The 2026 Boone girls’ tennis team put together one of the finest seasons in school history, turning an early setback into a championship campaign that ended with a Class 1A state team title, a No. 1 ranking, and a 16-1 dual meet record.
Freshman Maiya Phanchantraurai was named Class 1A First Team All-State, earned Class 1A Newcomer of the Year recognition, and finished the season ranked No. 2 individually in Class 1A.
Guiding it all was head coach Shawn Latimer, who was named Class 1A Coach of the Year.
Boone opened the season with its only defeat, a narrow 6-5 loss to Pella.
Rather than letting that result define the year, the Toreadors used it as motivation.
Boone proceeded to win its final 16 dual matches, defeating quality opponents throughout the season and ultimately avenging that loss to Pella when it mattered most during the state tournament.
By season’s end, Boone stood atop the final Class 1A rankings, ahead of No. 2 Cedar Rapids Xavier, No. 3 Pella, No. 4 Spencer, No. 5 Dike-New Hartford, No. 6 Central DeWitt, No. 7 Decorah, No. 8 Dubuque Wahlert, No. 9 Fairfield, and No. 10 Sioux City Bishop Heelan.
Tournament success
Boone captured team championships at both the Boone Invitational at McHose Park and the Tulip City Tussle in Pella on consecutive days in late August.
The success carried into postseason play, where Boone claimed the Class 1A state team championship.
The program also excelled at the state individual tournament.
Phanchantraurai advanced all the way to the state singles championship match and finished as the Class 1A singles runner-up.
The doubles team of Kaylee Kuehl and Livi Schneider added another medal to Boone’s collection by placing fifth at state.
Singles records
Maiya Phanchantraurai posted a 25-2 record at No. 1 singles and went 43-4 in completed sets while winning 269 games and was runner-up at the state individual tournament.
Senior Kaylee Kuehl anchored the No. 2 singles position, compiling a 13-3 record and winning 23 sets and 150 games.
Senior Livi Schneider finished a perfect 15-0 at No. 3 singles, winning all 27 completed sets while capturing 165 games.
Junior Claire Hardinger posted a 25-2 record at No. 4 singles, while winning 44 sets and 213 games.
Junior Olivia Conlin finished with a 11-6 record at No. 5 singles winning 20 sets and 142 games.
Freshman Harper Kuehl finished 13-1 at No. 6 singles and won 29 sets and accumulated 183 game victories.
Doubles records
Phanchantraurai and Hardinger posted a 9-0 record at No. 1 doubles.
Kaylee Kuehl and Schneider finished 16-1 at No. 2 doubles and qualified for the state tournament, where they earned a fifth-place finish.
Olivia Conlin and Harper Kuehl complied an 11-4 record at No. 3 doubles.
Senior Rozzie Stevenson and junior Michaella Anderson finished the season at 8-2 at No. 4 doubles.
Senior Halle Bailey and junior Sarah Owen posted a 4-6 record at No. 5 doubles.
With a 16-1 record, a No. 1 team ranking, a state team championship, a state singles runner-up finish, a fifth-place state doubles finish, an All-State newcomer of the year, and a Coach of the Year, the 2026 Boone girls’ tennis team established itself as one of the most accomplished squads in program history.
The combination of veteran leadership, emerging young talent, and unmatched depth made the Toreadors the standard for Class 1A girls’ tennis in Iowa.
Jill Lutz reporting
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