Girls individual regional assignments were announced on Monday and will mark the start of the postseason for girls tennis across the state. With 16 regional sites ready to go next week, players from all over will have a chance to qualify for the state singles and doubles tournaments by the end of the day on May 11th.If you are looking for more information on how the girls postseason process works, feel free to check out my previous article earlier this spring Postseason Processto learn more about how everything operates.
2A Regional Assignments 1A Regional Assignments *Rankings are based on the 5/1 Iowa HS Tennis Rankings.
Class 2A Individual Regionals Tidbits
Host: Fort Dodge
Teams: #1 Dowling, Fort Dodge, SC East, SC North, SC West, Southeast Polk
The overwhelming team state title favorites, the Maroons, lead the charge at the Fort Dodge regional. It would be a surprise if #1 Dowling did not qualify all of their entries to the state singles and doubles tournament. Curious to see where Allison Szalay, the Gustavus Adolphus commit, ends up in terms of playing singles or doubles after being the defending state singles champ and a 2019 doubles championship. Would project Klein/Petersen to take another stab at the doubles crown after a runner-up finish last year.
Host: Johnston
Teams: #5 Johnston, CBAL, DM Lincoln, DM North, Mason City, Waukee
Johnston's top two of Allie Christensen and Dasha Svitashev along with Waukee's Ally Roeth headline this regional. Should the Dragon duo go doubles together, I imagine they would be the favorite to win this region and would open the door for Roeth in potentially claiming the singles title. Regardless of the entries, these three will be tough to grab state berths from.
Host: Valley
One of the things I feel pretty certain of is Valley's top player, Claire Gu, appearing in the singles field again. Gu has had nearly a flawless season and just one singles loss to Szalay, who defeated her in the state title singles match last year. Would think Gu is determined to get back to the championship match and have another shot in her junior campaign. After Gu, Valley has a lot of others that would be vying for state berths as I do not know if there are any others here that could challenge.
Host: Ames
Teams: #8 Ankeny, Ames, DM East, Roosevelt, Norwalk, Urbandale
Freshman Kira Smith of Ankeny has led the Hawkettes to a strong season this far and a #8 team ranking. Besides Smith being essentially a lock for a state tournament appearance, I really can't predict much more in this region. Let the games begin.
Host: Marshalltown
Teams: #3 Cedar Falls, CR Kennedy, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Waterloo East, Waterloo West
Maya Mallavarapu returns as half of the state doubles tandem from last year. Her partner at the time, Mira Keeran is not competing this season. Along with Mallavarapu is Madison Sagers, and these two form a very tough duo at the top. The Tigers are in line for qualifying a lot of entries to state this year it appears. Kennedy's Natalie Buelow could push for a regional finals appearance.
Host: Pleasant Valley
Teams: #6 Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf, CR Jefferson, Davenport Central, IC City, Muscatine
This regional may be fairly straight forward starting with Bettendorf's Andrea Porubcin and Elizabeth Alves. This tandem was a doubles state tournament place finisher last spring and destroyed PVs #1 pair in their dual meet. After that, the host Spartans should be too strong for most of the field and get multiple entries to the state tournament.
Host: Clinton
Teams: #7 Clinton, CR Prairie, Davenport West, Dubuque Hempstead, IC West, Linn-Mar
The biggest story of the year is IC West's previous top 7 players all choosing to not play this season, and as a result of that, the Women of Troy are a weaker team in this regional. Clinton brings in top two players Abby Struble and Anna Current and it is unsure if they will team up in the doubles field or try their luck in singles. Sasha Postnikov a freshman at Prairie has had a tremendous rookie year, only losing to the big guns of the MVC. Should she go singles, there is a good chance that she could win the singles regional.
Host: North Scott
The Warriors duo of Kathryn Zylstra and Katelynn Kock are coming off a 3rd place state doubles result a year ago and I have a feeling they will be back together this year to push for a doubles crown. If they do end up in the doubles field, that opens the door for Liberty's Ella Gilbert to claim a singles title or at the very least reach the finals. After these three, Wash and Liberty could be fighting for the remaining state spots.
