**photo courtesy of AP Girls Tennis**
Aplington-Parkersburg juniors Adria Neymeyer and Peyton Klooster have advanced as singles players to the state singles and doubles tennis tournament.
Look who’s going to State!!! Both Adria and Peyton qualified for state in singles!!! pic.twitter.com/hKGuS2EH5r
— A-P Tennis (@Apfalconstennis) May 6, 2024
Competing at the regional tournament at Decorah, they both clinched their spots at the tournament by winning their semifinal matches. Klooster says that was the goal entering the day.
“That was definitely one of our goals,” Klooster says. “It was like, we’re both going to play each other at the end, and we’re both going to go to state. And so it just makes it better because we push each other each and every day, not only in practice, but in meets, like cheering each other on, knowing we both have each other’s back. And I think, especially since we’re such really, really good friends, it just made it worth it at the end. And we honestly, we were just so tired, but it made it worth it. And we’re both excited to go.”
Klooster has qualified for state tennis for the first time in her career.
Neymeyer will make her third state appearance. In 2022, she and Libby Janssen qualified as a doubles pair, and she placed sixth in singles in 2023. She attributes her success to her offseason commitment.
“Definitely working through the winter with my dad and through the summer has definitely helped my game,” Neymeyer says. “But definitely the confidence and the mental mindset through the matches has definitely improved from last year to this year.”
The singles and doubles state tournament will be in Iowa City, beginning on Friday, May 24.
Interview with Neymeyer and Klooster:
