The Boone girls’ tennis team captured the Class 1A State Team Tennis Championship with victories over Fairfield, Pella and Cedar Rapids Xavier Monday and Tuesday, October 12 and 13 at Caldwell Park in Pella.
“What a sweet two days of tennis,” head coach Shawn Latimer said.
The Toreadors entered the tournament with a balanced lineup featuring seniors Kaylee Kuehl, Livi Schneider and Rozzie Stevenson, juniors Claire Hardinger and Olivia Conlin and freshmen Maiya Phanchantraurai and Harper Kuehl.
“This was the culmination of a dream that was started in a middle school classroom 6 years ago with our Sunday night “power chump” program,” Latimer said. “In the end the chumps became champs!”
Latimer had previously led the Boone girls’ tennis team to a state championship in 2008.
Quarterfinals: Boone 5, Fairfield 0
Boone began its title run Monday morning with a 5-0 win over Fairfield.
Phanchantraurai set the tone at No. 1 singles with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Natalie Steele.
Kaylee Kuehl followed with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Ria Ross, while Schneider earned a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Sriya Yammanur.
Hardinger added another point with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Mareyn Dunkin, and Harper Kuehl defeated Kinzley Dunkin, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6 singles.
Boone’s five singles victories gave the Toreadors control of the dual as they advanced to the next round.
Semifinals: Boone 5, Pella 2
Later Monday afternoon, Boone beat Pella, 5-2, and advanced to the state finals.
Phanchantraurai dominated at No. 1 singles, defeating Addi Namminga 6-0, 6-1.
Schneider earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ellie Smock, and Hardinger cruised past Macy Westerkamp 6-0, 6-1.
Harper Kuehl added another point with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Sierra Leathers.
Pella picked up victories from Reagan DeJong over Kaylee Kuehl and Trinley Gibson over Conlin, leaving Boone with a 4-2 lead after singles play.
The Toreadors needed one doubles win to secure the dual, and the No. 1 team of Phanchantraurai and Hardinger delivered.
The pair defeated Namminga and DeJong, 6-1, 6-0, to clinch the deciding point and send Boone into the state championship match.
“Knocking off a tough undefeated Fairfield team in the quarterfinals and then beating our freinds and rivals Pella in the semifinals was a great accomplishment on its own, but we still had more magic left,” Latimer said.
Finals: Boone 5, Cedar Rapids Xavier 2
In the championship match Tuesday, Boone completed its tournament run, beating Cedar Rapids Xavier, 5-2, and securing the Class 1A state title.
Schneider won at No. 3 singles, defeating Kelsey Weiss, 6-4, 6-2.
Hardinger followed with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Ziah Harrington at No. 4 singles.
At No. 5 singles, Conlin earned a hard-fought victory, outlasting Grace Negrin, 6-4, 7-5.
Harper Kuehl completed Boone’s singles wins with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Taylor Valenta at No. 6.
Xavier picked up victories with Gabriella Fleming over Phanchantraurai and Gemma Younadam over Kaylee Kuehl, leaving Boone holding a 4-2 lead heading into doubles.
Needing just one more point to secure the dual, the Toreadors got it from their seniors.
Kuehl and Schneider won in third-set tiebreaker, 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (8) over Fleming and Valenta.
“Watching our senior duo of Kaylee and Livi win a thriller in a three-set match was such a great way to bring home the title,” Latimer said.
The remaining doubles matches were in Boone’s favor when play concluded.
Phanchantraurai and Hardinger held a 6-3, 3-6, 3-1 lead over Xavier’s Younadam and Weiss.
Additionally, Conlin and Harper Kuehl were in control, leading Negrin and Evelyn Bern 6-2, 5-1.
“Taking on a senior-laden, two-time defending state champions in Xavier was a tall order, but our girls kept up the stellar play and pulled off the upset,” Latimer said.
Complete results were previously posted to kwbg.com
Throughout the tournament, the Toreadors received contributions from every position in the lineup.
The championship marked the culmination of a season filled with success for Boone.
With a lineup that blended veteran leadership and emerging young talent, the Toreadors proved to be the top team in Class 1A and finished the season as state champions.
Jill Lutz reporting
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