The last four seasons have gone from the lowest of lows to the highest highs for top-seed and No. 5 Ridge. The Red Devils brought home their first state championship since 2016 by defeating West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 4-1, during the NJSIAA Group 4 final at Mercer County Park in West Windsor.

“2016 was our last group championship and we haven’t been back since, so it feels real special winning (a state championship) with this group,” Ridge head coach Chad Griffiths said. “This group is like a family. It’s great to win and compete against the best in the state.”

Ridge (13-2) won all three singles matches against WWP South (17-1) in straight sets, while also winning the No. 1 doubles match to capture its third state championship in program history.

Sophomore and No. 1 singles player Jordan Lee took down WWP-South’s Rasika Anandakumar 6-0, 6-1. Lee, who transferred from Holmdel this fall, is now a two-time state champion having been part of the Hornets’ Group II championship team last year.

Being a part of two state championship teams is a “great accomplishment”, said Lee. The sophomore went 13-2 in dual matches this season for the Red Devils and is very happy with how her first season at Ridge played out.

“Ridge’s (girls) tennis team is so good and I loved hanging out with everyone,” Lee said.

Griffiths said the addition of Lee this season gave the team more “depth” in their singles positions and provided Ridge more of an advantage in those matches to help them capture the Group 4 title.

“Our singles lineup was strong all year and was our go-to,” Griffiths adds.

No. 2 singles player Isabel Su won her match against Vanessa Kudelya for Ridge 6-1, 6-0.

Senior Kate Henderson showed great resilience in winning her No. 3 singles match for the Red Devils. Henderson trailed WWP South’s Anna Zhao (1-3) midway through the first set and rallied back to win the set (6-3).

The senior then rolled to a (6-2) victory during the second set to clinch victory of the Group 4 for the Red Devils.

“You just gotta keep your head (in the match) and mentally battle through it,” Henderson said of her rally. “It’s great to go out on a win and as a state champion.”

The duo of Kirtana Hariharan and Maya Iglesias also put together a stronger rally in the first set of their No. 1 doubles match against Caris and Caitlyn Co for Ridge, coming back from down (1-5) to win the set (7-5). They went on to win the second set (6-0).

“That was the best No. 1 doubles match we have played all season,” Griffiths said. “Kirtana (Hariharan) and Maya (Iglesia) played so well together and won some key points for us all season.”

WWP South’s team of Eliana Du and Nicole Seurin defeated Ridge’s Srija Inampudi and Sabrina Schwarz in straight sets 7-5 (5-3), 6-1, during the No. 2 doubles match.

From a 1-10 campaign in 2020 to capturing a state championship in 2023, the Red Devils have seen their program grow back to the days of 2014-2016 when they made three consecutive trips to the Group 4 final.

Griffiths believes this championship victory can be the start of another great run by the Red Devils.

“We would love to be back (in the Group 4 final) again next year,” Griffiths said.

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Steven Bassin can be reached at [email protected].