Mayo girls do it again, winning second straight state girls tennis championship – Post Bulletin

MINNEAPOLIS – Is it now a dynasty, Rochester Mayo girls tennis?

No, it’s not quite there yet, but the Spartans have built something truly special. That includes winning the Class 2A state championship for the second straight year on Wednesday.

And they’re already talking about winning another one next year.

“One hundred percent chance we’ll do it again,” Mayo No. 2 singles star Aoife Loftus said with a broad smile and half-serious.

On Wednesday, Mayo did it against a team – Edina – and a program that has truly had a dynasty in the past. The Hornets not long ago had a winning record that included 19 straight state championships, the last coming in 2015.

But for the second time in a row, Edina had no answer for Mayo. The Spartans defeated Edina 6-1 in the state championship last year. On Wednesday, Mayo emerged victorious 5-2.

It was the third time this season that the two teams met, with Mayo claiming a decisive victory each time.

Edina was in good company. No one could solve the Spartans all season. They finished a perfect 24-0.

They did it in a season full of great expectations. They made sure they were all happy.

“This is really special,” said Mayo coach Jeff Demaray, whose girls became the first Mayo athletic program to win back-to-back state championships. “We were led by three incredible (senior) captains: Charlotte Colby, Keely Ryder and Claire Loftus. They led by example, and boy, did they save their best for last?”

These captains were all winners against Edina: Claire Loftus won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, Ryder teamed with Ana Medina and won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1 doubles, and Colby and Diane Meunier won 7-5, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.

Like the entire team, these players did so in front of a crowd of Mayo students and relatives who came out in droves to loudly support their team for the second year in a row.

It not only enhanced the players’ gaming experience but also gave them a significant boost.

“It was exciting to have so many of our friends come today,” Ryder said. “It definitely motivates me and gives me a lot more energy when I play. It’s exciting when someone is watching, but especially when it’s your friends.”

It was the end of a great streak for Claire Loftus, the defending singles champion who enters Thursday’s singles portion of the state tournament undefeated.

Claire has been the No. 1 ranked individual player on the team since seventh grade and has played on teams that made it to state every year.

She never took any of it for granted and enjoyed the month of October and its state trips with her teammates.

It wasn’t easy to get it over with now. The team was always number 1 for them.

“It was definitely special to win (back-to-back state titles),” Claire said. “It was special in a way and sad, bittersweet. It’s crazy that six years have passed like this. It happened terribly quickly. Time flies when you’re on this team. I’ve been with them so many times, but it’s always special.”

It’s been a very different year for Mayo girls tennis. It won its first state girls tennis title a year ago, managing to post a perfect 26-0 record. Nevertheless, the expectations were not comparable to those of this season.

In 2024, Mayo knew it was allegedly win. It was the hunted like never before.

They overcame it and did it like the champions they are.

For the second year in a row they were perfect. That’s now 50 wins in a row for the Spartans.

A dynasty? It’s getting closer.

CHAMPIONSHIP
May 5, Edina 2
Single: Claire Loftus (M) defeated. Astrid Kerrman 6-1, 6-0; Aoife Loftus (M) def. Rashi Singh 6-1, 6-2; Malea Diehn (M) def. Raya Hou 6-2, 6-3; Lauryn Schenck (E) def. Eliana Elder 7-5, 6-4. Double: Keely Ryder/Ana Medina (M) def. Zoya Hasan/Abby Watz 6-0, 6-2; Charlotte Colby/Diane Meunier (M) def. Molly Bennett/Olivia Wegmann-Krider 7-5, 6-2; Lily Santoni/Bella Loucks (E) def. Grace Pickering/Emily Loftus 6-1, 6-2.