Cedar Rapids Xavier defend title in inaugural Fall tennis season

It was truly a marathon.

When the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union made the decision to shift the tennis season from the spring to the fall it set up a one-time scenario that would compress two seasons into a 7-8 month span.

The first fall season ended on Tuesday with Cedar Rapids Xavier and Waukee Northwest defending the team titles they won in June. Xavier defeated Decorah, 5-1, in the Class 1A final in Pella. Northwest downed West Des Moines Valley, 5-2, in the 2A title match, held at Northwest.

The Saints not only repeated as team champions in Class 1A, but they also completed a second consecutive "triple crown." Junior Gabi Fleming won her third straight singles title. The doubles team of juniors Tia Halabi and Gemma Younadam won their first title, following up on the spring win from 2025 graduates Izzy Tobin and Ruby Smith.

Xavier Coach Matt Foxhoven said his team was in a better position than most for the quick turnaround of seasons.

"We were fortunate that the move fell into place when it did, knowing we would have a good number of girls returning for the fall from the spring season," he said. "I think mentally it was more taxing than physically. The girls were ready for a break but knew they needed to keep working to get to our goals."

The Saints brought back four of their top six from the spring in Fleming, Halabi, Younadam and senior Lulu Rozeboom. Senior Gemma Zeckser and sophomore Kelsey Weiss both saw varsity action in the spring when Younadam was sidelined after undergoing an appendectomy. They were more than ready to step in to replace Tobin and Smith.

"There is really not much difference between the two teams," Foxhoven said when asked to compare his two 2025 champions. "Obviously we feel good sending Gabi out at No. 1, but with both teams we knew we could get wins in every spot in the line up.

"We really took the (Xavier football Coach) Duane Schulte mantra of 'do your job' to heart this last year. No matter what spot in the lineup you play you have to handle your business and do your job."

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Even as the marathon was nearing its end, adjustments had to be made. The original state tournament schedule had the quarterfinals and semifinals scheduled for Monday with the title matches on Tuesday. However, wet conditions in central Iowa on Monday forced a move to indoor facilities, which had a limited number of courts.

"Weather definitely changed things up," Foxhoven said. "The plan was to play two matches Monday but with the move indoors we were limited to one. I think in a way it helped us. We couldn’t spend all night last night thinking about the finals, so nobody was too worked up."

Xavier made quick work of Shenandoah in Monday's quarterfinals, winning 5-0. In the semifinals, the Saints rolled over Dike-New Hartford, 5-0, before downing No. 2 seed Decorah in the final.

"I don’t think people realize how hard they work to get to where they are at," Foxhoven said. "I think at times people just think they just show up and are good players and they don’t have to try. These girls put in the work and want to be great. They get together on their own and hit and don’t have to be pushed by anyone to get out and play. Just an unbelievably great group to work with."

Looking ahead to 2026, the Saints will be favored to win a triple crown for a third straight season. Fleming will be looking to become just the third player in Iowa history to win four state singles titles, joining Waterloo West's Karen Moser (1958-61) and Urbandale's Megan Racette (1999-2002). Halabi and Younadam could defend their doubles title and the team loses only Rozeboom and Zeckser to graduation.

That said, Foxhoven's message to his players on social media on Tuesday night after winning the team title:

"Proud of this group and love being their coach. Now everyone get some much deserved rest"