It is finally state tournament time on the girls side! The boys tournaments concluded yesterday and the girls individual state tournament is taking place Friday and Saturday while the team tournament finishes up on next Tuesday. Lots of great opportunities lie ahead for all qualifiers in the coming days to cement their name in Iowa HS Tennis history. Excited to continue to follow along as the season approaches its close for the 2023 chapter.
2023 State Tournament Notes
Locations
2A: Hawkeye Tennis and Rec. Center (Iowa City, IA)
1A: Byrnes Park (Waterloo, IA)
Attendance Fees
The IGHSAU is charging an admission fee of $10 per day of the individual state tournament and team state tournament on June 1. For more information, please visit: https://www.gobound.com/ia/ighsau/girlstennis/2022-23/tickets
Live Scoring.
For the first time ever, live scoring of all matches during the state singles and doubles tournaments will be provided! (courtesy of Iowa HS Tennis). All matches actually being played live and in real time will have their score online for anybody to see anywhere. Link to that page can be found at the Postseason HQ page, or be found here: https://ioncourt.com/tournaments/646ac3d6c6e046031834c89c/live-score
Updated brackets throughout the tournament can be found at the Postseason HQ
2A
The Singles Bracket
Defending champion Claire Gu of Valley headlines the field this year as the #1 seed. Close behind her potentially? Abbie Peterson of Centennial who opposes Gu as the #2 seed. Gu and Peterson did not play against each other in their regular season match back on April 13, when the Jaguars upended the Tigers, but this is my pick to the title match. Ava Petersen is in as the #3 seed while Andrea Porubcin is slotted as the #4 seed. With Katelynn Kock in the doubles field, I think Gu and Peterson are a step above the rest of the singles field, that being said, there is a lot of competition in my mind for finishing 3-8. Seven of the top 10 ranked 2A girls reside in the singles draw including the likes of Julianna Mascardo, Ella Gilbert and Kira Smith in addition to the seeds. The first round match of Gilbert and Smith may end up being the most intriguing, but also look out for a potential second round matchup of Ava Petersen and Jay Mascardo. A fun draw to see play out with around half being seniors and the other half of players anywhere from freshmen-juniors. Lots of talented players finishing up their career and many writing the latest chapter of theirs.
Seeds
Claire Gu, Valley
Abbie Peterson, Centennial
Ava Petersen, Dowling
Andrea Porubcin, Bettendorf
1st Round Match to Watch:
Ella Gilbert (IC Liberty) v Kira Smith (Ankeny) - Two players who made their respective state individual tournament debuts in 2022 will face off in the round of 16 in 2023. Gilbert has had a solid year all around facing a tough MVC slate, while Smith has battled injuries throughout the season and playing a tough CIML slate herself. Possible 3 set match here in round 1.
Finals Prediction:
The Doubles Bracket
The defending champs are back, Kathryn Zylstra and Katelynn Kock from CR Washington return to the state doubles tournament together, but this time, as the #2 seed once again. Maya Mallavarapu & Madison Sagers upended the duo during the regular season match between Wash and Cedar Falls and have earned the #1 seed. Following the top two seeds, there looks to be a ton of opportunity for many pairs to have a great state tournament this week. I don't see any other tandems breaking through the top 2 seeds this year, but never say never. There has been a couple of withdraws in doubles I had heard this week with two pairs pulling out for a few different reasons, giving the 3rd place teams in those regionals the opportunity to fill their spot.
Seeds
Maya Mallavarapu/Madison Sagers, Cedar Falls
Kathryn Zylstra/Katelynn Kock, CR Wash
Maddie Hockmuth/Allexis Moen, Valley
Anna Current/Sescie Haan, Clinton
1st Round Match to Watch:
Grace Frye/Julia Mauro (Dowling) v Alina Keshwani/Masha Shapiro - An intriguing first round match here between the CIML foes. I believe the #2 pair of Dowling taking on the #3 pair of Valley. The pair that gets through this I think has a great chance to reach the semi-finals with a favorable draw potentially going against the #4 seed of Clinton in the second round.
Finals Prediction:
1A
The Singles Bracket
Eight of the top 10 ranked players for 1A girls reside in the singles state tournament in 2023. Give it a heavy dose with #1 and #2 ranked Sophia Fain (#1 seed) and Alli Hagness of Columbus. Hagness is not eligible to be seeded as she did not win her regional (played teammate Fain). A very competitive singles field in 2023 is shaping up to be a great tournament. Each player is going to need to bring their best on Friday to stay alive for a top 8 finish and a quest for a state championship. In addition to a heavy dose of the Columbus 1-2 punch, Catherine Straus of Spirit Lake and a top four singles finisher in 2022 is the #2 seed and Avery Link opposes her on the top half of that side of the draw as the #3 seed. Potentially the most highly anticipated match of the tournament could be in the second round with Link against Hagness should they both advance. The one who makes it through that quarter along with Straus will most likely duke it out for a state title berth. The other interesting section of the draw is the #4 seed Emily Blom from Pella and her quarter. A tough section resides here and then the reward if you get through is more than likely the #1 seed.
Seeds
Sophia Fain, Columbus
Catherine Straus, Spirit Lake
Avery Link, Xavier
Emily Blom, Pella
1st Round Match to Watch:
Kaitlyn Zugay (Ballard) v Elise Davison (Camanche) - Two of the more under the radar players in the field will square off in the round of 16. Davision is returning to the singles field after her 2022 campaign and Zugay will make her tournament debut on Friday. Both with big early season wins respectively in their dual season schedule get to put their skills to the test against one another out of the gate.
Finals Prediction: #1 Sophia Fain v Alli Hagness
The Doubles Bracket
Sweeping the #1 seeds in the individual tournament this year, Columbus sits atop of the bracket with Kate Holton & Avery Hogan paired up to make a run. The duo may potentially be the favorite for the 2023 crown, but the doubles field is pretty wide open this year. Clarinda, Decorah and Marion claim the #2-#4 seeds in the tournament and none will have an easy path to stardom. Clarinda starts very tough right out of the gate with what may be the best regional runner-up pair in DeWitt. I honestly believe it is any ones game this year on the doubles side, that being said, it will be exciting to see who seizes the opportunity.
Seeds
Kate Holton/Avery Hogan, Columbus
Mayson Hartley/Taylor Cole, Clarinda
Annalise Skrade/Haley Gossman, Decorah
Natalee Hartman/Michaela Goad, Marion
1st Round Match to Watch:
Ruby Smith/Isabel Tobin (Xavier) v Presley Blommers/Lucy Roach - Smith/Tobin are new to the postseason scene and now have some experience under their belts over the last few weeks. Roach/Blommers on the other hand return to the doubles field in 2023 and put together a nice showing a season ago. The tandem to get through this could play spoiler in a tough second round match.
Finals Prediction:
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