Rochester Mayo’s Claire Loftus wins second straight Class 2A girls tennis singles state championship

“She’s a very aggressive baseliner and I knew that was her game-plan early on,” she said. With the score 5-5, Nelson needed an injury break after the quadriceps in her right leg began to cramp severely. She tried to soothe the cramps but couldn’t and never fully recovered. Loftus won the next two games to take the second set 7-5, and built a 2-0 lead in the third set. Nelson tried to battle on, but visibly wincing from the pain, wasn’t able to continue. Loftus, who prides herself on her sportsmanship and compassion, was happy she won but admitted it was not how she would have liked. “It’s obviously a very, very tough way to end the match and your high school career,” Loftus said. “So, I do feel really bad and I hope that she feels better soon.” Rochester Mayo’s Claire Loftus ends her high school career as a five-time state champion. She ‘s won two team championships, two singles titles and a doubles championship in her sophomore year. (Jim Paulsen/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Loftus completed the season with a perfect 28-0 record. She was 54-0 over the last two seasons and ends her high school career as a five-time state champion, having won two team championships, two singles titles and a doubles championship.