By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

Last season was a historic one for Iowa City tennis.

For the first time, it was West High against City High for the Class 2A boys singles title as West High’s Jiung Jung defeated City High’s Joe Hoff in the state title match.

Those weren’t the only two area players to turn in strong seasons a year ago.

The West High doubles duo of Cole Schneider and Jack Wenzel finished runner-up at the state meet.

On the girls side, West High’s Emma Koch placed sixth at the state meet and City High had a pair of doubles tandems qualify for state.

It figures to be another strong season for Iowa City tennis.

Here are five players to watch this season as the tennis season gets rolling full-time.

Jiung Jung

Senior, West High

Already a two-time Class 2A singles champion and one of the most decorated prep players in state history Jung is attempting to become just the fourth three-time singles champ in state history.

Jung has won 50 consecutive matches after going 25-0 last season to post his second straight unbeaten season.

A two-time Mississippi Valley Conference divisional athlete of the year, Jung placed fourth at the state meet in 2014.

Joe Hoff

Senior, City High

Hoff solidified his status as one of the state’s top players last season with a runner-up finish at the Class 2A state singles meet.

A Creighton recruit, Hoff went 19-4 last season in singles play with three of those losses coming to Jiung Jung including a loss to Jung in the state title match.

Hoff is a three-time, first-team all-conference selection and was the MVC Mississippi Division Athlete of the year.

Cole Schneider/Jack Wenzel

West High

The duo advanced to the Class 2A doubles title match falling to the top-seeded Pleasant Valley tandem of Charlie Humes and Sriman Sugumaran in the title match.

Schneider, a senior, posted a 14-1 record in singles play last season while Wenzel, a sophomore, went unbeaten in singles play during his freshman season.

Emma Koch

Sophomore, West High

In her first season of high school tennis Koch finished sixth in singles at the Class 2A state meet last spring.

Koch was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection last season after playing number one singles for West High.

Bihosta James-Lejarcegui/Lucy Wagner

City High

Both players return with state meet experience after playing in the 2A doubles tournament last season.

A junior, James-Lejarcegui has teamed with departed senior Susanna Gianola to reach the state tournament each of the past two seasons, placing seventh in 2A doubles last year.  

Wagner, a senior, reached the state doubles tournament playing with Innes Hicasasmaz last season.