suppose to play yesterday (thanks rain) and I am not sure when and if that will be made up, but those two are usually the powers of NE Iowa. WSR's Olivia Phillips (Wartburg commit), Sadie Hansen and Katie Wichman (Grand View commit) lead the way for the Go-Hawks. I am interested to see how WSR goes with their entries this year as I think the Phillips/Hansen pair is strong, but they are all strong singles players as well. Regardless, one of these three will be going singles or doubles, depending on what they enter. Decorah's Mara Frieden, the Upper Iowa commit, is undefeated so far this year and lead a deep Vikings team. Frieden I expect will be in the singles draw and should at the very least finish top four. Independence's Abby Davis has also had an excellent season as well and I would expect her to also be in the mix for top four in singles.
Site: Western Dubuque
Now to in my opinion, the other toughest region along with Red Oaks. #2 Xavier has been the only team to push Columbus to the brink, although they fell short 4-5, this is something the Saints are looking to build off of. Xavier is led by Sophomore Mikayo Coffey who is paired with Emily Jasper in doubles. The other doubles tandem for the Saints lies sisters Sarah and Maddie Abu-Nameh. It will be interesting to see if Xavier elects to have both these pairs in for doubles or if two of them will go singles. If two were to go singles I think that is going to be Coffey and Jasper. Wahlert's duo of Anna Freiburger and Caroline Hutchinson will also be competing for spots in the state tournament. It would be hard to imagine none of these six players to make state, but again that is all up to who goes singles and doubles, and if they all go doubles, one pair will be left out.
Site: Fairfield
Teams: Davenport Assumption, Davis County, #3 Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Maharishi, Mt. Pleasant, Burlington ND
Arguably the two best players in 1A reside from the home team Fairfield in their district, and those players are Yana Gaskell and Anatta Charoenkul. Charokenkul, the Purdue Northwest commit, is the defending singles champion where she outlasted Gaskell in the title match a year ago. This year it is Gaskell that has taken the top spot of the Fairfield lineup and both players are destined to be seeded 1 and 2 in the regional and make it back to state. This is where the rule change will most likely come into effect as they both were in the finals last year and one of them has to be a runner-up this year, and with the change, both should be eligible to be seeded this year. So who else does that leave in this region? Davis County and Fort Madison I think are going to be the next couple teams that can get a doubles entry into state. Fort Madison's Larissa Ferrill/Lanie Kuntz fell just short against Davis County doubles tandem of Isabella Tranquillo/Abby Vaughn to a match tiebreaker in the dual meet a couple weeks ago. Both pairs could make it to state this year.
Site: Pella
Teams: Albia, Centerville, Chariton, Grinnell, Knoxville, Newton, Oskaloosa, Pella, #9 Pella Christian
Last regional here in 2019 and it looks to be shaping up as a good one. #9 Pella Christian is undefeated so far as a team this year and they are actually taking on Pella here this afternoon, should be a good one! As far as this regional, Brooke Jorgensen (Winona State commit) of the Lady Dutch and Macy Harris (Wartburg commit) of Grinnell lead the way. Harris just scored a win over Jorgensen the other week in straight sets, which I do not think many people predicted, so great job Macy! I imagine they will be the two to meet in the regional final with the potential of a state seed on the line. As for the doubles, I see Hanna Blom/Abbie Nunnikhoven of Pella and Morgan Bush/Lizzy Posthuma of Pella Christian heading up the field. Again these teams are playing this afternoon and the #1 doubles match could be a preview of this regional doubles final. Look for all three teams, Pella Christian, Pella and Grinnell to get state qualifiers.
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