Boys’ state tennis tournament to include three top ranked Gazette-area players

This year's boys’ state tennis tournament will feature a number of Gazette-area athletes, including the state three top ranked singles players in Class 2A.

In 2A play at Marshalltown, the state's No. 1 player, Anthony Schulte, rolled to a district title at Marshalltown. The senior downed his brother, Dylan, 7-6, 6-4 in the title match.

All champions and runners-up in both singles and doubles at each of the eight sites in both Class 1A and 2A advanced to the state tournament, on May 27-28. Class 1A qualifiers will play at Byrnes Park in Waterloo. The Hawkeye Recreation and Tennis Complex in Iowa City will host the 2A meet.

The doubles competition at Marshalltown was dominated by Cedar Rapids Washington. Coach Tom Neff's top two teams moved on to state as Luke Burkamper and Bjorn White downed Brock Davis and Preston Haefner, 2-6, 7-6, 1-0 in the final.

Iowa City High will also be sending its top two singles players to state. Senior Abhay Anil, ranked No. 2, was upset in the district final, losing 6-4, 6-4 to freshman teammate Willian Feagler on the Little Hawks' home court. The Iowa City Liberty doubles team of Jack Saunders and Sam Maddhi also advanced to state, losing to Dylan Victor and Garrett Weichers of Ankeny in the title match, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0.

Linn-Mar junior Garrett Bauermeister was the winner at the Cedar Falls district. The state's third-ranked player downed Cedar Falls' Ben Smalley, 7-5, 6-0 in the final. The Lions' No. 1 doubles team of Quentin Spolaore and Brock Whitham fell to Seth VandenBerg and Trenton Kruger of Mason City, 7-6, 6-3.

At Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Parker Holland took the singles title, with the five other qualifiers coming from Iowa City West. Holland defeated the Trojans' Pierce Hribar. West will also be sending both of its doubles teams to state. Anthony Medina and Derek Hua downed teammates Junze Sun and Ishan Harwani in the final.

In Class 1A play at Knoxville, the Cedar Rapids Xavier boys matched their girls’ team by sending qualifying its entire line-up for state. In singles, junior Charlie LeGrand, the No. 1-ranked player in 1A, downed Grant Golding, 6-0, 6-0 in the final. Jacob Schmit and Bennett Link topped teammates Bradey Johnson and Tyler Jasper in the doubles title match, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0.

At Decorah, the hosts are sending a solid group to state. The Vikings are sending both doubles teams as Liam Chamberlain and Caleb Krieg defeated teammates Elliot Brand and Tristann Hunter, 6-3, 6-4, in the final. Junior Keaton Nalean-Carlson also advanced to state in singles, posting a 6-2, 6-1 win over Clear Lake's Leif Lundberg in the final.