Kate to state
MHS senior Kate Sandvick earns state tennnis singles berth
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick scrambles to make a backhand return against Lila Frye of Dowling Catholic during their semifinal match at Wednesday’s Class 2A individual regional tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Sandvick defeated Frye 6-0, 6-1 to lock up her state singles berth.
PHOTO PROVIDED Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick poses with her state-qualifying “ticket” after finishing as the singles runner-up at Wednesday’s Class 2A individual regional tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Sandvick is the school’s first state singles qualifier since 2010.
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick makes a running forehand return gainst Lila Frye of Dowling Catholic during their semifinal match at Wednesday’s Class 2A individual regional tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Sandvick defeated Frye 6-0, 6-1 to secure her state singles berth.
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown’s doubles team of Trista Bratland, left, and Sophie Boone celebrate the final point of their three-set victory over Southeast Polk’s Kadie Cech and Maylene Jones in the opening round, 5-7, 6-3, (10-6).
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown sophomore Sophie Boone slams home a point at the net during doubles play at Wednesday’s Class 2A regional girls tennis tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex.
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown junior Karolina Cross runs up to make a forehand return against Ankeny’s Jaleigh Moen during singles play at Wednesday’s Class 2A regional tournament.
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick scrambles to make a backhand return against Lila Frye of Dowling Catholic during their semifinal match at Wednesday’s Class 2A individual regional tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Sandvick defeated Frye 6-0, 6-1 to lock up her state singles berth.
PHOTO PROVIDED Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick poses with her state-qualifying “ticket” after finishing as the singles runner-up at Wednesday’s Class 2A individual regional tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Sandvick is the school’s first state singles qualifier since 2010.
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick makes a running forehand return gainst Lila Frye of Dowling Catholic during their semifinal match at Wednesday’s Class 2A individual regional tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Sandvick defeated Frye 6-0, 6-1 to secure her state singles berth.
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown’s doubles team of Trista Bratland, left, and Sophie Boone celebrate the final point of their three-set victory over Southeast Polk’s Kadie Cech and Maylene Jones in the opening round, 5-7, 6-3, (10-6).
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown sophomore Sophie Boone slams home a point at the net during doubles play at Wednesday’s Class 2A regional girls tennis tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex.
T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE Marshalltown junior Karolina Cross runs up to make a forehand return against Ankeny’s Jaleigh Moen during singles play at Wednesday’s Class 2A regional tournament.
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The risk of furthering an ankle injury wasn't worth it for Marshalltown senior Kate Sandvick.
After all, she already had the reward.
Sandvick became the Bobcats' first girls' state tennis singles qualifier since 2010 by advancing to the finals of Wednesday's Class 2A individual regional tournament at the Marshalltown Court Complex. Once there, a misstep sent Sandvick into retirement from the championship match, but it didn't prevent her from taking that next step just the same.
Sandvick will play in the 2A state singles tournament Oct. 7-8 at Byrnes Park Tennis Center in Waterloo, representing the first Bobcat to reach the event since four-time qualifier and back-to-back state champion Krissy Lankelma (2007-2010).
A pair of straight-set victories in the quarterfinals and semifinals sent Sandvick, the top seed, through to state. She swept Des Moines Roosevelt's Lillian From, 6-3, 6-2, before dispatching Dowling Catholic's Lila Frye, 6-0, 6-1, to qualify for state.
"I was a little bit nervous about that match, but I was just trying to take it one point at a time and not think about the name on the chest and just play my game," Sandvick said.
In the final with Dowling's Kezia Edward (12-3), Sandvick was trailing 2-1 in the first set when she was forced to call it quits when she sustained an ankle injury.
"It was honestly surreal," Sandvick said of qualifying for state singles. "It just seemed like everything that I've been working for all season was just kind of a full-circle moment, and I'm just really excited to get another chance to play."
Sandvick (15-2) already has state experience in her bag after qualifying for the final spring 2A doubles tournament with then-senior Kennedy Feldman in 2025. The Bobcat duo went 1-2 at the state meet in Iowa City, narrowly missing the medal rounds.
In two weeks, Sandvick will become the Bobcats' seventh state singles qualifier.
"Kate had a fantastic run and I'm excited to see her continue playing this year," said MHS head coach James Christensen.
Sandvick entered the individual regional tournament with just one loss, coming to Boone's 1A state singles qualifier Maiya Phanchantraurai (21-0).
Wednesday's loss isn't inconsequential for Sandvick, as she will have to face a regional champion in the first round of state meet play, but getting to state in the first place was the most important aspect of the day.
"We knew it was going to be a tough day with all the fantastic teams that were coming over with Ankeny, Ankeny Centennial, Dowling, Southeast Polk and Roosevelt," Christensen said. "All great tennis teams, and our girls competed incredibly hard."
Sandvick wasn't the only Bobcat entry to win a match on the day. The doubles team of Trista Bratland and Sophie Boone defeated Southeast Polk's Kadie Cech and Maylene Jones in their opener, surviving a marathon match to prevail 5-7, 6-3, (10-6).
The reward was a contest with top-seeded Maddie Shell and Berkley Johnson of Dowling Catholic, which ended in a 6-0, 6-0 setback.
Marshalltown's second-seeded doubles tandem of Hanna Osgood and Kaelyn Coleman suffered defeat in their first match of the day, falling 6-1, 6-1 to Jessi Johnson and Victoria Valverde of Dowling in the quarterfinals. The Maroons, seeded fourth, advanced to the finals before falling to their Dowling teammates, 6-2, 6-0.
MHS junior Karolina Cross was the first Bobcat to bow out on the day, as her play-in match against Jaleigh Moen of Ankeny ended in a 6-3, 6-1 loss.
All six of the Bobcats to play individual regionals will return to the courts on Saturday for the first round of team regionals. Marshalltown is scheduled to host Mason City for a 10 a.m. dual to begin their quest for a state team tournament berth.
"We've had a few rainouts over the last couple weeks, so we haven't had a ton of match play, so it was great to get out on the courts today," Christensen said. "Mason City's a team that we saw earlier this year and we were able to win 10-1, so I think it's a favorable matchup for us."