Bishop McGuinness' Whitney Ritchie, Emily Conrad become four-time state tennis champions

/> Ritchie and O’Neil didn’t win the title in the semifinals, but it sure felt like it. The pair defeated the only other undefeated team in the draw, Tulsa Edison’s Haley Martin and Abby Tolson, 6-1, 6-2, in the semifinals.

Ritchie could barely contain her excitement when the team was up 5-0 in the second set of the championship, turning to coach Vicki Connelly to say, "one more game in my high school career.” The duo defeated Duncan 6-0, 6-0, in the final.

After smoking the field at No. 1 singles as a junior, Ritchie returned to the doubles scene this year.

"The transition was an easy one. I love my partner (O’Neil),” Ritchie said. "Whenever I would get down on myself, she would pick me up.”

Conrad and Ritchie become the 16th and 17th girls to be four-time champions, and the first to have two from the same school accomplish the feat since Ardmore did it in 1986.

Ritchie has signed with Oklahoma, while Conrad will attend Abilene Christian.