Predictions, Players to Watch in Class 5A Regional Brackets

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/pd-iowa-team-rankings-class-5a-final-super-16/">PD Iowa Team Rankings: Class 5A FINAL Super 16</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/pd-iowa-team-rankings-class-4a-final-super-16/">PD Iowa Team Rankings: Class 4A FINAL Super 16</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/predictions-players-to-watch-in-class-1a-regional-brackets/">Predictions, Players to Watch in Class 1A Regional Brackets</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/predictions-players-to-watch-in-class-2a-regional-brackets/">Predictions, Players to Watch in Class 2A Regional Brackets</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/predictions-players-to-watch-in-class-3a-regional-brackets/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/predictions-players-to-watch-in-class-3a-regional-brackets/">Predictions, Players to Watch in Class 3A Regional Brackets</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/predictions-players-to-watch-in-class-4a-regional-brackets/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/predictions-players-to-watch-in-class-4a-regional-brackets/">Predictions, Players to Watch in Class 4A Regional Brackets</a>   Believe it or not, postseason bracket play tips off for Class 3A-5A on Tuesday. Here's a closer look at each 5A regional brackets with predictions and players to watch:   REGION 1   Top-Seed - Waukee Northwest   Other Contenders - Waukee, Ames   Outlook - Waukee Northwest is not only an overwhelming favorite to win this regional, but the Wolves look poised to capture their third state title in the last four years. It can be tricky playing a rival in the final here, however, and Waukee boasts a strong roster.   Predicted Winner - Waukee Northwest   Players to Watch - [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'], [player_tooltip player_id='493601' first='Piper' last='Ladwig'], [player_tooltip player_id='545971' first='Avery' last='Cordes'], [player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'], [player_tooltip player_id='555820' first='London' last='Taylor'], [player_tooltip player_id='812248' first='Cassidy' last='Danburg'], [player_tooltip player_id='443092' first='Malia' last='Rogers'], [player_tooltip player_id='443125' first='Liv' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='498752' first='Allie' last='Ruddy'], Aubry Fineran-Zanders, [player_tooltip player_id='893276' first='Gabby' last='Timmermans'], [player_tooltip player_id='730397' first='Claire' last='Kenny'], [player_tooltip player_id='853815' first='Addison' last='Lynch'].   REGION 2   Top-Seed - Dallas Center-Grimes   Other Contenders - Iowa City High, Southeast Polk   Outlook - Thursday's winner between Iowa City High and Southeast Polk would be facing a daunting task against Dallas Center-Grimes, a team that's lost just two matches all season.   Predicted Winner - Dallas Center-Grimes   Players to Watch - [player_tooltip player_id='991341' first='Madison' last='Messerly'], [player_tooltip player_id='394331' first='Maggie' last='Leifker'], [player_tooltip player_id='729146' first='Anna' last='Jackson'], [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'], [player_tooltip player_id='730390' first='Ava' last='Smid'], [player_tooltip player_id='443085' first='Avery' last='Edgington'], [player_tooltip player_id='817622' first='Paisley' last='Heidgerken'], [player_tooltip player_id='493658' first='Hattie' last='Galloway'], [player_tooltip player_id='805985' first='Kaitlin' last='Loria'], [player_tooltip player_id='730426' first='Hazel' last='Schluckebier'], [player_tooltip player_id='780596' first='Audrey' last='Howe'], [player_tooltip player_id='802825' first='Maeve' last='Obermueller'], Rainie Pfohl, [player_tooltip player_id='763901' first='Berkley' last='Weiland'], Alayna Goldsberry, Olivia White.   REGION 3   Top-Seed - Ankeny   Other Contenders - Cedar Rapids Kennedy, North Scott   Outlook - Ankeny returned a strong foundation from last year's state semifinalist team. Kennedy and North Scott would need to play their best match and with the Hawks being quite a bit less than their best for an upset to occur in this region.   