Girls Tennis: Irish have no equal...

By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com

Snows all day Saturday, all melted away by Monday. Yep, that sounds about right. Good thing, too, as the spring season flies by enough without having weather delays.

Entering year No. 3 as the tennis writer, and it’s the same schools and the same names dominating the charts.

- You can’t talk about Oklahoma tennis without mentioning Bishop McGuinness. That will once again be the case this year as the girls are gunning for their 12th straight state championship.

The Irish are loaded once again. Paced by Oklahoma signees Mia Lancaster and Whitney Ritchie, McGuinness should smoke the rest of the field. Ritchie and Emily Conrad will be aiming for their fourth state championship. Conrad, who has signed with Abilene Christian, might be doing it with her fourth different partner, who knows?

- It will be weird to see Bishop Kelley and not see the Lewis sisters. Amy, Abby and Andrea were great representatives of their school and of the sport and wish them well. Know the Comets wish they were back.

- Down in 4A, it should be a Heritage Hall party. Julie Labarthe is shootin’ for back-to-back state championships to close out her career with the Chargers while Sarah Bowen is a name to watch for as well.

- 6A is a wide open field. Jenks will be strong as always, and Edmond North returns four of the six that pulled off that magical run last spring. Leading the charge there will be No. 1 singles player and defending champion Rachel Mitcham. Edmond Memorial will also be in the conversation although the ‘Dogs might have a tough time replacing No. 1 singles player Lindsay Choi.