TOP ATHLETE OF THE PAST 30 YEARS: KAITLYN RITCHIE (BARTLESVILLE)

By Mike Tupa

Dec. 8, 2025

BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.

This is an ongoing series highlighting, each few days, one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.

Today's Spotlight

KAITLYN RITCHIE (Bartlesville)

Multiple sports (mid-2000s)

“Though she be but little, she is fierce.”

William Shakespeare wrote this about one of his valiant female characters.

In some ways, his observation fits former Bartlesville High School student athlete Kaitlyn Ritchie.

Ritchie was seldom the biggest athlete on the tennis court. But she brought a tenacious, determined style to the game that made her one of the best-ever netters — and competitors — in area prep history.

With red hair that bespoke her flaming desire, Ritchie excelled on an elite level in junior, high school, and Big 12 tennis (the University of Missouri).

She was nurtured on the sport from infanthood, the daughter of Hillcrest Country Club Tennis Pro Pat Ritchie — also a former accomplished tennis player for the University of Tulsa — and a totally supportive mom Linda (also a tennis aficionado), as well as older brother J.P., who would go on to make his mark on the court at the University of Iowa.

Kaitlyn began her competitive pursuits when she was eight years old.

Within a few years she would be ranked No. 1 in the entire Missouri Valley Section in the girls 16-year-old division.

During the national open in San Antonio she finished fifth.

Both Kaitlyn and J.P. cast a national shadow at the prestigious MCB Cotton Bowl Classic Super Championship Zone Tournament held in Dallas.

J.P. won the national championship in the 14-and-under boys division; Kaitlyn powered into the consolation championship in the girls 12-and-under division. During her finals' match she crushed her opponent, 6-1, 6-1.

During a national tourney in Phoenix, Richie was among the final 16 out of a field of 256 girls.

During her younger and junior years, Kaitlyn hopscotched throughout the nation while building a far-reaching reputation — San Diego, San Jose, North Carolina, Virginia, Southern Texas and many points in between.

When she reached Bartlesville High, Ritchie earned the girls No. 1 singles spot.

During her four years as a Lady Bruin, Richie finished in the top five each year at state — fifth as a freshman, third as a sophomore, third as a junior and state runner-up as a senior.

Her major nemesis her senior season at Bartlesville — and the only girl she didn’t beat — was Booker T. Washington’s six-footer Rebecca Parks.

Ritchie finished 29-3 that season — all three losses happened against Parks, including the state final.

At the regional, Ritchie swept to the championship like a hurricane blasting a sagebrush plain. She outscored her opponents, 36-7 — and didn’t lose an opening game.

On her way to the final, Ritchie outscored her first three opponents, 36-3.

The Oklahoma Coaches Association would recognize her as the Player of the Year.

During an interview in those years, Ritchie said she felt her strengths were her ground strokes and consistency.

She went to star for Missouri. During her senior season she went on a five-match winning streak against competition from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech.

The win against her Texas Tech rival was a grueler — 7-6 (9) and 7-6 (2).

She would register more than 50 career wins at Missouri, making her one of the most successful ever in the women’s program.

Ritchie was more than a one-sport gladiator. During her time at Bartlesville she played basketball for two years and also ran track as a senior.

This petite warrior brought the full package to competition and succeeded with skill, hard work, experience and a feisty can-do attitude.

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Kaitlyn Ritchie

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This series has featured the following athletes, listed in no particular order.

-Jena’ Williams, Bartlesville

-Eric Rolfs, Bartlesville

-Chris Smith, Caney Valley

-Jill Bryan, Copan

-Barron Tanner Jr, Bartlesville

-Hailey Tucker, Bartlesville

-Jeremy Dunkle, Dewey

-Whitney Metcalf, Bartlesville

-Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville

-Danielle Koster, Bartlesville

-Carson LaRue, Dewey

-John Hamman, Wesleyan Christian

-Jamie Elam, Caney Valley

-Sam Mitchell, Bartlesville

-Karissa Jones, Dewey

-Noah Hartsock, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Paper, Copan

-AJ Parker, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Eden, Caney Valley

-Henry Williams, Bartlesville

-Markell Carter, Bartlesville

-Rebecca Schluter, Wesleyan Christian

-Adam Hibdon, Barnsdall

-Tishuana Hunter, Nowata

-Nate Alleman, Bartlesville

-Jessie Burch, Dewey

-Joey McNair, Caney Valley/Bartlesville

-Michael Thompson, Bartlesville

-Kate Steward, Bartlesville

-Jarrett Rouse, Community

-Amanda Warehime, Bartlesville

-Trey Osborne, Dewey

-Heather Lanphear, Barnsdall

-Erin Epperson, Bartlesville

-Levi Wyrick, Caney Valley (Kan.)

-Spencer Magana, Dewey

-Jackie Jo Chaney, Copan

-Haley Downey, Bartlesville

-Cooper Fogle, Caney Valley

-Amanda Brown, Copan 

-Rachel Smith, Pawhuska

-Casey Cassity, Barnsdall

-Stacy Cornforth, Bartlesville

-Gabby Higbee, Dewey

-Kirby Schoenthaler, Bartlesville

-Tyler Kay, Barnsdall

-Colton Penrod, Bartlesville

-Erin Herchock, Dewey

-Lindsey Collins, Caney Valley

-Nathan Hughes, Bartlesville

-Aaron Hunt, Copan

-Calan Crowder, Bartlesville

-Colby Kohlmeyer, Caney Valley

-Allison Hunt, Copan

-Stephen Garrett, Dewey

-Brett Turowski, Bartlesville

-Hayley Bryan, Copan