Irish: Tennis stars college-bound...

By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com

Want to know the best way to make your tennis program better? Just start taking the girls from Bishop McGuinness.

OK, maybe that’s overstating things, but the University of Oklahoma is having no issues in going that direction.

The latest duo to ink with the Sooners is Whitney Ritchie and Mia Lancaster. Ritchie was the No. 1 singles player last year while Lancaster was the No. 2 singles. Both, I would assume, will stay in their respective roles this season.

But they aren’t the only stars on the Irish as Emily Conrad has signed with Abilene Christian. Her claim to fame has been her versatility, winning three doubles championships with three different partners.

The Irish girls tennis team has been the biggest force in Oklahoma high school sports the last decade. Ritchie and Conrad will be gunning for their fourth state titles. Lancaster will ‘only’ be shooting for her third because she moved from Texas before her sophomore season.

OU is also the home of former Irish stars Katelyn Connelly and Peta Maree Lancaster, Mia’s older sister.

Connelly is the only piece of the puzzle that is gone from last year’s dominant group. It is a joy to watch the top tennis players in the state and no doubt McGuinness has that. I absolutely love it, and the spring sports season can’t come fast enough when it comes to tennis.