Iowa high school tennis notes: Marion girls surprised to move up to 2A, Xavier upgrades facility

Sports is often about the numbers.

The Marion girls’ tennis team had high hopes entering this season. With seniors Natalee Hartman and Michaela Goad returning off a third-place finish in the Class 1A doubles tournament along with three other regulars, the Wolves were primed to be among the best 1A teams in the state.

Then the numbers kicked in.

For girls’ tennis, the top 48 schools in terms of enrollment are placed in Class 2A. When the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the final enrollment numbers on March 15, Marion found itself at No. 48 with 15 more students than Council Bluffs Lewis Central.

It was something Marion Coach Andrea Hansen was not expecting.

“We were surprised to see that we were bumped up to 2A this year,” she said.

Marion is in a sharing agreement for tennis with Alburnett High School. That does add numbers to Marion's total.

“We have had a co-op shared agreement (in tennis) with Alburnett in recent years,” Hansen said. “We co-op share with Alburnett in other activities and it has never changed our classification.”

Despite moving into 2A, Hansen still has high hopes for her team.

“We're coming in strong with five returning seniors from last year's varsity team,” she said. “(We also have) Chloe Pilcher coming back after an ACL surgery.

“There is always good competition in the Wamac. Grinnell (joining the conference) will add an extra challenge.”

Cedar Rapids Xavier gets a facility upgrade

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If you have ever attended a tennis event over the years at Cedar Rapids Xavier, one factor always is a constant.

With the courts being in an open area, on a hill near the back of the school’s campus, windy conditions are the norm for players and spectators.

Some changes in the layout of the facility could alleviate some of that wind this season.

Last month, windscreens were installed around the courts in time for the start of the season.

Xavier girls’ tennis coach Matt Foxhoven said the upgrades will enhance the experience for all involved.

“We are very excited to host meets at Xavier this year,” he said. “Having windscreens all the way around the facility will hopefully help with our windy courts.”

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Foxhoven said spectators will be inside the windscreens on one side of the courts with an overhead screen to provide shade on warmer days.

“This is a facility we are proud of and we are excited to host future meets and events,” Foxhoven said.

Individual Iowa high school tennis rankings

Gazette-area players hold down three of the four top spots in the first set of singles rankings released by Iowa HS Tennis.

In the girls’ rankings, Cedar Rapids Washington senior Katelynn Kock is No. 1 in Class 2A while Xavier freshman Gabi Fleming was ranked at the top among Class 1A players.

Other area ranked 2A players include Iowa City Liberty’s Ella Gilbert (No. 3) and Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Lily Holland (No. 5).

Three other Xavier players are among the 1A top 10. Avery Link is No. 5, Isabel Tobin No. 9 and Ruby Smith No. 10.

Defending champion Caden Branum of Decorah leads the way in the first Class 1A boys’ poll, just ahead of Xavier's Charlie LeGrand. Other Xavier players in the top 10 include Bennett Link at No. 7 and Jacob Schmit at No. 9.

In 2A, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Anthony Schulte is No. 3. Iowa City West’s Samir Singh and Patrick Selby are eighth and ninth. Iowa City High’s Abhay Anil is No. 10.