Class 1A Individual Regionals Tidbits
Host: LeMars
Teams: #4 Spirit Lake, #9 Spencer, Bishop Heelan, Cherokee, Denison-Schleswig, Estherville, LeMars, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Storm Lake
The main name I know of in this region is Catherine Straus of Spirit Lake, and after that, I can't say I know a ton. Straus finished 6th in the state singles tournament last year and I would expect to be back in the singles field once again since she has played only a few doubles matches it looks like this year. There isn't a dominant force otherwise in terms of the players in this region and a great chance for a lot people to make it to state.
Host: Atlantic
Teams: #7 Kuemper Catholic, Audubon, Atlantic, Ballard, Boone, Harlan, Lewis Central, North Polk, St. Albert
#7 Kuemper who has been a nice surprise this year and some believe to be a top 5 team on the season. Even though these regionals are all individual based, Kuemper has a nice shot to get multiple entries to state. That being said, Lewis Central and St. Albert will also be in line for state berths. Landry Miller and Allison Narmi of St. Albert will be two players to watch out for and I'm intrigued to see if they will be in the singles or doubles fields.
Host: Shenandoah
Two new top 10 teams in Clarinda and Clarke along with traditional power Red Oak will clash together in this regional. In what I think is going to be one of the top two most competitive regions this year, a lot of players will need to bring it. Mayson Hartley of Clarinda potentially leads the way as the top player in the field. Looking forward to seeing the draws at Shenandoah.
Host: Waterloo Columbus
Teams: #2 Columbus, Aplington-Parkersburg, Dike-New Hartford, Dubuque Wahlert, Grundy Center, Independence, Oelwein, South Hardin, Western Dubuque
Possibly the most decorated Iowa High School Girls Tennis program in Waterloo Columbus is set to host this regional and in prime position to once again get a lot of entries to state. Coach Dave Will has a lot of strong players in the lineup in Chloe Butler, Sophia Fain, Alli Hagness, and Avery Hogan. Which of these players will be in the singles and doubles fields? Claire Walker of Wahlert will be a player to watch as well.
Host: Waverly-Shell Rock
Teams: #6 Decorah, Charles City, Clear Lake, Hampton, Iowa Falls, Osage, Waverly-Shell Rock, Webster City, Fort Dodge
Decorah and WSR have traditionally dominated their regional over the last few years and I would project they do so again. Mara Holland for the Vikings and Brooke Willis for the Go-Hawks lead each of their teams into postseason play. There could be a lot of combinations of doubles pairs and who goes into the singles field between these two teams. Players on other teams will really have to step up to have a shot at state.
Host: Cedar Rapids Xavier
Teams: #1 Xavier, Camanche, Central DeWitt, Grinnell, Marion, Maquoketa, Mount Vernon, South Tama, Union
Xavier's regional will be pretty straight forward for the most part as the Saints should get most if not all of their entries to state. It is unknown if Coach Matt Foxhoven will have top two players Courtney Carstensen and Ally Burger back in the doubles draw to defend their title or try their luck in singles. With Union's Bella Weber appearing not to play this year, I am not sure anybody else will be able to keep up with the Saints players this time around.
Host: Fairfield
Teams: #5 Assumption, Centerville, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Maharishi, Mount Pleasant, Burlington Notre Dame
Assumption appears to be the strongest team in this regional and have had the toughest schedule of all teams this season playing in the MAC. The trio of Mary Rolfstad, Ella Dilulio and Allison Halligan of Assumption and Tess Paton of Fairfield lead the field this year. Depending on how Assumption submits their entries, I would feel pretty good about these 4 moving on to state in one fashion or another. Paton I feel pretty confident we will see in the singles field.
Host: Pella Christian
Teams: #3 Pella, Albia, Davis County, Knoxville, Newton, Nevada, Oskaloosa, Pella Christian, Saydel
While I don't think this regional will be uber competitive, I do think there will be some competitive matches and a few tight finishes for state berths. Emily Blom of #3 Pella most likely enters this region as the top player from what I can see. Other notable names include Katy Roose of Pella Christian and Olivia Maasdam of Knoxville. Look for the Lady Dutch to grab send a few entries to state.
Enjoy the last week of the regular season!
-Iowa HS Tennis
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