Maharishi’s Mukadam heading to state

FAIRFIELD — Maharishi School’s Ishita Mukadam battled her way through what ended up being a 13 hour day to earn a spot in the Class 1A state tournament.

Mukadam had no problem through her two opening rounds as she picked up victorious of 6-0, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-0 over Fort Madison’s Lauren Otte and Keokuk’s Brittney Kelly.

In the semifinals, Mukadam came out on top in a nail biting battle with Davis County’s Maddy Warning 6-3, 5-7 and 6-2. The victory earn her a ticket to state and set her up with a match against Davenport Assumptions Mary Rolfstad in the regional final.

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In the championship round, Mukadam came up just short after going the distance 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 to Rolfstad.

Ishita Mukadam isn’t the only Mukadam that saw some success on the day. Sister Poojita Mukadam finished third in the regional bracket.

Poojita Mukadam started off her day with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Fairfield’s Sydney Wells in the preliminary round. She then went on to win two straight matches 6-1, 6-2 and 6-1, 6-0 to make the semifinals.

Eventually though, she was defeated by Rolfstad, narrowly missing an opportunity to play her sister in the finals.

In doubles for the Pioneers, Sara Valls and Daira Valls put together a dominant first round. The duo won their opening match 6-3, 6-0, but fell in the quarterfinals 6-3, 6-3 to Assumption.

The other Maharishi duo of Isabella Castle and Sonya Kandyba were defeated in their preliminary round after a hard fought bout with Oskaloosa 4-6, 6-4, 10-6.

For Fairfield, Sydney Wells and Maddy Greiner both competed in the singles side of the bracket.

It was a tough day for the Trojan pair as they were both defeated in the preliminary rounds. Wells was topped by Poojita Mukadam and Greiner lost to Assumption’s Addison Walter 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles, the Trojans doubles duo of Giteeka Adhikari and Emma Wendland came up short 6-1, 6-1 to the eventually second-place Oskaloosa.

Una Carter and Lola Hatchette suffered defeat in their opening match as well, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) to Mt. Pleasant’s Eliana Situmeang and Eva Rounceville.

In singles for Mt. Pleasant, Audrey Richmond was bested by eventually champion Rolfstad 6-0, 6-1.

Bethany Drury came up short to Keokuk’s Brittney Kelly in round one 6-1, 6-2.

In doubles, Situmeang and Rounceville opened with the victory over Carter and Hatchette, but later fell to champion Assumption 6-0, 6-0.

Mary Kate Peterson and Victoria Smith were topped in their preliminary round 6-0, 6-0 by Keokuk.

All three squads can still make it to state as a team in the team qualifier next week.