Thoughts, Reactions to IGHSAU Class 1A-3A Regional Pairings

Brackets are out, scouting reports are being planned, and the “If/Then” scenarios are out there. Let’s take a look at the Class 1A - Class 3A Regional Pairings and what potential matchups and teams who could be some sleepers as they make their way to Cedar Rapids.   A quick side note - the IGHSAU waits until typically the beginning of October to make the pairings for regionals. This is typical for all bracketed sports and there is an “unofficial” seeding where the top teams typically have a more favorable route to state regardless of geography. In other states, teams are clumped into sections that are the same for every sport and are very rigid based on geography.   For example, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Wapsie Valley, and Janesville would for sure be in the same section in Class 1A. Hull-Western Christian and Boyden-Hull would always be in the same section in 2A, and in Class 3A it would most likely be a section with Osage, Union, Independence, and Mount Vernon all thrown in together. Are the regionals perfect? It’s always up for debate, but writing and keeping close tabs on Wisconsin, there was a section who had six teams ranked in the top ten and only one gets to go to state. And for Iowans, we are getting the chance to play a postseason...with fans, and after how 2020 has been, that can be a win in itself . [caption id="attachment_112235" align="alignright" width="344"]<img class="wp-image-112235" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/DSC03048.jpg" alt="" width="344" height="229" /> Unity Christian at state in 2019[/caption] How The West Was Split Sioux County is the county of five seasons with volleyball being it’s current along with harvest. In Orange City there is Unity Christian and MOC-Floyd Valley and then in Hull, you have Western Christian and Boyden-Hull. Let’s not forget about Sioux Center who has been in the rankings all season. In Class 2A, Western Christian heads West towards Emmetsburg and Boyden-Hull goes South. In Class 3A, Unity Christian will be a favorite in Region 1, but at the bottom of the bracket is Sioux Center and Cherokee which could potentially be a big matchup in Sioux Center (If seeding plays out). MOC-Floyd Valley will head South and could have a potential regional final with Humboldt. Humboldt has been in the past few regional finals and has Senior, [player_tooltip player_id="79026" first="Jori" last="Hajek"] of Humboldt brings plenty of fire power. The Wildcats carried an undefeated record heading into the Mason City tournament and dropped some tough matches to Osage and Waverly-Shell Rock.   Class 1A Wildcard Newell-Fonda is accustomed to being at the top of the regional when it comes to basketball. With the type of athletes they have, the Mustangs have found success in volleyball. However, buried in the regional is Council Bluffs St. Albert. The Saintes have plenty of experience that has played in big matches, including the state tournament and at the end of the day they have “The Jersey” where teams see it and know they will be a tough out in any match. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Let’s play 🤚- <a href="https://x.com/WapsieAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WapsieAthletics</a> roars back to force a set five. Plenty of outstanding defensive plays. Matthias for Wapsie is running a well balanced offense. Great hands and tempo! <a href="https://t.co/u8YNTW6iJC">pic.x.com/u8YNTW6iJC</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1314383682275348480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> G-R, Janesville, and Wapsie Split Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Janesville, and Wapsie Valley will not have to play each other to get to the state tournament. All of these schools are all close in geography, but have regionals going opposite directions from each other. In 2019, Janesville took out G-R in the regional final and then had to face Wapsie Valley in the state quarterfinals. WV would upset Janesville and finish state runner-up. GR went to state two years ago and still has one of the top attackers in Class 1A in [player_tooltip player_id="17239" first="Saari" last="Kuehl"]. Janesville has [player_tooltip player_id="41244" first="Gabby" last="Gergen"] who has been leading the way as a setter. Both Kuehl and Gergen will head to the top Division 2 conference in the country in the Northern Sun Conference with Kuehl going to Southwest Minnesota State and Gergen going to Wayne State (NE). [caption id="attachment_112245" align="aligncenter" width="297"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-112245" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/DSC01089-1-297x300.jpg" alt="" width="297" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="108422" first="Madelyn" last="Norton"] of Dike-New Hartford[/caption] Class 2A - As Long As We Aren’t With Dike Dike-New Hartford has been flipping back and forth between Class 2A and 3A. This year they are in Class 2A which this class is going to be extremely loaded with the likes of Western, Wilton, Dike-New Hartford, and a whole gauntlet of teams who will be eyeing for the big trophy. Dike-New Hartford will head West, but then there is the rest of the Cedar Valley that will have to duke it out between two other regionals. Denver has been on fire all season and will have Columbus and Grundy Center at the other side of the bracket if they are to make it to Cedar Rapids (if seeding plays out). There is also the region with Hudson, Beckman, and Sumner-Fred. [player_tooltip player_id="17243" first="Ashlynn" last="Kuhn"] can really do some damage for Hudson, but Beckman at full strength is tough to stop led by swiss army knife type of player in [player_tooltip player_id="79239" first="Kiersten" last="Schmitt"] who can do it all. [caption id="attachment_112247" align="aligncenter" width="440"]<img class=" wp-image-112247" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/DSC03023.jpg" alt="" width="440" height="293" /> Assumption at State in 2019[/caption] Class 3A - Region 8 - Get Your Tickets Early If seeding plays out, there will be a dynamite matchup between West Liberty and Davenport Assumption. Two schools who are extremely different, but have great volleyball squads. Both were at the state tournament last year and in previous years the route has had to go through each other, with Assumption taking the upperhand. On the pin, there’s [player_tooltip player_id="17227" first="Martha" last="Pace"] of West Liberty and [player_tooltip player_id="17244" first="Emma" last="Schubert"] of Davenport Assumption. Two other electric underclassmen are [player_tooltip player_id="17323" first="Macy" last="Daufeldt"] of West Liberty and [player_tooltip player_id="79708" first="Ava" last="Schubert"] of Assumption. Again, if seedings play out this will be a power-packed regional final match that is a must-watch.