-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla St. Edmond Girls Tennis Returning Letterwinners are, left to right, Ava Underberg, Chloe Palmer, Payton Bradley, Cambree Lunn, Lauren Gibb, Ava Andrew, Abby Huss

The St. Edmond girls tennis program has quickly built itself in quite the formidable foe under head coach Shawn Neverman.

And with the Top-7 varsity players set to return this spring, the Gaels have even higher aspirations on the court.

The Gaels have won the North Central Conference regular season and tournament titles each of the past two seasons behind seniors Lauren Gibb, Payton Bradley and Cambree Lunn, with all three looking to add to the list of achievements in their final campaigns.

Joining those three are returning juniors Ava Andrew and Ava Underberg, along with sophomores Abby Huss and Chloe Palmer.

“To say I am excited for the 2025 tennis season is an understatement,” Neverman said. “The success that we had last year has only fueled their motivation to want to achieve even more.”

St. Edmond has gone 17-2 in dual action over the past two seasons, including a 10-0 mark in the NCC where they have lost just six total matches. Last year, they fell to Sergeant Bluff-Luton in a heartbreaker in Class 1A regional team action, 5-4, after advancing to the regional championship in 2023.

“We have only been to the doorstep of getting either an individual or the team to the state level, so we are striving to get over that hump this year,” Neverman said. “In addition to the top varsity girls returning, we have a strong JV group returning with the addition of two sophomores and five freshmen.

“I am looking forward to getting to coach this great group of girls this season.”

Rounding out the roster are seniors Braelynn Rees, Nicole Mosier and Emily Mosier; junior Lucy Midtling; sophomores Nina Smith, Lizzie Tiernan, Avenlee Hayek and Lilah Reed; and freshmen Olivia Andrew, Jade Rock, Betsy Gruver, Ashlyn Swisher and Jennifer Touney.

The Gaels open the season with NCC action against Webster City on April 1. They will defend their league tournament title on May 7.

Roster

Seniors — Lauren Gibb, Payton Bradley, Cambree Lunn, Braelynn Rees, Nicole Mosier, Emily Mosier.

Juniors — Ava Andrew, Ava Underberg, Lucy Midtling.

Sophomores — Chloe Palmer, Abby Huss, Nina Smith, Lizzie Tiernan, Avenlee Hayek, Lilah Reed.

Freshmen — Olivia Andrew, Jade Rock, Betsy Gruver, Ashlyn Swisher, Jennifer Touney.

Schedule

April 1 — Webster City; 7 — Storm Lake; 8 — at Nevada; 11 — at Aplington-Parkersburg; 15 — at Clear Lake; 22 — Iowa Falls-Alden; 25 — South Hardin; 28 — at Carroll Kuemper; 29 — at Hampton-Dumont/CAL.

May 7 — at NCC Tournament in Webster City.

Roster

Seniors — Lauren Gibb, Payton Bradley, Cambree Lunn, Braelynn Rees, Nicole Mosier, Emily Mosier.

Juniors — Ava Andrew, Ava Underberg, Lucy Midtling.

Sophomores — Chloe Palmer, Abby Huss, Nina Smith, Lizzie Tiernan, Avenlee Hayek, Lilah Reed.

Freshmen — Olivia Andrew, Jade Rock, Betsy Gruver, Ashlyn Swisher, Jennifer Touney.

Schedule

April 1 — Webster City; 7 — Storm Lake; 8 — at Nevada; 11 — at Aplington-Parkersburg; 15 — at Clear Lake; 22 — Iowa Falls-Alden; 25 — South Hardin; 28 — at Carroll Kuemper; 29 — at Hampton-Dumont/CAL.

May 7 — at NCC Tournament in Webster City.