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Iowa high school boys’ tennis 2024: Gazette area teams and players to watch
Decorah’s Caden Branum is back to defend his Class 1A state singles title
Mike Condon
Mar. 25, 2024 5:39 pm, Updated: Mar. 25, 2024 7:37 pm
Here’s a look at Gazette area teams and players to watch during the 2024 Iowa high school boys’ tennis season.
Boys’ tennis 2024: Gazette area teams to watch
Iowa City West — The Trojans will be in search of their third straight Class 2A state title. Coach Marshal Moellers will need to rely on some new faces this season, losing three seniors from a team that downed Waukee Northwest for the 2023 crown. West returns senior Samir Singh, who played at No. 1 singles last year, along with Patrick Selby, Ankur Karandikar and Junze Sun.
Cedar Rapids Washington — Coach Tom Neff's team qualified for the 2A state meet last year and returns a number of players from that unit, including seniors Colton Eilers, Thor White and Logan Sherman, juniors Luke Burkamper and Brock Davis, along with sophomore Bjorn White. “Obviously, I like our depth,” Neff said. “We are a very even and balanced team this year.”
Cedar Rapids Xavier — It appears the Saints could be in line for a fifth straight 1A state team title. Coach Jim Potts returns five of seven players from last year's team and is adding a talented freshman in Bennett Link. Sophomore Charlie LeGrand was the 1A singles runner-up last year while Jacob Schmit and Garrett Nurre combined for a fifth-place doubles finish. “With freshman Bennett Link joining the team this year I feel we will be in a good position to make another run at the conference title and another run at state,” Potts said.
Decorah — Matt Anderson returns Class 1A state singles champion Caden Branum to lead the way. Also back are seniors Seth Bolson, Gabriel Hiner and Aidan Nalean-Carlson, along with junior Liam Chamberlain for a team that finished fourth in Class 1A. The Vikings will be in search of a sixth straight conference championship. “We bring back a strong team after losing our 2 and 3 players who finished runner-up in (state doubles) last year,” Anderson said.
Linn-Mar — The Lions will once again likely be in the mix for 2A team honors under veteran coach Chris Wundram. Linn-Mar finished fourth in Class 2A last season and returns four players — seniors Jackson Kramer and Malcolm Rice, along with sophomore Garrett Bauermeister — who all placed in the top eight in the state doubles tournament last season. “We return seven guys with postseason experience,” Wundram said. “That being said, there are some really good teams around the state this year so we have our work cut out for us.”
Boys’ tennis 2024: Gazette area players to watch
With 2023 state results:
Garrett Bauermeister, Linn-Mar, soph. — Combined with Jackson Kramer to finish seventh in Class 2A state doubles and helped Linn-Mar to a fourth-place finish in the 2A team tournament.
Caden Branum, Decorah, sr. — Won 1A singles championship and helped Decorah to a fourth-place finish in 1A team tournament.
Brock Davis, Cedar Rapids Washington, jr. — 2A doubles qualifier with teammate Logan Sherman.
Garrett Nurre, Cedar Rapids Xavier, sr. — Combined with Jacob Schmit to finish fifth in 1A state doubles and helped Xavier win the 1A team title.
Jackson Kramer, Linn-Mar., sr. — Combined with Garrett Bauermeister to finish seventh in 2A state doubles and helped Linn-Mar to a fourth-place finish in the 2A team tournament.
Malcolm Rice, Linn-Mar, sr. — Combined with Zach Mersch to finish fifth in 2A state doubles and helped Linn-Mar to a fourth-place finish in the 2A team tournament.
Charlie LeGrand, Cedar Rapids Xavier, soph. — Was the 1A singles runner-up and helped Xavier win the 1A team championship.
Anthony Schulte, Cedar Rapids Prairie, jr. — Finished fourth in 2A state singles.
Jacob Schmit, Cedar Rapids Xavier, soph. — Combined with Garrett Nurre to finish fifth in 1A state doubles and helped Xavier win the 1A team championship.
Patrick Selby, Iowa City West, sr. — State doubles qualifier with teammate Junze Sun and helped West win the 2A state team championship.
Logan Sherman, Cedar Rapids Washington, sr. — State 2A doubles qualifier with teammate Brock Davis.
Samir Singh, Iowa City West, sr. — Combined with 2023 graduate Shivy Mannengi to finish eighth in 2A state doubles and helped West win the 2A state team championship.
Junze Sun, Iowa City West, jr. — State 2A doubles qualifier with teammate Patrick Selby and helped West win the 2A state team championship.