2018 has brought a lot of ups and downs (i'm talking about you mother nature!) however, we are on the brink of the beginning of postseason! What an exciting time of the year. There has been great tennis all over the state this spring and now we will see what teams and individuals advance out of districts this Wednesday. Let's take a brief look at each district, and what teams and players we should watch out for.
For those of you that do not know how districts work, I will give you a brief 101. Teams are assigned to various sites where singles and doubles draws take place. Each team enters 2 singles players and 2 doubles pairs into the draws with the the winner and runner-ups moving on to the individual state tournament. Each singles win is 2 points and a doubles win is 3 points for their respective teams. Each team will add up their points and the team winner automatically moves on to the substate rounds. The teams that finish 2nd and 3rd will play a dual meet to decide who reaches substate as well. Happy Districts!
2A Boys:
Site: Bettendorf
Teams: Bettendorf, Davenport West, Davenport North, Muscatine, North Scott, Pleasant Valley
Potentially the most clogging of districts this year with Bettendorf and PV vying for a district title. Pleasant Valley won the regular season matchup as well as the MAC championship, but will they hold off the Bulldogs a third time? Time will tell, expect Bett and PV to advance to substate.
Site: Cedar Falls
Teams: Cedar Falls, Western Dubuque, Linn-Mar, Mason City, Prairie, Waterloo West
Let the post season begin for the Lions. Linn-Mar will be pumped up to get back to the state title match in hopes of taking down IC West after falling just short in the regular season battle. Linn-Mar and the host Cedar Falls will advance to substate.
Site: Cedar Rapids Kennedy
Teams: CR Jeff, CR Kennedy, CR Wash, Clinton, Dubuque Hempstead, Dubuque Senior
A bit more of an individual standpoint to keep an eye on in this district. If CR Wash elects to send Ty Sherman and Rami Scheetz to singles, they will compete with the favorite Rami Hemaidan from Kennedy. One of them would miss a trip to state. Will be interesting to see if Scheetz and Sherman go singles or back to doubles. CR Jeff has put together a nice season this year and I think they will advance to substate with Wash.
Site: Iowa City West
Teams: Burlington, Davenport Central, IC City, IC West, Newton, Ottumwa
This district is not a question of which team will take the title, but what will IC West do for their entries? The Trojans have a lot of options and combinations to send for singles and/or doubles. I am going to go out on a whim and say that Davenport Central will reach substate along with the Trojans.
Site: Johnston
Teams: Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, DM Hoover, CB Abraham Lincoln, CB Thomas Jefferson
#6 Waukee has a nice District to get a lot of entries to the state tournament. The Warriors are led by Noah Burmeister and freshman Will Ecklund. Johnston will be expected to finish 2nd in this district and advance with Waukee.
Site: Dowling Catholic
Teams: Ankeny Centennial, DM Lincoln, DM Roosevelt, Dowling Catholic, Norwalk, SEP
Here we have a nice district for a couple individuals. Assuming David Lu is in the singles draw, he could have another battle with freshman Will Blevins of Centennial. Dowling and Centennial will advance to substate, not sure which team will finish first. Should be close!
Site: Sioux City North
Teams: Ames, Fort Dodge, SC East, SC North, SC West, Lewis Central
Tim Ellis and company should dominate this district and advance multiple entrants to state. Your guess is as good as mine to which team takes 2nd place and moves on with the Little Cyclones
Site: Valley
Teams: Ankeny, DM East, DM North, Marshalltown, Indianola, Valley
Similar to the Ames District, Valley should take care of business on their home turf. Who advances with the Tigers? I am going to go with the Bobcats from Marshalltown to place 2nd.
1A Boys:
Site: Spirit Lake
Teams: Clear Lake, Estherville LC, LeMars, Spencer, Spirit Lake, St. Edmond FD, Storm Lake
Spencer should take this district title. 2nd place is up for grabs between a couple teams potentially. LeMars and Clear Lake may be battling it out to move on to substate.
Site: Denison
Teams: Audubon, Bishop Heelan Catholic, Cherokee, Denison-Schleswig, Harlan, Kuemper Catholic, St. Albert CB
Kuemper has taken a few losses this year after having a stellar 2017 campaign. Nonetheless, they are ready to get the postseason rolling and are the favorite in this district. Look for Denison-Schleswig to have some nice results and move on to substate.
Site: Atlantic
Teams: Atlantic, Clarinda, Creston, Glenwood, Red Oak, Shenandoah, Southwest Valley
The most Interesting district for 2018. Glenwood and Atlantic will go to war for this title. Glenwood took the regular season match 5-4. Since districts is all individual results with team implications, there is no question that these two teams will advance.
Site: Boone
Teams: Ballard, Boone, Clarke Osceola, Hampton-Dumont, Iowa Falls, Saydel, South Hardin, Webster City
I am expecting Boone to make a run for this district title and move on to the substate round. Ballard has also put together a nice season this year and may join Boone in the next rounds.
Site: Grinnell
Teams: Albia, Chariton, Grinnell, Knoxville, North Polk, Oskaloosa, Pella
Pella is the favorite in this district hosted by Grinnell. I believe 2nd place to move on to substate is up for grabs for some of the other teams. I am going to have go to with the host that advances with the Dutch.
Site: Maharishi, Fairfield
Teams: Centerville, DC Bloomfield, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Maharishi, Mount Pleasant, Burlington ND
Potentially the most heavy districts in 1A, Maharishi and Burlington ND are among the favorites to compete for this title. I am going to go with Maharishi to take home 1st place, and Burlington ND to to move on as well.
Site: Dubuque Wahlert
Teams: Assumption, Camanche, Independence, Maquoketa, Marion, Wahlert, Xavier
The host, Wahlert, is the heavy favorite in this region. Among the other contenders include CR Xavier and Assumption who will compete for a substate spot. Expect Xavier and Assumption to score close and for one team to edge the other out.
Site: Columbus Catholic
Teams: Aplington-Parkersburg, Columbus Catholic, Decorah, Grundy Center, Oelwein, Union La Porte City, Waverly-Shell Rock
WSR is the favorite in this district. They will hope to make a lot of their entries into the state tournament. I have no idea who will move on with the Go-Hawks so I will say that the 2nd spot in substate is up for grabs!
Hope you enjoy this quick preview of the 2018 Boys Districts! More material on the post-season will come out as we go. Feel free to comment with questions, thoughts or anything! Until next time!
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