It may seem like the girls’ tennis season ended just a couple of months ago.
And, in fact, it did.
Now, with the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union moving girls’ tennis to a fall sport, Ankeny Centennial coach Alli Gustafson and her players are gearing up for their second season of 2025. Centennial will host the Jaguar Kickoff Quadrangular against Dubuque Hempstead, Iowa City West and Valley on Friday.
“Our players were able to spend a lot of time on the courts this summer through a combination of summer camps, challenge matches, and just getting out to play with each other,” said Gustafson. “It’s been great to see their dedication and how much they’ve grown as players in between our spring and fall seasons. They committed to bettering themselves and the team this summer, and it is already paying off.”
The Jaguars struggled to a 3-11 record last spring, but gained a lot of experience along the way. They reached the semifinals of a Class 2A regional team tournament before dropping a 5-1 decision at Pleasant Valley, which then outlasted Ankeny to qualify for state.
Kaley Swanson provided Centennial’s lone win. The senior, who posted a 3-2 record at the No. 5 position, is among several returning varsity regulars for the Jaguars.
“We’re already seeing that experience from the spring pay off in a big way through their game play,” Gustafson said. “The girls are coming in with a lot more confidence, better court awareness, and stronger fundamentals. It’s clear they learned a lot from the spring, which is allowing us to jump right into more strategies and match play from the start. We’re able to spend less time reviewing the basics of tennis and scoring, and instead focus on how to apply those skills in real game situations. That foundation is really helping us hit the ground running this fall.”
Centennial played much of last season without Samara Peterson, its top player. She battled a back injury for most of the spring, but still qualified for the Class 2A state singles tournament and earned an eighth-place finish.
Peterson, a senior, is now healthy. She also qualified for state in doubles while playing with Megan Yuan as a freshman in 2023.
“Samara is feeling great so far and is doing really well,” Gustafson said. “Her game play has continued to develop over the summer, and she’s coming back for her senior season the best she’s ever been! It’s exciting to see her healthy, confident, and ready to lead the team this fall.”
Junior Talia Baca is among the team’s other returnees. She qualified for state as a freshman in 2024.
Seniors Kalyani Bhat, Natalie Carr, Imrie Hanson and Cece Weeser are also back along with sophomores Avery Bohnenkamp, Laura Schulz and Ella Sutherland. Sutherland posted a 4-4 mark at No. 4 singles last season, while Carr went 4-4 at the No. 6 spot.
“All of those girls were able to gain varsity experience and are back for this fall season!” Gustafson said.
Friday’s meet will begin at 10 a.m. at the Prairie Ridge courts.
“We began setting goals for our team as a whole and on an individual level (on Monday),” Gustafson said. “Our goals are to improve from last year, to commit to every point and never give up, and to focus on growing each day–whether it’s during a practice or at a meet. It’s all about consistent effort and progress throughout the season.
“We are excited to get our first matches under our belt on Friday!” she added.
