2025 1A Girls Preview

The 2025 season is here with the first practices getting started around the state last week and the first matches set to begin here on March 31st. Another edition of the high school tennis season is about to commence. In what is one of the most exciting times of the year, players, coaches and teams across the state are doing their best to get practices in before competition begins. Time to embark on the final spring tennis season on the girls side here in 2025.

Key Dates:

March 17 - First Practices

May 12 - Individual regionals

May 16 - Team regionals begin

May 30-31 - Individual state tournament

June 2 - Team final four

June 10 - State Co-Ed Tournament

Storylines

Pella captured their first team state title in 2024, in their fifth trip to the state tournament. They were the first public school to win the 1A girls team crown since Camanche in 2012. The Dutch, however, graduated five of their starters from the state championship team.
Kuemper Catholic and Clarinda both return six and five starters respectively, and look to improve off a state quarterfinal appearance each last spring. Both programs reached the state tournament for the third time in their respective programs history in 2024.
Following a singles state title in her freshman campaign, Xavier's Gabi Fleming will begin her title defense later this spring. Fleming has the opportunity over the next three years to become just the third player in Iowa High School Girls Tennis history to win four singles state titles. (Karen Moser of Waterloo West 1958-1961 & Megan Racette of Urbandale 1999-2002).
Columbus extended their streak of making the team state tournament to 29 straight seasons last year (and have the state record of 37 trips to the tournament). Returning more from last year than they did going into 2024, the Sailors are hoping to get back on top for the 23rd time.
Foreign exchange student, and 2024 fourth place singles state finishers, Jana Vila, is not listed on the roster for Mount Pleasant this season.
Two surprise teams in Spencer and Dike New-Hartford made the final four in 2024. Will there be any new surprise teams reaching new heights for their program? Or will some of these build on their previous success?

Team State Title Contenders

Xavier: A heartbreak ending in the 2024 team state championship, Xavier once again looks like the team to beat as the season begins. A state title has eluded them since they won it all in 2021 with a pair of runner ups, and a surprising defeat at the hands of Central DeWitt in 2023. The Saints hail the undisputed best player in 1A girls in Gabi Fleming, and return much of their lineup to get over the hump again in 2025.

Kuemper: A tremendous 2024 campaign, ended in a state quarterfinal appearance for the Knights. One of two teams that returns their entire lineup from a year ago, Kuemper will be seeking their 4th trip to the state tournament, and be looking to get back to the semi-finals for the first time since 1990 (back before there became two divisions!). Top player and 2024 state singles qualifier, Kaylie Simons will lead the way, and have great depth up and down the lineup throughout to contend for a championship this spring.

Columbus Catholic: Can you really ever count out the most successful tennis program in the state of Iowa? A record 37th trip to state was had last season, in what many would consider a 'down year' by the standards of this program. Returning four of six starters, the Sailors are in better position going into this season with more match experience than this time last year. Singles runner-up Kate Holton will enter her second season at the #1 spot for Columbus, and look to help lead the Sailors back to the team title match.

Other teams to watch: St. Edmond, Clarinda

Players to Watch

Kate Holton - Columbus

Gabi Fleming - Xavier

Adria Neymeyer - Aplington Parkersburg

Claire Smock - Pella

Lauren Gibb - St. Edmond

Riley Nothwehr - Clarinda

Kaylie Simons - Kuemper

Abigail Mangae - North Polk

Three Bold Predictions