The Iowa Boys Tennis Coaches have released team rankings for the start of the 2026 season in Iowa boys high school tennis.

Starting off the year in the No. 1 spots will be Waukee Northwest in Class 2A and Cedar Rapids Xavier in Class 1A.

Iowa City West, Johnston, Pleasant Valley and Linn-Mar round out the Top 5 in 2A while Dubuque Wahlert Catholic, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Decorah and Waverly-Shell Rock complete the 1A Top 5 behind Cedar Rapids Xavier.

Both Waukee Northwest and Cedar Rapids Xavier claimed the team state titles a year ago. The Wolves earned 5-0 wins over both Dowling Catholic and Iowa City West before besting Cedar Rapids Prairie in the finals, 5-1.

Cedar Rapids Xavier silenced Boone and Decorah, earning a 5-3 victory over Dubuque Wahlert Catholic in the championship match.

State Team Tennis Makes Change For 2026

New for 2026 Iowa boys tennis season will be substate team tennis, as the Top 32 teams from each classification advance to participate. Previously, all teams started play in team state just like individual state qualifiers.

Eight substates with up to four teams each will compete. There will be one host site for each substate for the semifinal round and the substate final.

Here are the Iowa boys high school tennis team rankings from the Iowa Boys Tennis Coaches.

Iowa Boys High School Tennis Team Rankings

Class 2A

1. Waukee Northwest
2. Iowa City West
3. Johnston
4. Pleasant Valley
5. Linn-Mar
6. Ames
7. Dowling Catholic
8. Cedar Rapids Prairie
9. Cedar Rapids Washington
10. West Des Moines Valley

Class 1A

1. Cedar Rapids Xavier
2. Dubuque Wahlert Catholic
3. Sergeant Bluff-Luton
4. Decorah
5. Waverly-Shell Rock
6. Pella
7. Central DeWitt
8. Boone
9. Ballard
10. Shenandoah

Iowa basketball just capped one of its most magical seasons in years with its first trip to the Elite Eight since 1987.

While the Hawkeyes’ Cinderella run through March Madness closed with a 71-59 loss against No. 3 seed Illinois, Iowa reached the doorstep of the Final Four and that should pay dividends for years to come. Head coach Ben McCollum and Iowa will work to retool for another NCAA Tournament run as soon as next season.

Cooper Koch and Tate Sage each authored enthusiasm for the future with their performance as underclassmen over the course of the season and during March Madness in particular. Iowa will return forwards Alvaro Folgueiras and Cam Manyawu and guard Kael Combs from the core that led the Hawkeyes to 24 wins and an Elite Eight berth.

Iowa head coach Ben McCollum had mentioned earlier in the year that it wasn’t ruling out the possibility of forward Tavion Banks returning for the 2026-27 season either. Banks would need a waiver for additional eligibility, stemming from his career beginning in the JUCO ranks at Northwest Florida State for two seasons.

BRONSON, Iowa (KTIV) – As recovery continues in Northwest Iowa from Saturday’s field fires, one family witnessed the fire firsthand.

On Saturday. March 28, more than 50 organizations from three states responded to a large field fire in Woodbury County.

Several of these organizations worked throughout the night to assist in emergency operations.

Ruth Smith, a Bronson resident, says she and her family saw the fire burn in their backyard, and before she knew it the field in her backyard was fully engulfed in flames.

“Came out and was looking out the back window and we could see the flames, out there in the field there,” said Smith. “It just, you know, spread so fast.”

Residents from Lawton, Bronson, and Moville had to evacuate their homes for their safety, including members of Smith’s family.

“My daughter and son,” said Smith. “They grabbed some of their stuff and threw it in bags, went down to my in-laws’ house.”

From her house, Smith says she could see her neighbor’s shed catch fire and how she felt throughout the night.

“The emotions are scary when the wind is that crazy and you know the ground is that dry and it spreads really fast,” said Smith.

A common fear for residents like Smith is the fear of running out of water.

“We’re out here and they’re no fire hydrants, so it’s pretty scary,” said Smith.

Derek Stanfield, the Salix fire chief says a portable water site has been set up at Lawton-Bronson High School.

“We are dumping water in these holding tanks and as trucks need water, they come here, we fill them out of the tanks,” he said. “That allows these trucks to get back on the road, get water, get back, so we don’t run out.”

Center now open in Bronson for those impacted by Saturday’s field fire

Woodbury County Emergency Management says a respite center is now open at Lofted Views Event Center, located at 2086 210th St. in Bronson.

Those impacted by the fires are encouraged to seek assistance by visiting the center to meet with American Red Cross case workers.

Management says for concerns about recovery efforts, residents can call (712)-222-4400.

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