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Cedar Rapids Xavier freshman Gabi Fleming captures Class 1A state singles championship
Freshman stays composed after slow start in final
IOWA CITY — Cedar Rapids Xavier freshman Gabi Fleming was down 5-4 in the first set of Saturday’s Class 1A girls’ state tennis singles title match.
About 45 minutes later, she was just a point away from winning the title.
Her facial expression at both points of the match — exactly the same.
“Obviously, I am excited when I play,” Fleming said. “I just try to keep it cool all the time and not get too mad at myself. I think that is really important when you play.”
After a tough first set, Fleming showed why she has been the state's top-ranked player all season in the second set, finishing off a 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 win over Waterloo Columbus sophomore Kate Holton at the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Center.
Fleming, who rolled into the final with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Mount Pleasant’s Jana Isanta Vila in the semifinals, survived a shaky start in the title match. She was down 5-4 with Holton serving for the set.
“The first set, I really wasn't playing my game,” Fleming said. “I was letting her dictate a little more and I was nervous, obviously.”
Xavier Coach Matt Foxhoven said Fleming’s demeanor was a big factor in her coming back to eventually take the set, winning 7-4 in a tiebreaker.
“She doesn't show a lot of emotion and the emotion she does show is positive on the big points,” Foxhoven said. “When she decides she is going to hit the ball, we feel like there is nobody in this class who can keep up with her.”
The second set was a complete reversal of the first. Fleming was in control from the start, building a 5-0 lead before closing out the match.
“In the second set, I just played my game and good things happened,” Fleming said.
The Xavier doubles team of Avery Link and Ruby Smith finished third, defeating Jersie Nitchals and Kennedy Paul of Estherville-Lincoln Central, 6-2, 6-3 in the consolation final.
Foxhoven was pleased with the way Link and Smith bounced back from a heartbreaking 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3 loss to eventual state champs Brooke Bloome and Isabelle Pierce of DeWitt Central in the semifinals.
“They had a tough one in the semis, but I am happy with the way they bounced back,” he said. “After they lost, they let it go and came back and had a great win in the third-place match.”
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