SENATOBIA - With the revival of the men's and women's tennis programs taking effect for the 2022-23 school year, Northwest coach Will Irvin has officially secured his first two signees.

French Camp native Grace Ann Wade becomes Irvin's first addition to the Lady Rangers' roster, while Keegan Rico (Oxford) will become the first men's player for the Rangers. Both student-athletes officially signed letters of intent on Tuesday morning.

A four-year starter at French Camp Academy, Wade will arrive at Northwest after serving as the Panthers' No. 1 starter. As a junior, Wade helped French Camp qualify for the state tennis tournament with a 4-3 team victory against Eupora. She has also started for three years for the Golden Triangle All-Stars travel team, a member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

"She's an excellent, highly-competitive player," Irvin said, on Wade. "Over several years, I have watched her grow into a strong player and she has that edge you need in a top-level player. As a coach, what I find most impressive about her is her willingness to win. I look forward to watching her develop and see what she can unleash over the next two seasons."

Rico has been a starter at Lafayette High School and has helped lead the Commodores to a state title. In a 7-0 playoff-opening victory against Ridgeland last spring, Rico picked up a 6-1, 6-0 doubles victory with partner Porter Lindsay.

"Keegan is a pure athlete from a premier program," Irvin said. "Even though he has only played tennis for a couple of years, he has turned into an amazing player with potential through the roof. He has been a valuable part of Lafayette's success and now he will become a valuable asset to our men's roster. He has impressed me with his mental strength and his willingness to grow on and off the court, so you will see a lot of development from this player very soon."

More signees will be announced in the coming weeks for both squads. Follow @NWCCTennis on Twitter for updates.