Warriors ready for state tennis challenge

It is “go time” for the Cedar Rapids Washington girls' tennis team.

The Class 2A state tournament begins a three-day run Thursday  in Iowa City and the Warriors, riding an undefeated regular season and a No. 2 ranking in the team event, are ready for the challenge.

The singles and doubles tournaments are today and Friday with team competition on Saturday. The 2A tournament will be held at the University of Iowa Tennis Center, the 1A meet at Byrnes Park in Waterloo.

The Warriors' undefeated senior, Katie Hammond, enters as the No. 2 seed in singles and teammate Lily Hartman, a freshman, drew No. 1 seed Jessica King of Ames in the first round. In doubles play, Washington's Lanie Sabin and Rina Moore qualified along with Kristen King and Olivia Brooks.

“Since the regular season has ended, we (have) dealt with colds and a bit of the flu bug with our girls,” Washington Coach Dan Reyner said. “We had a couple who, if it wasn't for final exams, wouldn't have even have been in school.

“Because of that, we have had to change our practice schedule. We have lightened things up so we can get rested and head down to Iowa City to hopefully do well.”

Also in 2A, City High's Eve Small is the No. 4 seed in singles and Kennedy's Sarah Lasecki and Lindsay Minder are in the doubles bracket along with Iowa City West's Olivia Lofgren and Elena Wilson.

Washington will open team play against once-beaten Urbandale at 9 a.m. Saturday. Ames and Clinton meet in the other semifinal.

“We hope to get to the finals and see if we are as good as we think we can be,” Reyner said.

In the 1A tournament, Independence's Jena Wilkinson is in the singles field and Western Dubuque's Hannah Hingten and Tracy Wulfekuhle are in the doubles bracket along with Decorah's Kylie Kruse and Katrina Shindlar. Hingten and Wulfekuhle are the first Bobcat girls to win a district tennis title.