Predicted Winner - Ankeny   Players to Watch - [player_tooltip player_id='730419' first='Hailey' last='Wiederin'], [player_tooltip player_id='555797' first='Marlee' last='Ellison'], [player_tooltip player_id='732859' first='Elle' last='Isaacson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1046923' first='Kellen' last='Roush'], [player_tooltip player_id='992194' first='Quinn' last='Roush'], [player_tooltip player_id='490016' first='Raquel' last='Risk'], [player_tooltip player_id='758787' first='Katelyn' last='Mescher'], [player_tooltip player_id='901609' first='Hayden' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='555717' first='Kaycee' last='Cory'], [player_tooltip player_id='525829' first='Addison' last='Phillips'], [player_tooltip player_id='913911' first='Charley' last='Lovell'], [player_tooltip player_id='987319' first='Addison' last='Stallman'], [player_tooltip player_id='902809' first='Kamilah' last='Eller'], [player_tooltip player_id='1044363' first='Brinley' last='Schroeder'], [player_tooltip player_id='493996' first='Sydney' last='Soppe'], [player_tooltip player_id='886198' first='Alyssa' last='Schroeder'].   REGION 4   Top-Seed - Dowling Catholic   Other Contenders - Indianola, Linn-Mar   Outlook - The last of the state's Big Four contenders in Class 5A, Dowling Catholic could face resistance from the Indianola-Linn-Mar winner. More likely, the Maroons will reach the state tournament by making a statement in this region.   Predicted Winner - Dowling Catholic   Players to Watch - [player_tooltip player_id='730098' first='Caroline' last='Crane'], [player_tooltip player_id='500340' first='Kaylie' last='Klein'], [player_tooltip player_id='763850' first='Gianna' last='Stanfel'], [player_tooltip player_id='845755' first='Kennedy' last='Klein'], [player_tooltip player_id='758163' first='Jaya' last='Morrow'], [player_tooltip player_id='775193' first='Kate' last='Clendenin'], Audree Gerke, [player_tooltip player_id='493609' first='Madison' last='Grover'], [player_tooltip player_id='902417' first='Julia' last='McGraw'], [player_tooltip player_id='809649' first='Haley' last='New'], Emily Benge, [player_tooltip player_id='892895' first='Harper' last='McGraw'], [player_tooltip player_id='771525' first='Ava' last='Lampe'], [player_tooltip player_id='751769' first='Benita' last='Anyanwu'], [player_tooltip player_id='934241' first='Addi' last='Peters'], [player_tooltip player_id='849582' first='Ava' last='Frank'].   REGION 5   Top-Seed - Iowa City West   Other Contenders - West Des Moines Valley, Sioux City East   Outlook - Iowa City West advanced to the state tournament last season for the first time since 2016. To make it two in a row, the Trojans likely will need to knock off a Valley program that was a state semifinalist a year ago and a state participant four times this decade.   Predicted Winner - Iowa City West   Players to Watch - [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen'], [player_tooltip player_id='754657' first='Cyan' last='Blommer'], [player_tooltip player_id='610472' first='Josie' last='Austen'], [player_tooltip player_id='533845' first='Taylor' last='Otte'], [player_tooltip player_id='555736' first='Lila' last='Eastvold'], [player_tooltip player_id='540833' first='Izzie' last='McDonald'], [player_tooltip player_id='763526' first='Myla' last='Rude'], [player_tooltip player_id='443086' first='Brynn' last='Cibula'], [player_tooltip player_id='987629' first='Ryan' last='Connolly'], [player_tooltip player_id='991375' first='Olivia' last='Grubbs'], Nani Bell, [player_tooltip player_id='986928' first='Ava' last='Blackburn'], [player_tooltip player_id='893210' first='Laila' last='Mentzer'], Kennedy Reynolds, Brinley Winklepleck, [player_tooltip player_id='1046943' first='Thia' last='Shinall'].   