Weigh-In Wednesday: Who Will Win 5A Title?

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I know what you're thinking - Howe has lost is mind? He's asking us who will win the Class 5A state title for Weigh-In Wednesday? Yes, I am.

Those of us following the sport tabbed Waukee Northwest the favorite after last year's state championship match. The Wolves lost to Pleasant Valley but brought their entire rotation back in 2025. And they've done nothing to hurt their status as the top dog heading into next week's tournament.

That said, the other schools will show up with talented student-athletes ready to make Northwest earn the title. And sports history is littered with examples of the favorites falling against underdogs putting forth extraordinary efforts.

So, feel free to pick the Wolves. Odds are on your side. You may also call for an upset, however. Weigh-in Wednesday is the time to do it.

Waukee Northwest (35-1)

Skinny: The Wolves' only loss came in a tournament against rival Waukee. They bounced back to win the CIML meeting against the Warriors and every other match since then by a sweep. Centennial did take them five sets on Sept. 2.

Key Players: Leah Janulewicz Leah Janulewicz 5'9" | DS/L Waukee Northwest | 2027 State IA ; London Taylor London Taylor 5'9" | DS/L Waukee Northwest | 2027 State IA ; Avery Cordes Avery Cordes 6'0" | MB/OH Waukee Northwest | 2028 IA ; Avery Vogt Avery Vogt 5'11" | S Waukee Northwest | 2026 State IA ; Logan Vogt Logan Vogt 6'1" | OH Waukee Northwest | 2027 State #101 Nation IA ; Cassidy Danburg Cassidy Danburg MH IA ; Piper Ladwig Piper Ladwig 6'3" | OH/RS Waukee Northwest | 2027 State IA ; Anna Pelds Anna Pelds 5'5" | DS/L Waukee Northwest | 2026 State IA .

Ankeny Centennial (32-5)

Skinny: Four of the the Jaguars' five losses have come at the hands of Waukee Northwest. They also dropped a CIML match to Ankeny. Other that, it's been full steam ahead.

Key Players: Ellie Pollock Ellie Pollock OH IA ; Kaelyn Rinehart Kaelyn Rinehart 5'8" | DS/L/OH Ankeny Centennial | 2028 IA ; Tatem Schmidt Tatem Schmidt 5'11" | S Ankeny Centennial | 2026 State IA ; Mady Ott Mady Ott MH IA ; Maegan Cheeseman Maegan Cheeseman 6'0" | S Ankeny Centennial | 2026 State IA ; Sophia Heither Sophia Heither MH IA .

Pleasant Valley (29-5)

Skinny: The defending state champions have kept rolling despite key losses from last year's squad. Their losses occurred against against Northwest, Centennial, Valley and Waukee in tournament. They fell to 4A North Scott in a five-set MAC match. PV beat Dowling and Iowa City West, two fellow 5A state tournament qualifiers.

Key Players: Clare Yeggy Clare Yeggy 6'1" | MB/RS Pleasant Valley | 2027 State IA ; Maren Ouellette Maren Ouellette 6'0" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2026 State IA ; Hanley Schmidt Hanley Schmidt 6'0" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2026 State IA ; Isabelle Kremer Isabelle Kremer 6'3" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2026 State #81 Nation IA ; Addison Allaman Addison Allaman 5'10" | DS/L/OH Pleasant Valley | 2027 State IA ; Mazie Sweers Mazie Sweers 6'0" | OH Pleasant Valley | 2027 State IA .

Dowling Catholic (18-11)

Skinny: The Maroons feature a youthful lineup that experienced ups and down this season against a difficult schedule. There's no doubting the high level of talent on this roster, however. It's a team capable of getting on a run.

Key Players: Gianna Stanfel Gianna Stanfel 6'0" | OH/RS Dowling Catholic | 2028 IA ; Kennedy Klein Kennedy Klein 6'0" | OH Dowling Catholic | 2028 IA ; Kaylie Klein Kaylie Klein 6'1" | OH/RS Dowling Catholic | 2027 State IA ; Ellie Muller Ellie Muller 6'3" | MB Dowling Catholic | 2026 State IA ; Ava Groeteke Ava Groeteke 6'1" | RS Dowling | 2026 State IA ; Caroline Crane Caroline Crane 5'11" | MB/RS Dowling Catholic | 2028 IA .

Ankeny (27-8)

Skinny: Like all of the teams in the CIML, the Hawks are battled tested against a tough slate. The highlight of their season was winning, 3-1, at Centennial, showing Ankeny is capable of doing damage in this tournament.

Key Players: Miya Steinkamp Miya Steinkamp MH IA ; Elle Isaacson Elle Isaacson 6'0" IA ; Marlee Ellison Marlee Ellison 5'10" | OH/DS/L Ankeny | 2027 State IA ; Hailey Flanders Hailey Flanders 5'8" | DS/L Ankeny | 2026 State IA ; Quinn Roush Quinn Roush 5'8" | MB Ankeny | 2026 IA ; Hailey Wiederin Hailey Wiederin 6'2" | OH/RS Ankeny | 2028 IA ; Raquel Risk Raquel Risk 6'0" | OH Ankeny | 2027 State IA .

WDM Valley (27-12)

Skinny: Another outfit with a strong resume based on competing well against a difficult schedule, the Tigers claim victories against Dowling and Pleasant Valley this season.

Key Players: Myla Rude Myla Rude L IA ; Brooklyn Brown Brooklyn Brown 5'9" | MB Valley | 2026 State IA ; Brynn Cibula Brynn Cibula 5'7" | OH Valley | 2027 State IA ; Thia Raridon Thia Raridon OH IA ; Kaelyn Wieland Kaelyn Wieland 5'8" | S West Des Moines Valley | 2026 State IA ; Ryan Connolly Ryan Connolly 5'11" | OH/DS/L West Des Moines Valley | 2028 IA ; Olivia Grubbs Olivia Grubbs 5'4" | S/RS West Des Moines Valley | 2028 IA .

Iowa City West (27-5)

Skinny: The Trojans return to the state tournament for the first time since 2016. They've faced two teams in this 5A field this season, falling twice to Pleasant Valley and once to Ankeny. Two of the defeats were by 2-1 scores.

Key Players: Cyan Blommer Cyan Blommer 5'11" | OH/DS/L Iowa City West | 2029 IA ; Izzie McDonald Izzie McDonald 5'4" | DS/L Iowa City West | 2028 IA ; Lila Eastvold Lila Eastvold 5'10" | S/RS Iowa City West | 2027 State IA ; Taylor Otte Taylor Otte 6'1" | MB/OH Iowa City West | 2028 IA ; Audrey Small Audrey Small 6'4" | MB Iowa City West | 2028 IA ; Sophia Austen Sophia Austen 6'2" | OH Iowa City West | 2027 State #90 Nation IA ; Josie Austen Josie Austen 6'2" | RS/OH Iowa City West | 2029 IA .

Indianola (27-16)

Skinny: Indianola delivered the upset in the regional final round, winning at Waukee, 3-2, on Tuesday night. It'll be a heavy underdog against Northwest on Monday, but it did beat the only team that took down the Wolves this season. It has a chip and a chair.

Key Players: Lauren Olson Lauren Olson 5'7" | DS IA ; Julia McGraw; Haley New Haley New MB IA ; Madison Grover Madison Grover 6'0" | MB Indianola | 2027 State IA ; Kennedie Rumley; Joviee Wilson.

*Poll will remain open until noon on Monday, when the action gets underway in Coralville