2024 is the second year that the boys team state tournament is all played at one final site from the quarterfinals on. It seems that the changes in regards to districts and team postseason play have gone well, and this will mark the last part of those changes for us to see over the next two days. Quarterfinals and semi-finals are played tomorrow and the championship/3rd place match to take place on Friday. Waukee Nortwest and Wahlert enter the tournament as the #1 seeds. Last week was a great couple of days with the singles and doubles state tournaments, a lot of good tennis in a short amount of time and new champions were decided. Enjoy some tennis this week as the 2024 edition of Iowa HS Tennis comes to a close.
2024 Team State Tournament Notes
Locations
2A: Waukee Northwest High School (Waukee, IA)
1A: Hawkeye Tennis and Rec Center (Iowa City, IA)
Attendance Fees
The IHSAA is charging an admission fee of $10 per day of the individual state tournament and team state tournament on May 30-31. For more information, please visit: https://www.iahsaa.org/tickets/
Live Results.
The state will be entering results as matches come off. Updated brackets throughout the tournament can be found here: Postseason HQ. Follow twitter for updates as well!
2A Quarterfinals
Waukee NW Breakdown: The most dominant team this season, will get to play host to the team state tournament right in their backyard. The Wolves have a rare opportunity to claim the coveted triple crown as they captured the singles and doubles titles with Kaden Taylor, Kellan Croatt and Jake Nelson (for the second year in a row). Nonetheless, this program is in its third year of existence! This tournament is Waukee's to lose. The craziest part is most of the lineup returns yet again next season.
Cedar Falls Breakdown: A bit of an up-and-down season for the Cedar Falls Tigers in 2024 included a tough schedule against many ranked opponents, and what seemed to be only a couple of meets with their full lineup. Better late than never and the Tigers find themselves back into the state tournament for the second straight season, a first in program history, and the third overall time as a team.
Prediction: Waukee NW def. Cedar Falls 5-0
Linn-Mar Breakdown: 13th team state tournament appearance for the Lions of Linn-Mar. The Lions are looking to get back to the final four for the second consecutive year. While doubles is a strong suit for LM, their singles play is nothing to slouch at by any means with four veteran seniors in the lineup who bring in a ton of experience. A doubles pair who finished runner-up last week at state, and an undefeated season are on the line the next couple of days.
Cedar Rapids Washington Breakdown: A third straight trip to the team tournament here this spring for the Warriors out of Cedar Rapids. One of the more storied programs in state history, hasn't captured a team title since 1996, and has finished as runner-up a number of times in between. While there are no studs at the top compared to some other teams, this depth will sneak up on you pretty quick if you are not paying attention with a pretty experienced lineup. Wash gets a crack at rival Linn-Mar in the quarters.
Prediction: Linn-Mar def. CR Wash 5-1
Pleasant Valley Breakdown: Another strong performance at state doubles a week ago bodes well for the Spartans entering the team tournament this week. Led by senior Folu Adekunle, has some promising pieces to push for a state championship match berth. A very pedestrian schedule for the 2024 campaign could show a little bit in their first round against a battle tested Valley squad.
Valley Breakdown: Valley enters the team state tournament once again and is one of the richest programs in Iowa High School history, with this being the 25th time qualifying for tournament. A few tough breaks for the Tigers with Vyas Amalkar out due to injury the rest of the way. Valley has their work cut out for them in the quarters.
Prediction: PV def. Valley 5-0
IC West Breakdown: For the 13th consecutive season, the Iowa City West Trojans are in the state tournament. The Trojans will also be vying to make it to as many title matches in that same span again this spring. West has claimed the team state title in 8 of the last 12 seasons, however enter the state tournament as the lowest seed they have had in the past decade at #4. A tumble to Dubuque Wahlert hurt the Trojans chances at a top three seed entering tomorrow, but this team is 2-time defending champions for a reason, and were the very team that knocked out the favorites last spring.
Mason City Breakdown: The Riverhawks have reached their 2nd state tournament appearance in program history, with the last coming in 2021. A team that has gotten better as the season has gone on is in prime position to pull off an upset in the first round. In what will be the closest match of the first round, MC will need to play well and pull off some upsets up and down the lineup to take out the most storied program of the past 13 years.
Prediction: IC West def. Mason City 5-3
Semi-Finals Prediction:
Waukee NW def. IC West 5-0
Linn-Mar def. PV 5-4
Finals Prediction:
Waukee NW def. Linn-Mar 5-0
1A Quarterfinals
#1 Wahlert vs #8 SBL Wahlert Breakdown: A down year in 2023 has been followed up with a banner year in 2024. One loss on the season, and only the 4th school to beat IC West since 2011, the Golden Eagles come into the event as the top seed. Not the biggest studs at the top as some other teams, but the depth will make your life extremely difficult as the lineup goes down the list. Will the Golden Eagles add on to their program legacy over the next couple of days?
SBL Breakdown: One of the newest programs out there, SBL has earned their first state tournament berth in program history. Led by sophomore and 5th place singles state finisher Tyler Grote, this squad has nothing to lose taking on the top seed. It has been fun to follow this team all spring, and let's see if they can pull off some magic tomorrow morning.
Prediction: Wahlert def. SBL 5-0
Xavier Breakdown: Xavier is the 4-time defending team champions for a reason. They do however, find themselves in an unfamiliar role here as the #2 seed. A loss to Wahlert on the season for the first time in a w hile has the Saints looking from the outside in as they go for a 5th straight title. Xavier would not have a 5th edition in the finals against Pella should that happen as they would meet in the semis this time around.
Decorah Breakdown: Caden Branum just completed his third straight season in the state singles finals, and took home a second runner-up finish. Decorah put together a solid schedule considering their geographic challenges, with some out of state competition and the likes of 2A Mason City. The Vikings fell to Boone and WSR during the season earning them the 7 seed in the event.
Prediction: Xavier def. Decorah 5-1
Pella Breakdown: Pella gets into the 2024 team state tournament as the #3 seed, and they have been on the runner-up side of things for the last four seasons. The Dutch are undefeated on the year and have otherwise cruised through their schedule. Jack Briggs is the newest state singles champion and hopes to lead the Dutch back into the finals.
Boone Breakdown: Boone came into the season not as high on some people's lists (Including me) and they have been a nice story this year quietly knocking out their opponents one by one. A nice win over Decorah in the regular season along with a tight match against WSR, they will need to come out swinging from the first ball to get to the final four.
Prediction: Pella def. Boone 5-0
WSR Breakdown: A nice season from the Go-Hawks in 2024. Victories over both Boone and Decorah this season, and now a runner-up state doubles result from Benny Ramker and Luca Myers. A team that put together a tough schedule this spring could be in great position to learn from those matches as they come out tomorrow morning in the quarterfinals.
North Polk Breakdown: My #4 team all season enters the tournament as the #5 seed. North Polk didn't even earn the 1 seed in their substate, and then dispatched of Shenandoah in the substate final. The Moon Bros captured the doubles title last Thursday, and Landon Murch finished 4th on the singles side. A tough 1-3 gives them a chance against most teams. Can their depth provide enough support to advance?
Prediction: North Polk def. WSR 5-4
Semi-Finals Prediction:
Wahlert def. North Polk 5-2
Pella def. Xavier 5-4
Finals Prediction:
Wahlert def. Pella 5-3
Good luck everyone!
-Iowa HS Tennis
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