Sofia Alinea nets historic regional tennis singles title for Comets

By John Burbridge 

sports@charlescitypress.com 

DECORAH — Sometimes an athlete attains enough reverence for people to claim that his or her type “comes around once every century”.

Regarding the fortunes of the Charles City girls tennis program, sophomore Sofia Alinea has proven herself to be a player that comes around every quarter of a century.

Or even longer.

When Alinea defeated Aplington-Parkersburg senior Bella Buseman in straight sets (6-0, 7-5) during Monday’s Class 1A Regional Tennis Singles championship match at Luther College, she became the first Comet player to advance to the State Individual Tournament since Kayla Kellogg.

Not that Kellogg achieved that feat 25 years ago … rather as recently as 2021. But when Kellogg advanced to state, she was the first Charles City singles player to do it in 25 years.

Yet Kellogg earned the berth as a regional runner-up; Alinea advances as a champion.

“I don’t know if we can check records, but she is likely the only Charles City tennis player to win the regional singles,” said Brian Parrott, who has been the Comets head coach for more than a decade.

Having been moved up to No. 1 singles this season and seeded No. 2 within the regional bracket, Alinea made quick work of Clear Lake sophomore Lauryn Coleman 6-1, 6-2 in their first-round match. Things got a little tougher in the second round with Alinea dropping the first set (6-2) to Western Dubuque senior Grace Coyle before rebounding to win the second set (6-3) and the subsequent tiebreaker (10-8).

Alinea proceeded to defeat Decorah junior Klaara Short 6-2, 6-3 in the semifinals before completing the championship run against Buseman.

Decorah senior Jaidyn Duvel was the No. 1 seed whom Buseman stopped in the semis in three sets.

Charles City junior Sofia Parrott lost to Waverly-Shell Rock senior Addie Kruse 6-0, 6-3 in the first round of the singles bracket.

Freshmen Joselin Bonnstetter and Jacy Hall were Charles City’s entries in the doubles bracket. The Comets lost to Oelwein pair Mackenzie Palmer and Harley Staton 6-4, 6-3 in the first round.

The regional doubles champions were Decorah junior Olivia Huinker and freshman Grace Huinker, who defeated Aplington-Parkersburg seniors Peyton Kloster and Adria Neymeyer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the final match.

Alinea faced Olivia Huinker during the North Central Tennis Conference Tournament, May 3 at Wartburg College. With each match consisting of eight games from which cumulative wins and losses were totaled, Huinker took a 4-1 lead over Alinea before the Comet rallied to win the next two games.

Huinker avoided the 4-4 tie to win the eighth game and eventually placed first in the No. 1 singles category with Alinea runner-up.

The Class 1A State Tennis Individual Tournament will be held May 30-31 at Black Hawk Tennis Club within Byrnes Park in Waterloo.