It was a clean sweep for Cedar Rapids Xavier at the Iowa girls' state tennis championships.
Gabriella Fleming, a sophomore, won her second Class 1A singles title in as many years without dropping a single game in the finals. Fleming, who lost just once this season and did not lose a set at state, also captured gold as a freshman.
In the championship match, Fleming downed Kate Holton of Columbus Catholic, who had knocked off Claire Smock from Pella in the semifinals.
“It is just all the work I have put in,” Fleming told the Cedar Rapids Gazette. “I have been preparing for this moment. Last year, I got a lot of the initial nerves out in the final, for sure. Other than that, I just feel it is just all the work I have put in and how hard I worked in the offseason.”
With her victory, Fleming becomes the first repeat singles champion in 1A since Anatta Charownkul in 2017-18. With being a two-time champion now, Fleming knows the pressure will continue to follow her in her quest to become the seventh three-time winner.
“I kind of like it,” she said. “I am the one to beat and it seems like no one could do it this year, so hopefully that continues. I kind of like it. I don’t feel the pressure that I feel like I am supposed to feel.”
The Cedar Rapids Xavier doubles team of Ruby Smith and Isabel Tobin took out a second consecutive pair from Dike-New Hartford in the finals, claiming gold over Izzy Norton and Aidalyn Tott. In the semis, Smith and Tobin bested Norton and Tott’s teammates, Addy Joslin and Lauren Muller.
Kira Smith of Ankeny capped off an unbeaten season with the 2A singles title, defeating Sescie Haan from Clinton. Smith, also the No. 1 seed, did not lose a set over the two-day event.
Dowling Catholic’s Grace Frye and Juju Mauro earned a straight-set victory for doubles gold when they defeated Mia Deines and London Taylor of Waukee Northwest.
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