Quick Reactions to the Brackets

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) released postseason brackets on Thursday. Teams from across the state learned of their path to next month's state tournament with some regional final locations still being decided.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The IGHSAU is faced with a tough task each year weighing uneven resumes. That deserves grace. It's also not above scrutiny. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's where I'll begin sharing my observations...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The Class 5A Region 8 Final location between Cedar Falls and Liberty still is up for grabs. It will be based on next week's final rankings. Right now, Cedar Falls is ranked No. 8, one spot higher than the Lightning. The Tigers play at the Dubuque Hempstead tournament this weekend, while Liberty competes at a more robust Westside Invite at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. Both teams will then play in the MVC Tournament Tuesday before final rankings are released<br><br>It's good that the union leaves wiggle room here and waits for the final resume. That said, I don't believe what <a href="https://www.gobound.com/ia/ighsau/vb/2026-27/cedarfalls/v/schedule" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.gobound.com/ia/ighsau/vb/2026-27/cedarfalls/v/schedule">Cedar Falls has done to date</a> should have it ranked ahead of Liberty. While each are 19-9, the <a href="https://www.gobound.com/ia/ighsau/vb/2026-27/icliberty/v/schedule" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.gobound.com/ia/ighsau/vb/2026-27/icliberty/v/schedule">Lightning's schedule is superior</a> as are its wins. It honestly doesn't seem that close. Hopefully when voters are considering the schools again next week, they'll take another look at the body of work from before this weekend. Or, maybe Liberty notches more of these types of wins that already should have impressed them.<br><br>No. 7 Pleasant Valley and No. 10 Johnston are in the same boat. The Dragons could overtake PV, but that path will be harder because the voters have more separation between them and Cedar Falls and Liberty. Although, Johnston won the head-to-head meeting with the Spartans, 2-0, last weekend, so we'll see. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>If searching for upsets throughout the regionals, 5A hasn't been a place where they reside. Seven of the eight regional final hosts last year reached the state tournament. Indianola's win at Waukee was the outlier. <br><br>This decade, of the 48 5A regionals finals contested, three road teams have won. In addition to Indianola in 2025, Valley won at Johnston in '22 and Johnston prevailed at Kennedy in '21.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>It's fair to praise the IGHSAU for its overall job in putting the brackets together if picking nits with 5A. Perusing the fields in each class, here are five potentially electric regional finals beyond the ones mentioned above: <br><br>1. Marion vs Waverly-Shell Rock<br><br>I've watched both of these teams in person this season and saw them compete at a very high level. Marion is powered by [player_tooltip player_id='759977' first='Abbey' last='Kirk'], [player_tooltip player_id='758819' first='Nayomi' last='Vasser'], [player_tooltip player_id='693817' first='Jaleaya' last='Oliver'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1043729' first='Hayden' last='Dietz'], while the Go-Hawks counter with [player_tooltip player_id='745662' first='Julia' last='Sundblad'], [player_tooltip player_id='893927' first='Amalia' last='Djoumessi'], [player_tooltip player_id='950565' first='Lizzy' last='Frazell'] and Lauren Gade. <br><br>2. Mount Vernon vs. Wilton<br><br>It's a shame that one of these teams will be eliminated before the state tournament but that speaks to the depth of talented outfits in Class 3A. [player_tooltip player_id='893732' first='Madison' last='Hoffert'], [player_tooltip player_id='555712' first='Sophia' last='Meester'], [player_tooltip player_id='488579' first='Mavrik' last='Schweer'], [player_tooltip player_id='893729' first='Madelyn' last='Paulus'] and [player_tooltip player_id='773029' first='Brynlee' last='Bettcher'] lead a deep Mount Vernon group. Wilton stands tall with [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery'], Aliana Walker, [player_tooltip player_id='894302' first='Taylor' last='Billhorn'], [player_tooltip player_id='917987' first='Abren' last='Bazal'] and Everly Huthmacher.<br><br>3. Regina vs Denver<br><br>Two more teams that I've watched in person this season are on a path to facing off with a trip to Coralville on the line. Two-time defending champion Denver is young, starting two eighth-graders. The Regals also have reloaded after graduating their top player from teams that reached state the last two years. [player_tooltip player_id='1002745' first='Brehanna' last='Murch'], [player_tooltip player_id='755663' first='Adeana' last='Murch'], [player_tooltip player_id='1003009' first='Lucy' last='Murch'], [player_tooltip player_id='739138' first='Mackenzie' last='McEwan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='965637' first='Mya' last='Herrmann'] lead a deep Cyclone rotation. Regina counters with [player_tooltip player_id='403543' first='Addie' last='Bollier'], [player_tooltip player_id='765628' first='Lyla' last='Chandler'], [player_tooltip player_id='902968' first='Jada' last='Wiltz'], [player_tooltip player_id='1003130' first='Lexi' last='Gaffey'] and Adalee Klein.<br><br>4. Holy Trinity Catholic vs. BCLUW<br><br>These programs are consistently among the championships contenders. This year, they'll likely need to go through each other to reach state. [player_tooltip player_id='493659' first='Adalyn' last='Kruse'], [player_tooltip player_id='992682' first='Olivia' last='Bendlage'], [player_tooltip player_id='790527' first='Kate' last='Pieper'], Elizabeth Griffin and Brynn Denning help make Holy Trinity Catholic one of the favorites to win it all in 1A. BCLUW, which reached the state tournament the last three seasons and reached the '24 title match, gets a boost from [player_tooltip player_id='878972' first='Sally' last='Ramirez'], Raine Sireno, [player_tooltip player_id='893271' first='Kennedy' last='Davis'], Cambria Wayman and [player_tooltip player_id='879803' first='Brinna' last='Benson'].<br><br>5. Ballard vs Bishop Heelan<br><br>I had both of these teams inside the Top 8 of my Class 4A preseason rankings feeling they would make it to state. Well, turned out, it very well could be one or the other, unless another squad in this region upsets its way to Coralville. I watched Ballard at the Grinnell tournament. The Bombers are packed with potential thanks to [player_tooltip player_id='728886' first='Lilly' last='Huntrods'], [player_tooltip player_id='729559' first='Halle' last='Gardner'], [player_tooltip player_id='709085' first='Hailey' last='Estrem'], [player_tooltip player_id='754258' first='Kendall' last='Ersland'], [player_tooltip player_id='939167' first='Norah' last='Mudd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490006' first='Harley' last='Askelsen']. Heelan holds up well with [player_tooltip player_id='493980' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'], [player_tooltip player_id='493653' first='Dara' last='Mollet'], [player_tooltip player_id='1020654' first='Claire' last='Nelson'], Addison Boatman, [player_tooltip player_id='1020273' first='Maggie' last='Vaandrager'] and Charlotte Patee.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->