REGION 6   Top-Seed - Ankeny Centennial   Other Contenders - Bettendorf, Muscatine   Outlook - Centennial sustained some serious graduation hits after reaching the state title match last year for the first time in program history. The Jaguars took time to grow with new faces in new places but are hitting their stride at the right time and a considerable favorite to take this region.   Predicted Winner - Ankeny Centennial   Players to Watch - Emma VandenHull, [player_tooltip player_id='1039016' first='Madi' last='VanBruggen'], [player_tooltip player_id='758828' first='Sophia' last='Heither'], [player_tooltip player_id='747361' first='Sidney' last='Rogers'], [player_tooltip player_id='493608' first='Bailey' last='Snyder'], [player_tooltip player_id='498069' first='Kaelyn' last='Rinehart'], [player_tooltip player_id='946860' first='Ellie' last='Pollock'], [player_tooltip player_id='771601' first='Kaitlyn' last='Amman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1039026' first='Brielle' last='Wilson'], [player_tooltip player_id='949060' first='Reece' last='Harrell'], [player_tooltip player_id='952192' first='Beatrice' last='Shirley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1051004' first='Haley' last='Engels'], [player_tooltip player_id='569671' first='Logan' last='Ramstack'], [player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'], Claire Wieskamp, Julliana Montez.   REGION 7   Top-Seed - Pleasant Valley   Other Contenders - Johnston, Prairie   Outlook - Pleasant Valley lost quite a bit of firepower to graduation after reaching last year's state tournament as the defending 5A champions. Johnston has faced a difficult schedule and will be ready to take its shot at the Spartans if it gets by a tricky matchup with Prairie.   Predicted Winner - Pleasant Valley   Players to Watch - [player_tooltip player_id='490015' first='Mazie' last='Sweers'], [player_tooltip player_id='555746' first='Clare' last='Yeggy'], [player_tooltip player_id='555773' first='Liv' last='Barudin'], [player_tooltip player_id='493657' first='Addison' last='Allaman'], [player_tooltip player_id='773976' first='Rachel' last='McCaulley'], [player_tooltip player_id='789484' first='Avrielle' last='Ohda'], [player_tooltip player_id='546566' first='Tabitha' last='Molden'], [player_tooltip player_id='815861' first='Lila' last='Shaw'], [player_tooltip player_id='831281' first='Cora' last='Shaw'], Genna Shaw, [player_tooltip player_id='768896' first='Izabella' last='Skinner'], [player_tooltip player_id='775182' first='Olivia' last='Marais'], Baylee Whitehill, [player_tooltip player_id='758812' first='Kaylee' last='Hagstrom'], [player_tooltip player_id='992691' first='Bentley' last='Rust'], [player_tooltip player_id='884220' first='Aubrey' last='Wehr'].   REGION 8   Top-Seed - Cedar Falls   Other Contenders - Liberty   Outlook - We waited to see what the IGHSAU would do with Cedar Falls and Liberty in its final rankings. The higher-ranked team would be home when they met for the regional final. The voters gave it to Cedar Falls despite Liberty finishing second in the Mississippi Valley Conference and having a stronger overall resume. It's not egregious, but it's odd. It'll be a toss-up with the Tigers catching the Lightning in their den.   Predicted Winner - Liberty   Players to Watch - [player_tooltip player_id='389853' first='Kennedy' last='Krecklow'], [player_tooltip player_id='781517' first='Hadassah' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='742408' first='Kinzie' last='Clayton'], [player_tooltip player_id='764299' first='Kenley' last='Mather'], [player_tooltip player_id='754242' first='Piper' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='555782' first='Layten' last='Schmidt'], [player_tooltip player_id='316380' first='Hadley' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='316419' first='Edie' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='493985' first='Sydney' last='Van Heukelom'], [player_tooltip player_id='273001' first='Ellie' last='Wilson'], [player_tooltip player_id='946868' first='Brooklyn' last='Wheeler'], [player_tooltip player_id='851203' first='Norah' last='Willey'], [player_tooltip player_id='758849' first='Ava' last='Meidlinger'].

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