Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Will Feagler saw the state-title clinching point and sprawled backward onto the court.

The City High sophomore lay still for a several seconds soaking it all in on a sun-splashed afternoon at West High.

After being surrounded by teammates and friends just moments away from the area where he hit the game winner a still sweating Feagler hugged family members off the court.

As media members approached for interviews Feagler had a simple request after claiming the Class 2A state tennis title.

“Do you mind if I sit down for this?” Feagler asked.

Feagler more than earned a seat and his first state title on Thursday afternoon.

Feagler battled back from a loss in the opening set and outlasted Cedar Rapids Prairie sophomore standout Dylan Schulte in a third-set tiebreaker to earn the Class 2A state singles title with a 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 win in the title match.

“I was definitely expecting a close match,” Feagler said. “He’s a great player and we have known each other since we were six years old so we both knew it was going to be a challenge and I was just glad I was able to pull it off.”

With the state title Feagler becomes the fourth player in City High history to win a state singles title and gives the Little Hawks their eight singles crown.

Feagler was the first City High player to reach the 2A title match since Joe Hoff in 2017 and the first Little Hawk to claim a singles title since 1963.

“It feels great,” Feagler said. “I’ve trained 100 percent every day for the past three years so it just feels great that it pays off.”

The win over Shulte in the finals completed a 17-1 season for Feagler and avenged his only loss of the season, a 6-7, 6-3, 10-7 loss to Schulte in the regular season finale on May 7.

Just like the regular season meeting earlier this month the state title match came down to a third-set tiebreaker.

This time it was Feagler that scored the key points late in the match.

“Physically Will has really changed from last year to this year and that really makes a big difference,” City High coach Jeff Hightshoe said. “The first time they played at our place Will won the first set and lost the second set and lost in a 10-point tie break. When Dylan got up in the beginning it was just making sure Will got his legs back under him and got going in.”

Feagler was dominant on his way to the title match.

On Wednesday he defeated Bryson Rehmeier of Indianola 6-0, 6-0 in the opening round and downed Prabhas Gupta of West High 6-3, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

Feagler defeated Waukee Northwest senior Maaarten Beekhuis 6-1, 2-1 (retired) in the semifinals to set up his showdown with Shulte in the finals.

“Will played as Will plays,” Hightshoe said. “That’s the best part about him is he’s very consistent and he’s continually pressuring his opponent.”

On a sunny day with temperatures in the high 80s both players battled the heat and fatigue in the finals.

Feagler found a way to have something left in the final set.

“It’s really just always trusting myself,” Feagler said. “I’ve been down way more than that and come back to win a match so I knew I could pull it off. I never stopped believing myself.”

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating