Rio Rancho High School’s No. 1 seeded girls tennis duo, Kate Segal and Samantha Baltz were crowned the school’s first-ever state tennis champion on Thursday.
Segal and Baltz took down Farmington duo Mariana Sawyer and Marley Deswood (6-3, 6-1) in the 5A girls doubles finals at Thursday at the Jerry Cline Tennis Center in east Albuquerque.
Rio Rancho’s Keegan Gooch won his opening singles match (6-1, 6-0 over Nick Morales of Los Lunas) on Wednesday, as did the Rio Rancho girls’ Ashley Searle (6-0, 6-0 over Santa Fe’s Mikayla Montano). Cleveland girls duo Peyton Casey and Rachel Shaw won their opening doubles match (6-2, 6-4 over Alamogordo duo Kiah Westover and Malea Westover) on Wednesday.
Photo descriptions are listed below, starting with the first one on the screen:
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Rio Rancho’s Samantha Baltz, left, and Kate Segal won the school’s first state high school tennis championship on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Rio Rancho’s Samantha Baltz hits the ball during the 5A state tennis tournament, which was held May 4-5, 2022.
Samantha Baltz, left, and Kate Segal shake hands after winning a point 5A state tennis quarterfinals victory on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Cleveland’s Peyton Casey, left and Rachel Shaw high-five each other at the 5A state tennis tournament, which was held May 4-5, 2022.
Cleveland’s Rachel Shaw hits the ball to keep a rally going at the 5A state tennis tournament, which was held May 4-5, 2022.
Rio Rancho’s Keegan Gooch hits a backhanded return at the 5A state tennis tournament, which was held May 4-5, 2022.
With Cleveland tennis coach Diana LaCour watching, Rachel Shaw competes at the 5A state tennis tournament, which was held May 4-5, 2022.
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Photos by Rio Rancho Observer Sports Editor Gary Herron.
